What is a Roth IRA, and How Does It Work?

In a world filled with diverse investment options to fund your retirement, countless choices can help you reach your goals including 401(k) accounts, health savings accounts (HSAs), ETFs, and even real estate. Each of these are smart options, depending on your own unique situation. Today, we’ll cover another retirement investment avenue—Roth IRAs—to help you decide if this path is right for you.

Key Takeaways

• What it is: A Roth IRA is funded with after-tax dollars — both contributions and earnings grow tax-free, and qualified withdrawals in retirement are completely tax- and penalty-free.
• Limits and income caps: You can contribute up to $7,500 in 2026 ($8,600 if 50+) — but contributions phase out between $153K–$168K MAGI for singles and $242K–$252K for married filing jointly.
• Biggest edges: Tax-free growth and withdrawals, no RMDs during your lifetime, tax-free inheritance for heirs, and the flexibility to withdraw contributions (not earnings) anytime with no tax or penalty.
• 5-year rule: To withdraw earnings tax- and penalty-free, you must be 59½+ and have held the account 5+ years — earlier withdrawals may trigger a 10% penalty (with exceptions for first-time home, birth/adoption, and disability).
• Higher earners have options: If you're above the income limits, a backdoor Roth conversion gets you in — Roth vs. traditional comes down to timing (pay taxes now vs. later).

What is a Roth IRA?

A Roth IRA is an individual retirement account intended to help fund your retirement. You contribute after-tax money into the account, with both your contributions and earnings on the account growing tax-free.  

How does a Roth IRA work?

Contributions vs. earnings: not the same rules

The most misunderstood part of a Roth—your own contributions and the growth on top of them come out under different rules.

Contributions

The money you put in

Withdraw anytime

Because you already paid tax on it, you can take contributions out tax-free and penalty-free at any age.

Earnings

The growth on top

Age 59½ and 5 years

Earnings are tax- and penalty-free only once you're 59½ and have held the account at least five years.

Pull earnings early and you may owe income tax plus a 10% penalty (some exceptions apply). General information, not tax advice.

After opening a Roth IRA, you can invest in many different types of assets within the account including CDs, stocks, bonds, ETFs, index funds, and mutual funds and withdraw contributions at any time in the absence of taxes or penalties. You can also withdraw from the earnings portion of the account tax-free and penalty-free after you turn 59½ and have held the account for at least five years.

Types of Roth IRAs

Roth IRAs come in a variety of forms including…

Spousal Roth IRAs

A spousal IRA isn’t a special type of account and in fact just your typical Roth or traditional IRA with the same set of rules but opened by your spouse, in his or her name, with a few distinct eligibility requirements.

Rollover Roth IRAs

A rollover Roth IRA is an individual retirement account used to move funds from an employer-sponsored retirement account such as a 401(k), 403(b), or profit-sharing plan.

Inherited Roth IRAs

An inherited Roth IRA is a type of Roth IRA passed down to a beneficiary after the original account owner’s death.

Custodial Roth IRAs

A custodial Roth IRA is a retirement account held by a minor and managed by an adult custodian until the minor reaches legal adulthood.

Roth IRA advantages

Some of the largest benefits accompanying a Roth IRA include…

Tax breaks in retirement

Your money grows tax-free, and you can make tax and penalty-free withdrawals after turning 59½ (provided you’ve held the account for at least five years).

Tax diversification

As it’s nearly impossible to predict what your tax bracket will look like during retirement, tax breaks accompanying a Roth IRA help you diversify your retirement income via both tax-deferred and tax-free accounts.

Wealth transfer

A Roth IRA is also sometimes an excellent wealth-transfer vehicle, allowing you to pass on any amount to your heirs—tax-free!

Flexibility

The ability to withdraw contributions at any time tax- and penalty-free is sometimes beneficial if you’re struggling to make ends meet or need the funds to cover a temporary expense.

No RMDs

Required minimum distributions (RMDs), meanwhile, reflect the amount of money the IRS dictates you must withdraw from your account. Unlike its traditional IRA counterpart, a Roth IRA isn’t subject to any RMD rules—meaning you don’t need to make withdrawals at any point during your lifetime.

Roth IRA: the trade-offs at a glance

Advantages

✓Tax-free in retirement—growth and qualified withdrawals

✓Tax diversification—a tax-free bucket alongside tax-deferred ones

✓Wealth transfer—pass it to heirs tax-free

✓Flexibility—pull contributions out anytime

✓No RMDs during your lifetime

Disadvantages

×Five-year wait before earnings come out clean

×Income limits—high earners may not qualify directly

×No upfront tax break, unlike a 401(k) or traditional IRA

High earners over the limits can still get in via a backdoor Roth. General information, not tax advice.

Roth IRA disadvantages

As with any investment, Roth IRAs also come with a few drawbacks including…

Five-year wait to withdraw earnings

Withdraw from the earnings portion of your Roth IRA before you turn 59½ or hold the account for less than five years, and you may face a 10% early-withdrawal penalty and the need to pay taxes on these earnings.

Income limits

If you earn more than the allowed amount, you may not qualify for a Roth IRA (see below for details).

No upfront tax break

Unlike with 401(k)s and traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs don’t feature an upfront tax break.

Roth IRA eligibility rules

2026 Roth IRA income limits (MAGI)

Your modified adjusted gross income and filing status determine how much you can contribute.

Filing status	Full contribution	Reduced contribution	Not eligible
Single or head of household	MAGI below $153,000	$153,000 – $168,000	$168,000 or more
Married filing jointly	MAGI below $242,000	$242,000 – $252,000	$252,000 or more
Married filing separately*	—	$0 – $10,000	$10,000 or more

*Applies if you lived with your spouse at any point during the year; this range is not adjusted annually. Figures are for the 2026 tax year. Above these limits, a backdoor Roth may still be an option.

Though you can contribute to a traditional IRA regardless of how much money you earn, this isn't the case with Roth IRAs, which carry stricter income limits based on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) and filing status.

For 2026, single filers with a MAGI below $153,000 can contribute the full amount, those between $153,000 and $168,000 can contribute a reduced amount, and those at $168,000 or above can't contribute directly. For married couples filing jointly, the full amount is available below $242,000, a reduced amount between $242,000 and $252,000, and no direct contribution at $252,000 or above. (These thresholds are adjusted annually.)

If you're a higher-income earner above these thresholds, you can still fund a Roth through an IRS-approved method known as a "backdoor Roth IRA," which involves converting a portion of (or all) traditional IRA funds to a Roth.

Roth IRA contribution limits

2026 Contribution Limits

How much you can contribute

Under age 50

$7,500

Combined across all your traditional and Roth IRAs.

Age 50 and older

$8,600

Includes a $1,100 catch-up contribution.

Note: Limits apply across all your IRAs combined, and your actual limit may be lower if your income falls in the phase-out range above. You can contribute for the prior tax year up until the tax-filing deadline. Figures are for the 2026 tax year and change annually.

As with many retirement accounts, Roth IRAs cap how much you can add each year. Roth IRAs share the same contribution limits as traditional IRAs: for 2026, those under 50 can contribute up to $7,500, which rises to $8,600 at age 50 and older. The extra $1,100 for the older age group is a "catch-up" contribution, offered by the IRS to help those closer to retirement save more. These limits apply across all your IRAs combined, are adjusted annually for cost-of-living, and you can contribute for the prior year up until the tax-filing deadline (e.g., up to the limit until April 15, 2027 for the 2026 tax year).

Roth five-year rule for withdrawals

The Five-Year Rule

When you can tap earnings early—without the full hit

Normally, earnings come out clean only once you're 59½ and five years in. But several exceptions can waive the 10% penalty—and sometimes the tax too.

Held 5+ years, under 59½ — no penalty AND no tax

●A first-time home purchase (up to $10,000)

●Withdrawal by your estate or beneficiary after death

Held under 5 years, under 59½ — penalty waived

●Unreimbursed medical expenses or health insurance while unemployed

●Qualified education expenses

●A first-time home purchase (up to $10,000)

●Costs from a birth or adoption

●Substantially equal periodic payments (SEPP), or death

Note: taxes still apply on the earnings in these cases—only the penalty is waived.

SECURE 2.0 expanded these to include emergency expenses and domestic-abuse situations. General information, not tax advice.

The Roth IRA 5-year rule essentially states when you’re allowed to make withdrawals without the burden of penalties or taxes, specifically that you can’t withdraw from the earnings portion of an IRA unless at least five years have passed since you made your initial contribution to the account. Withdrawing earnings prior to this (or before turning 59½) can trigger taxes and penalties including:

• Income taxes on the earnings portion of the withdrawal

• A 10% penalty unless you qualify for an exception

There are exceptions to every rule, however, and Roth IRAs are no different. For example, anyone who’s owned a Roth IRA for more than five years and is younger than 59½ can often avoid early-withdrawal penalties and taxes in various situations including:

·      Using the withdrawal to fund a first-time home purchase (up to $10,000)

·      Having your estate or beneficiary withdraw the money after your death (if you’ve held the account for more than five years)

If you’ve had your Roth IRA for less than five years and are younger than 59½, you can avoid the early-withdrawal penalty (but are still subject to taxes) if:

·      You use the withdrawal to pay for unreimbursed medical expenses or health insurance if you’re unemployed.

·      You use the withdrawal to pay for qualified education expenses.

·      You use the withdrawal to fund a first-time home purchase (up to $10,000).

·      You use funds for qualified expenses related to a birth or adoption.

·      Your estate or beneficiary withdraws the money after your death (if you’ve held the account for less than five years).

·      You make the distribution in substantially equal periodic payments (otherwise known as a “SEPP”).

Note the SECURE Act 2.0 has expanded these circumstances to include emergency expenses and domestic abuse.

How to open a Roth IRA

You can open a Roth IRA at almost any bank, credit union, or other financial institution, with the former two options most likely taking shape as an IRA certificate of deposit (CD)—often a good option for people who want to minimize risk and guarantee their return. You can also do so through your financial advisor or online brokerage, thus enjoying the ability to choose your investments and potentially see higher returns (albeit with more risk).

How to contribute to a Roth IRA

You generally need earned income—such as income earned through your job—to contribute to a Roth IRA, though additional options include through a 401(k) rollover, Roth conversion, or spousal contribution.

Roth vs. traditional IRAs

Roth vs. traditional IRA: the tax difference

The biggest distinction is when you pay taxes—now, or in retirement.

	Roth IRA	Traditional IRA
Contributions	After-tax dollars	Typically pre-tax dollars
Growth	Tax-free	Tax-deferred
Retirement withdrawals	Tax-free (if 59½ & 5-yr rule met)	Taxed as income
Upfront tax break?	No	Often yes
RMDs?	None in your lifetime	Yes

Roth = pay tax now, skip it later. Traditional = break now, taxed later. Many savers use both for tax diversification. General information, not tax advice.

The biggest difference between a Roth and traditional IRA is in their tax treatment. With the former, contributions are made using after-tax money that can then grow tax-free, and you won’t pay taxes on withdrawals made during retirement—assuming the account is at least five years old. A traditional IRA, on the other hand, is a tax-deferred account so you’ll pay taxes on a future date. These contributions are typically funded with pre-tax dollars, and earnings grow tax-deferred until they’re withdrawn in retirement. 

In sum: choosing a Roth IRA

How can you determine if a Roth IRA is right for you? Generally speaking, this option makes the most sense if you want more flexibility in withdrawing funds (contributions) in the absence of penalties, don’t want to worry about RMDs during retirement, and/or want to diversify your retirement savings so you can draw from both tax-free and taxable accounts.

Have questions about how a Roth IRA fits into your overall investment strategy? Schedule a FREE discovery call with one of our CFP® professionals to get them answered.

Reviewed for accuracy

Benjamin Stark, CFP®

Financial Advisor and Director of Client Experience at Vision Retirement, with 10+ years as a financial advisor.

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FAQs

• How much money do you need to open a Roth IRA?

  The specific amount varies depending on the provider you choose. While many have no minimum requirement—allowing you to open an IRA with as little as $0—how much you should contribute to your IRA ultimately depends on your own unique financial situation and goals.

• Can you lose money with a Roth IRA?

  As with any investment, this is in fact possible due to market volatility, poor investment decisions, early withdrawal and investment fees, or a combination of these.

• Can I take out a loan from a Roth IRA?

  As with traditional IRAs, you are prohibited from using your Roth IRA to take out a loan—unlike other retirement vehicles such as 401(k)s.

• What is a mega backdoor Roth?

  A mega backdoor Roth strategy allows you to contribute significantly more to your retirement plan and thus add thousands of extra dollars to your fund.

• What are the rules surrounding a Roth IRA inheritance?

  Roth IRA heirs must generally follow the same rules as those who inherit a traditional IRA, meaning designated beneficiaries—those who aren’t a spouse, minor child of the deceased owner, chronically ill or disabled, or more than 10 years younger than the account owner—must follow the 10-year rule that requires heirs to withdraw funds from the inherited account within 10 years of the IRA owner’s death (e.g., if a Roth IRA owner passes away in 2025, inherited IRA funds must be fully distributed by December 31, 2035).

  If you’re the sole beneficiary of your spouse’s Roth IRA, click here to check out your options in this regard.

• What happens if I overcontribute to a Roth IRA?

  Contributions in excess of annual Roth limits can trigger a penalty from the IRS, but you are allowed to backtrack. If you’ve already filed, you can remove the excess and earnings within six months and file an amended tax return; those who haven’t already filed can withdraw the excess contributions and earnings received on them. Either scenario requires you to pay taxes on earnings, but you won’t encounter a penalty. Another option is to reduce the following year’s contribution by the excess, but you’ll pay a 6% penalty on this amount for every year it remains in the account.

• Can I contribute to a Roth IRA beyond age 70½?

  Due to the SECURE Act of 2019, individuals older than 70½ can now continue making IRA account contributions provided they’ve earned income. The impetus behind this measure is to incentivize those working later in life to save additional money and continue to build their nest egg over a longer period of time.

• What are some examples of investments not allowed for a Roth IRA?

  Prohibited investments include collectibles, life insurance, S-Corp stock, and coins not minted by the U.S. Treasury.

• Should I contribute to a 401(k) or Roth IRA?

  Ideally, you should contribute to both rather than choose between a 401(k) and Roth IRA as doing so will provide tax diversification in retirement.  

Disclosures:
This document is a summary only and is not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual or business.