Roth IRA Withdrawal Calculator

Enter the amount you plan to take out, your Roth IRA balance, and the total amount of regular contributions made to the account. Add your age and how many years the account has been open. The calculator also asks whether the withdrawal relates to disability, qualified education expenses, or a first-time home purchase.

The amount and timing matter. Roth IRA rules generally apply an ordering sequence to distributions across your Roth IRAs, rather than letting you choose to withdraw earnings first. For a related estimate, use the Roth IRA early withdrawal penalty calculator or compare with a traditional IRA withdrawal calculator.

The account has $50,000 in contributions and an $80,000 balance, so the calculator estimates $30,000 in earnings: $80,000 − $50,000 = $30,000. The requested $25,000 withdrawal is less than the $50,000 contribution amount. The calculator therefore classifies the full $25,000 as a return of contributions.

Its results are:

• Tax-free portion: $25,000.
• Taxable portion: $0.
• Penalty: $0.
• Net received: $25,000.

The default account age is three years and the owner is 45, so the calculator marks both the five-year test and qualified age test as unmet. Those facts do not change this example because no earnings are withdrawn. This is not a claim that every Roth withdrawal is tax-free; it reflects the specified amount and contribution history.

Roth IRA distributions generally follow this order: regular contributions first, conversion and rollover amounts next (generally oldest first), and investment earnings last. Because contributions are distributed first, a person with a sufficiently large contribution basis may be able to withdraw that amount without income tax or the 10% additional tax. But the treatment of conversion amounts and earnings can differ, and multiple Roth accounts may be considered together under IRS rules.

A qualified distribution of earnings generally requires that the five-tax-year period has passed and that the distribution meets a qualifying condition, commonly the owner being at least 59½. Other qualifying circumstances include death or disability. A first-time home purchase may allow an exception for up to $10,000 lifetime of eligible earnings, subject to the applicable five-year rule and other requirements. An exception to the 10% additional tax does not always make the distribution exempt from ordinary income tax.

The IRS explains distribution ordering and exceptions in its Roth IRA rules. The calculator’s simplified inputs should not replace a review of your contribution basis, conversion records, and tax return history. If you are evaluating a conversion, see the Roth IRA conversion calculator and Roth conversion ladder guide.

Account earnings = max(0, account balance − total contributions)

$80,000 − $50,000 = $30,000 of estimated earnings.

Contribution portion withdrawn = min(withdrawal amount, total contributions)

min($25,000, $50,000) = $25,000.

Earnings portion withdrawn = max(0, withdrawal amount − contribution portion)

max(0, $25,000 − $25,000) = $0.

Net received = withdrawal amount − early-withdrawal penalty

$25,000 − $0 = $25,000.

The model caps the withdrawal at the account balance and calculates a penalty on earnings it treats as subject to the early-distribution tax. It does not estimate your regular income tax rate on taxable earnings, so “net received” may not equal the amount you keep after filing your tax return if taxable income is present.

The federal additional tax on many early distributions is 10%, but exceptions can apply. The first-time-home-purchase exception is generally subject to a $10,000 lifetime limit. Qualified higher-education expenses can be an exception to the additional tax for IRA distributions, but taxable earnings may still be included in income. Disability also has specific legal criteria; selecting an exception in the calculator does not establish eligibility.

Before withdrawing, gather statements showing regular contributions and conversion dates. If you have converted funds, those amounts can have separate five-year penalty rules, particularly if you are under age 59½. A distribution from a Roth 401(k) can also follow different rules before rollover. Compare with the Roth 401(k) withdrawal calculator and review the IRA withdrawal tax calculator.

Are Roth IRA contributions always available tax-free?

Regular contributions are generally distributed first and can usually be withdrawn without income tax or the 10% additional tax. Keep records of contributions and confirm the total basis across Roth IRAs.

Does being under 59½ make every Roth IRA withdrawal taxable?

No. A withdrawal of regular contributions can be tax- and penalty-free even if you are under 59½. Earnings and converted amounts have additional rules.

If I qualify for an exception, is the whole distribution tax-free?

Not necessarily. An exception may waive the 10% additional tax without removing ordinary income tax on taxable earnings. A qualified distribution has separate requirements.

Should I withdraw Roth contributions or borrow money instead?

Withdrawing contributions may avoid tax and penalties, but it permanently removes money that could compound tax-free; you generally cannot simply replace it later beyond annual contribution limits. Borrowing preserves the account but adds repayment costs and risk. Compare the borrowing cost, cash-flow needs, and impact on long-term savings before choosing.

What is the five-year rule?

There is more than one five-year rule. One concerns whether Roth earnings can qualify for tax-free treatment; another can apply to each conversion for purposes of the early-distribution penalty. See the IRS Roth IRA rules and check which rule applies to your distribution.

Can a first-time home purchase make Roth earnings tax-free?

The home-purchase exception is generally limited to $10,000 of eligible lifetime distributions and has conditions, including a five-year requirement for qualified Roth distributions. A penalty exception does not by itself guarantee that earnings are tax-free.

Does this calculator include state tax?

No state income-tax estimate is shown in the calculator’s results. State treatment can differ, so include it separately when assessing the amount you can spend.

Test the withdrawal amount against your contribution basis, conversion history, age, and account opening date. Then confirm the applicable tax treatment using IRS guidance and account records. To see how a withdrawal fits into a broader plan, read how to withdraw from retirement accounts tax-efficiently and compare your expected income with a retirement paycheck estimate.