How Does Paying Taxes on a Roth IRA Work: The Complete Guide to Tax-Free Retirement Wealth

Picture this: you're 65, ready to enjoy retirement, and you need to withdraw money from your retirement account. With a traditional IRA, every dollar you take out gets hit with income taxes. But with a Roth IRA ? You withdraw your money completely tax-free . Sounds too good to be true, right? Here's the catch – and the beauty – of how paying taxes on a Roth IRA works: you pay taxes upfront, but then enjoy decades of tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals in retirement. It's like buying a lifetime membership to a tax-free retirement club. But understanding exactly how does paying taxes on a Roth IRA work can feel overwhelming. When do you pay taxes? How much? What about withdrawals? Don't worry – I'm going to walk you through everything in plain English, just like I would if we were sitting down over coffee. Key Takeaways Pay taxes now, not later : Roth IRA contributions are made with after-tax dollars Tax-free growth : Your investments grow completely tax...