Retirement tax guide for 2025-2026
Retirement tax planning covers contributions, withdrawals, and Social Security taxation. This guide explains how 2025-2026 rules affect Roth vs Traditional decisions, required minimum distributions, and early withdrawals, with calculators to estimate the impact.
Contribution planning
- 401(k) and IRA contributions can lower current taxable income.
- Roth contributions may increase current tax but reduce future tax.
Withdrawals and RMDs
- Traditional account withdrawals are generally taxable.
- RMDs begin at IRS-required ages and can raise taxable income.
Social Security taxation
Social Security benefits can be taxable depending on total income.
- Provisional income determines how much is taxable.
- Use calculators to estimate total retirement tax exposure.
Related calculators
Roth vs Traditional break-even
Compare long-term tax outcomes for Roth vs Traditional.
401(k)/IRA contribution tax impact
Estimate tax savings from retirement contributions.
RMD calculator
Estimate required minimum distributions.
Early withdrawal penalty estimator
Estimate penalties for early withdrawals.
Social Security taxation estimator
Estimate taxes on Social Security benefits.
FAQ
Are Roth withdrawals taxable?
Qualified Roth withdrawals are generally tax-free, but rules vary by account type and age.
Updated 2026-01-20. TaxGuide Pro provides educational tax guidance, not legal advice.