Should You Use a Roth or Traditional IRA?

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last updated 8 July 2024

Americans believe they'll need $1.46 million to retire comfortably, according to findings from Northwestern Mutual’s 2024 Planning & Progress Study, or about 80% of their pre-retirement income. An individual retirement account (IRA) is a great tool for building a robust nest egg. The question, then, is not if you should have an IRA, but which kind you should use.

If you make ongoing contributions and diversify your investments, you could build a portfolio that’s worth hundreds or thousands of dollars. But there are actually two flavors of IRAs: a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA.

Which account represents a better option for your retirement? This is not an easy call. Even experienced financial planners can struggle with this question. But there are some key factors to consider and they are generally about the tax implications.

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To help you make the best choice, it’s important to first evaluate the common features, similarities and differences for traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs.

The similarities between Roth and traditional IRAs

For 2024, the contribution limit is $7,000 for both traditional and Roth IRAs. If you are 50 or older, you can add an extra $1,000, for a total 2024 contribution limit of $8,000. This remains the same for 2025.

For any given tax year, you generally have until the tax deadline in the following year to contribute to either a traditional or Roth IRA. So, for the 2025 tax year (when you file your 2024 taxes), most people have up until Tax Day 2025. There are no age limitations.

The contribution amount must come from your earned income, such as wages, salary, commissions, tips, bonuses or profits from self-employment. This does not include earnings from rental income, annuities, pensions or deferred compensation.

If a spouse does not work, the other spouse’s earned income can qualify for them to open a separate IRA in their own name, which is known as a “spousal IRA.” The other spouse's earned income can be used so long as the couple files a joint federal return.

Now let’s take a look at some of the main differences. They include whether you can deduct a contribution and if distributions are tax-free.

Tax deduction for Roth vs traditional IRAs

The IRS prohibits taxpayers from taking a deduction for Roth IRA contributions. But contributions to a traditional IRA may be deductible.

Simply put, a Roth IRA allows you to make after-tax contributions and your contributions grow tax-free. However, you receive no current year tax benefits with a Roth.

On the other hand, a Traditional IRA may allow you to make pre-tax contributions, which grow tax-deferred. You also receive immediate tax benefits, subject to income limitations for participants in employer-sponsored plans.

Suppose you file as single and are age 55. You have been falling short of your retirement goals, so you decide to make a maximum contribution to your IRA account. This includes $7,000 plus the $1,000 catch-up contribution for a total of $8,000. Based on your current income, you are in the 24% federal tax bracket. This means your deduction will be 24% multiplied by $8,000, or $1,920. You may also be eligible for a state tax deduction.

But there is a wrinkle. You may not be able to take the full deduction for your traditional IRA contribution if you or your spouse is eligible for an employer-sponsored retirement plan like a 401(k) or 403(b). The amount of the contribution will be phased out based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). Each year, the IRS sets the limits.

Tax-free distributions

For traditional IRAs, the IRS imposes restrictions on the distribution of funds from your account. If you make a withdrawal before reaching 59-½, you will be subject to income taxes and a 10% penalty. There are some exceptions to the penalty, such as for total and permanent disability, $10,000 for a qualified first-time home purchase and some unreimbursed medical expenses.

The penalty also does not apply when you reach 59-½. However, you are still subject to income taxes.

For a Roth IRA, there are fewer restrictions on withdrawals. At any time, you can take out your contributions tax-free and without a penalty. But when it comes to earnings in the account, you need to be 59-½ and have held the Roth IRA for at least five years for this to apply.

For example: You are single, age 58 and in the 24% tax bracket. You set up a Roth IRA two years ago and have contributed a total of $20,000. The earnings on the account are $5,000. You can withdraw the $20,000 without paying taxes or a penalty. But this is not the case for your earnings. You will pay $1,200 in taxes, or 24% multiplied by $5,000, and a $500 penalty, which is 10% multiplied by $5,000.

What about IRAs and planning your estate?

Estate planning is another important consideration. Unlike a traditional IRA, which requires you to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) after the age of 73, you will not have to take RMDs for your Roth IRA when you are alive.

You also can bequeath the account to your heirs, however, they will be subject to withdrawal requirements. Your heirs, except your spouse, must either take out all the funds or set up an inherited Roth IRA, which includes RMDs. If the account was inherited after 2019, these distributions generally are for a 10-year period. As long as the Roth IRA has existed for five years, the amounts are tax-free.

Another benefit of a Roth IRA is that it can force you to set aside more money for your retirement. How so? With a traditional IRA, it’s common for people to spend their tax refund soon after they receive it. For example, a 2023 survey from Primerica found that 37% of the respondents will use their refunds to pay bills and 34% to reduce their debts.

About 33% said they would add to their savings, but only 1% would invest the money in a retirement account. With a Roth IRA, the tax savings are not available until later, when you make withdrawals, so you automatically have that money later rather than sooner.

Splitting or converting an IRA

The decision regarding which IRA account to invest in is certainly complicated. After all, the evaluation is about forecasting the future – and this usually needs to be done over the course of many years. This is why splitting your contributions between a traditional and Roth IRA may be a better idea.

But for this strategy to work, you need to be eligible for the Roth IRA. For 2024, you can contribute the maximum limit if you are single and your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) is less than $146,000. This is gradually phased out until this amount reaches $161,000. The limits for married taxpayers filing jointly are from $230,000 to $240,000 respectively.

However, if you qualify, you can get the benefits of both a traditional and Roth IRA. Then as your circumstances change over time, you can make adjustments to how you make your allocations. Remember, too, that it is possible to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. However, carefully weigh the pros and cons of doing this and consult a financial planner and qualified tax advisor before making the move.

All right then, should you use a Roth or traditional IRA?

Evaluating whether to select a traditional IRA or Roth IRA comes down to thinking about different scenarios. For example, if you are currently in your peak earning years and believe your income will be lower in retirement, then you may want to select a traditional IRA. The reason is that your distributions will be taxed at a lower rate.

On the other hand, if you are young and just starting a career but you expect to be in a higher tax bracket when you begin taking withdrawals, then a Roth could be a better option. That's because the tax savings from the deductions of the traditional IRA might not be as attractive.

Tom Taulli has been developing software since the 1980s when he was in high school. He sold his applications to a variety of publications. In college, he started his first company, which focused on the development of e-learning systems. He would go on to create other companies as well, including Hypermart.net that was sold to InfoSpace in 1996. Along the way, Tom has written columns for online publications such as Bloomberg, Forbes, Barron's and Kiplinger. He has also written a variety of books, including Artificial Intelligence Basics: A Non-Technical Introduction. He can be reached on Twitter at @ttaulli.