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Pre-tax vs after-tax account calculator

Pay tax now or later.

Built and reviewed by Dovanic, Founder and editor, FreeByteLast reviewed: 2026-08-18
$
24%
18%
7%

Pre-tax account wins

$28,424

Pre-tax net

$388,463

With these inputs, pre-tax account wins comes to $28,424 over 25 years. Pre-tax net works out to $388,463. The result assumes rate today stays at 24%.

After-tax net
$360,039
Rate gap
6.0%

Over time · by years

What moves the number · Pre-tax account wins

Input−10%Now+10%
Yearly contribution$25,582$28,424$31,267
Rate today$17,054$28,424$39,794
Rate in retirement$36,951$28,424$19,897
Return$25,555$28,424$31,654
Years$24,014$28,424$36,266

Solve for an input

Whatmakesequal

Compare scenarios

Save this set of inputs, change something, then save again to compare the outcomes side by side.

Pay tax now or later.

A worked example

Starting figures

Yearly contribution
$7,000
Rate today
24%
Rate in retirement
18%
Return
7%
Years
25

What it returns

Pre-tax account wins
$28,424
Pre-tax net
$388,463
After-tax net
$360,039
Rate gap
6.0%

How to read the results

With the defaults above, pre-tax account wins works out at $28,424.

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