How Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) Work
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What is an IRA?
An IRA or individual retirement arrangement is a tax-deferred investment account that helps you save for retirement. You can open an IRA at banks, robo-advisors and brokers. Depending on which type of IRA you choose, your contributions may be tax-deductible or withdrawals may be tax-free.
How does an IRA work?
You take pre-tax or after-tax dollars and put them into an account. You can then invest that money in stocks, bonds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and 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, which include the traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, spousal, IRA and Simple IRA.
Generally, you (or your spouse) must have earned income to contribute to an IRA, and the accounts have annual contribution limits. 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.
The main benefit of an IRA is that your money gets to grow and compound either tax-free or tax-deferred, but that's not the only perk.
An IRA also gives you the chance to lower your tax bill, depending on what your tax strategy is. Another benefit is that an IRA might give you access to investment options your workplace retirement plan doesn't offer. And a forth benefit is that an IRA gives you another way to save – a 401(k) or pension alone may not provide enough retirement income.
» Are you on track for retirement? Find out with our retirement calculator.
What are the types of IRAs?
Here are five popular types of IRAs and an overview of each:
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. The contribution limit for traditional IRAs in 2022 is $6,000 per year. People 50 and older can contribute up to $7,000 per year.
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.
Traditional IRA deduction limits in 2022
How much of your traditional IRA contributions can you deduct from your taxes? These income limits 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 age 72.
Filing status | 2022 MAGI | Deduction limit |
|---|---|---|
Single or head of household (and covered by retirement plan at work) | $68,000 or less | Full deduction |
More than $68,000 but less than $78,000 | Partial deduction | |
$78,000 or more | No deduction | |
Married filing jointly (and covered by retirement plan at work) | $109,000 or less | Full deduction |
More than $109,000 but less than $129,000 | Partial deduction | |
$129,000 or more | No deduction | |
Married filing jointly (spouse covered by retirement plan at work) | $204,000 or less | Full deduction |
More than $204,000 but less than $214,000 | Partial deduction | |
$214,000 or more | No deduction | |
Married filing separately (you or spouse covered by retirement plan at work) | Less than $10,000 | Partial deduction |
$10,000 or more | No deduction |
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, Aaron says.
“The question is, do you want to pay your taxes now or later? For me, I’d rather pay taxes now,” says CFP Matt Aaron, founder of Washington, D.C.-based Lux Wealth Planning, an affiliate of Northwestern Mutual.
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.”
The annual Roth IRA contribution limit for 2022 is $6,000 ($7,000 if 50 or older) for modified adjusted gross incomes below $144,000 for single filers and head of household, or $214,000 for married people filing jointly. There are Roth IRA income limits, so the amount you can contribute phases out depending on how much you earn. If you earn too much to contribute to a Roth IRA, you can try the backdoor Roth method instead. Also, keep in mind that the contribution limit for Roth and traditional IRAs is a combined limit; if you have both types of IRA, you can contribute only the maximum between them.
Filing status | 2022 Income range | Maximum annual contribution |
|---|---|---|
Single, head of household or married filing separately (if you didn't live with spouse during year) | Less than $129,000 | $6,000 ($7,000 if 50 or older) |
$129,000 up to $144,000 | Contribution is reduced | |
$144,000 or more | No contribution allowed | |
Married filing jointly or qualifying widow(er) | Less than $204,000 | $6,000 ($7,000 if 50 or older) |
$204,000 up to $214,000 | Contribution is reduced | |
$214,000 or more | No contribution allowed | |
Married filing separately (if you lived with spouse at any time during year) | Less than $10,000 | Contribution is reduced |
$10,000 or more | No contribution allowed |
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 2022, contributions are limited to 25% of compensation or $61,000, whichever is less. There's no catch-up contribution at age 50+ for SEP IRAs, and SEP IRAs require minimum distributions beginning at age 72. SEP IRAs require proportional contributions for each eligible employee if business owners contribute for themselves.
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 2022 are $14,000 per year for those under age 50. People age 50 and older can make an additional $3,000 catch-up contribution. Employer contributions are mandatory.
Rollover IRA
A rollover IRA is an IRA you open when you transfer eligible assets from an employer sponsored plan, such as a 401(k), into an IRA.
» MORE: Learn more about rollover IRAs
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How to open an IRA
Two popular ways to get an IRA are through brokers and robo-advisors.
Brokers: If you want to choose investments for yourself, an online broker can be a good way to go. Review our best IRA accounts to compare.
Robo-advisors: If you want help managing your retirement account, consider a robo-advisor — a service that selects low-cost and risk-appropriate investments for you. See our list of best robo-advisors for help choosing the right one for you.
See our guide to opening an IRA for more information on moving money into your account.
