Roth IRA

An individual retirement account that offers tax-free growth and potentially tax-free withdrawals in retirement.*

Ready to get started? Open a Roth IRA today.

What is a Roth IRA?

Other Roth IRA advantages

No RMDs

There are no required minimum distributions (RMDs) for as long as you live.

No age limit

You can put money in your account for as many years as you want, as long as you have earned income that qualifies.

No employer-plan restrictions

It doesn't matter if you're covered by an employer's retirement plan, such as a 401(k) or 403(b). As long as you don't exceed the IRS's income limits, you can still contribute the maximum annual amount to a Roth IRA.

For the 2024 tax year that's $7,000, or $8,000 if you're age 50 or older.

No taxes for your beneficiaries

You can pass your Roth IRA on to your beneficiaries, and their withdrawals will be tax-free.†

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New to Vanguard or looking to consolidate your savings?


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Ready to invest?

New to Vanguard or looking to consolidate your savings?


Already a Vanguard client? Log in to view your account.

Frequently asked questions

*When taking withdrawals from an IRA before age 59½, you may have to pay ordinary income tax plus a 10% federal penalty tax.

**The 5-year holding period for Roth IRAs starts on the earlier of: (1) the date you first contributed directly to the IRA, (2) the date you rolled over a Roth 401(k) or Roth 403(b) to the Roth IRA, or (3) the date you converted a traditional IRA to the Roth IRA. If you're under age 59½ and you have one Roth IRA that holds proceeds from multiple conversions, you're required to keep track of the 5-year holding period for each conversion separately.

†If you inherit a Roth IRA, you must take RMDs, but they're tax-free as long as the original account owner held the account for at least 5 years.

You may wish to consult a tax advisor about your situation.

All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest. Be aware that fluctuations in the financial markets and other factors may cause declines in the value of your account.

Vanguard's advice services are provided by Vanguard Advisers, Inc. ("VAI"), a registered investment advisor, or by Vanguard National Trust Company ("VNTC"), a federally chartered, limited-purpose trust company.

The services provided to clients will vary based upon the service selected, including management, fees, eligibility, and access to an advisor. Find VAI's Form CRS and each program's advisory brochure here for an overview.

VAI and VNTC are subsidiaries of The Vanguard Group, Inc., and affiliates of Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Neither VAI, VNTC, nor its affiliates guarantee profits or protection from losses.