What Is An IRA? Individual Retirement Account Definition, 5 Types

What is an IRA?

An individual retirement account (IRA) is a tax-advantaged investment account that helps you save for retirement. Money invested in an IRA grows either tax-free or tax-deferred, depending on the type of account you have.

The IRS calls these accounts individual retirement arrangements. IRAs have annual contribution limits, and you’re able to contribute up to the maximum limit set by the IRS each year^[0]

» Ready to get started? Review our best IRA accounts to compare.

How does an IRA work?

Anyone earning an income is eligible to open an IRA to save for retirement. This also includes employees with a 401(k) account through work, a non-working spouse whose partner is earning an income, or even a minor making their own money.

An IRA can be opened through a bank, broker or robo-advisor, and the funds deposited can be invested in stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds or other assets.

How your account balance grows over time depends on how you invest and how much you contribute to the IRA. (See how to invest your IRA for simple investment strategies.) There are several types of IRAs, including the traditional IRA and Roth IRA for individuals, and SEP IRA and SIMPLE IRA for business owners and self-employed individuals.

While you can have more than one type of IRA, keep in mind that the accounts have a single annual contribution limit. And because the funds are intended to be used for retirement, there are also withdrawal rules: You may face a 10% penalty and a tax bill if you withdraw money before age 59 1/2, unless you qualify for an exception^[0]

» Are you on track for retirement? Find out with our retirement calculator.

5 types of IRAs

Here are five popular types of IRAs and an overview of each:

1. Traditional IRA

Contributions to traditional IRAs are often tax-deductible. For example, contributing $3,000 to a traditional IRA could reduce the amount of your taxable income by $3,000. However, withdrawals from traditional IRAs in retirement are taxable as ordinary income.

If you're married and you or your spouse has a retirement plan at work, the amount of your traditional IRA contribution that you can deduct is reduced, and eventually eliminated altogether, once you hit a certain income. You can still make contributions, but they won’t be tax-deductible. If you and your spouse don't have retirement plans at work, then you can deduct your IRA contribution no matter how much your income is. » MORE: Learn more about traditional IRAs

2. Roth IRA

Contributions to Roth IRAs are not tax-deductible, but withdrawals from Roth IRAs are tax-free and there are no taxes on investment gains. It's an attractive option for investors who have a long time before they retire, says certified financial planner Matt Aaron, founder of Washington, D.C.-based Lux Wealth Planning, an affiliate of Northwestern Mutual.

“The question is, do you want to pay your taxes now or later? For me, I’d rather pay taxes now,” says Aaron.

Roth IRAs can help you combat inflation, Aaron says, because money loses value over time. He says he thinks of a Roth IRA as paying taxes on the seed vs. paying taxes on the harvest.

"I don't have the magic ball and I can never say I know what’s going to happen in the future, but if taxes go up, and you’re taking that money out in the future, you get to potentially minimize the taxes you pay.”

» MORE: Learn more about Roth IRAs and how to open one

3. SEP IRA

Generally, SEP IRAs are IRAs for self-employed people or small-business owners with few or no employees. Similar to traditional IRAs, the contributions are tax-deductible. Investments grow tax-deferred until retirement when distributions are taxed as income.

In 2023, contributions are limited to 25% of compensation or $66,000, whichever is less. There's no catch-up contribution at age 50+ for SEP IRAs. SEP IRAs require proportional contributions for each eligible employee if business owners contribute for themselves^[0]

» MORE: Learn more about SEP IRAs and how to open one

4. SIMPLE IRA

SIMPLE IRAs (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees Individual Retirement Accounts) are for small businesses with fewer than 100 employees. Similar to traditional IRAs, the contributions are tax-deductible. Investments grow tax-deferred until retirement, when distributions are taxed as income. Employee contribution limits for a SIMPLE IRA in 2023 are $15,000 per year for those under age 50. People age 50 and older can make an additional $3,500 catch-up contribution in 2023. Employer contributions are mandatory^[0]

» MORE: Learn more about SIMPLE IRAs and how to open one

5. Rollover IRA

A rollover IRA isn’t exactly a type of IRA account, but a process in which you can transfer eligible assets from an employer-sponsored plan, such as a 401(k), into an IRA. People tend to do this when they're switching jobs so they can house all of their money in one place.

» MORE: Learn more about rollover IRAs

Why invest in an IRA?

A big benefit of an IRA is that the money you invest in one grows either tax-free or tax-deferred, depending on the type of IRA you choose.

• If you contribute to a traditional IRA, you'll get a tax deduction on your contributions in the year they are made; you'll then pay taxes when you take distributions in retirement.

• If you contribute to a Roth IRA, there is no immediate tax deduction or benefit, but distributions in retirement are tax-free.

But the tax advantages are not the only perk.

“The main benefit of an IRA is your ability to have more investment options and choices,” says Aaron.

An employer-sponsored 401(k) may have limited investments, or may not let you choose your own. And a 401(k) or pension alone may not provide enough money for you in retirement.

Contributing to an IRA can offer you more access to investment options, increased retirement income, and, yes, those tax savings.

One downside of IRAs is that annual contributions are limited – you can contribute $22,500 to a 401(k) in 2023, and take advantage of an employer match if it’s offered. IRA contributions limits are much lower.

IRA contribution limits 2023

In 2023, the maximum you can contribute among all your IRAs is $6,500, or $7,500 if you're 50 or older. While you can have more than one IRA and contribute to all of them in a single year, the contribution limit is a combined limit^[0]

2023 Traditional IRA deduction limits

How much of your traditional IRA contributions can you deduct from your taxes? It depends on how much you earn. There are income limits on traditional IRA deductions, but they only apply only if you (or your spouse) have a retirement plan at work.

Generally, you can take distributions from a traditional IRA starting at age 59 1/2. If you take money out before then, you may have to pay a 10% penalty (there are some exceptions). You must start taking required minimum distributions when you reach a certain age — in 2023, that age is 73.

2023 Roth IRA contribution limits

There are income limits for Roth IRAs, so the amount you can contribute decreases and is eventually eliminated at certain incomes.

If you earn too much to contribute to a Roth IRA, you can try the backdoor Roth method instead.

How to open an IRA

Two popular ways to open an IRA are through brokers and robo-advisors. If you want to choose investments for yourself, an online broker can be a good way to go.

If you want help managing your retirement account, consider a robo-advisor — a service that selects low-cost and risk-appropriate investments for you.

» Ready to get started? Read how to open an IRA for details on moving money into your account