Ten U.S. Tax-advantaged accounts. Different contribution limits, different tax treatments, different rules. This is the bookmark-and-share reference that does not exist in a clean, complete, non-paywalled format anywhere else.
Not every account is right for every person. But for almost everyone: 401(k) up to the employer match first (free money), then HSA if eligible (triple tax advantage), then Roth IRA (tax-free growth), then 401(k) to the annual cap, then 529 if you have kids heading to college, then a taxable brokerage with VTI and a Bitcoin sleeve. The details for each account follow. All 2026 limits are from IRS publications, verify with IRS.gov before making actual contributions.
All limits are 2026 figures per IRS publications[1]. Income phase-outs are approximate; check the current IRS publications before relying on edge cases.
| ACCOUNT | 2026 LIMIT | TAX TREATMENT | INCOME LIMIT? | BEST FOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roth IRA | $7,000 ($8,000 if 50+) | post-tax in, tax-free forever | $165K single / $246K MFJ phase-out | Everyone who qualifies, especially young earners and Bitcoin holders |
| Traditional IRA | $7,000 ($8,000 if 50+) | pre-tax in, taxed on withdrawal | deductibility phases out with workplace plan | High-income earners expecting lower retirement bracket |
| 401(k) Traditional | $23,500 ($31K if 50+) | pre-tax in, taxed on withdrawal | none | Almost everyone, free employer match first |
| 401(k) Roth | $23,500 ($31K if 50+) | post-tax in, tax-free forever | none | High contribution limit + Roth growth, when your plan offers it |
| Solo 401(k) | $70,000 combined | pre-tax or Roth, both options | none (self-employment income only) | Self-employed, highest contribution vehicle available |
| SEP-IRA | 25% of net SE income, $70K cap | pre-tax in, taxed on withdrawal | none | Self-employed who want zero paperwork |
| SIMPLE IRA | $16,500 ($20K if 50+) | pre-tax in, taxed on withdrawal | none | Small-business employees |
| HSA | $4,400 self / $8,750 family | pre-tax in, tax-free growth, tax-free for medical | HDHP enrollment required | HDHP-enrolled, the single best account in the U.S. Tax code |
| 529 | state-specific gift tax exclusion | post-tax in, tax-free for education | none (state tax deduction varies) | Parents with a reasonable probability of college expenses |
| 457(b) | $23,500 ($31K if 50+) | pre-tax in, taxed on withdrawal | government/nonprofit employees only | Public-sector workers, no 10% early withdrawal penalty |
All 2026 figures are subject to IRS revision. See irs.gov/retirement-plans and Publication 590-A for current limits before actually contributing.
There is a correct order to fill these, for most situations. Not opinion, math.
If your employer matches contributions, contribute enough to capture the full match. This is a 50–100% instant return on the matched portion, free money. There is almost no situation where skipping the match makes sense.
The only triple-tax-advantaged account in U.S. Law. Pre-tax contribution, tax-free growth, tax-free withdrawal for medical expenses. After 65, HSA behaves like a Traditional IRA for non-medical withdrawals. See HSA deep dive.
$7,000 per year of tax-free growth forever. If you're under the income phase-out, max this before doing anything else after the match and HSA. See Roth IRA guide.
$23,500 limit for 2026. Once the Roth IRA is full, come back here and fill the 401(k) to the full amount if you have the cash flow.
If you have children and expect college costs, fund a 529. Some states give tax deductions; all states give tax-free growth for qualified education expenses. See /accounts/529/.
Everything above the annual caps goes here. VTI, FSKAX, or equivalent total-market index fund, with a meaningful Bitcoin allocation. Long-term capital gains treatment after one year. No contribution limit.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs (FBTC, IBIT) are available inside Roth IRAs at most major brokerages. This is the most tax-efficient legal structure for long-term Bitcoin investing in the United States.
Fidelity holds the underlying Bitcoin for FBTC in self-custody[2], the only major issuer that does. If you are using an ETF as Roth-IRA Bitcoin exposure, FBTC is the pick on custody grounds. See spot ETFs for the full rundown.
Account selection is boring and it matters enormously. The priority order above costs you nothing and captures ~$250K+ in lifetime value for a median earner vs sloppy account selection. Verify the 2026 limits at IRS.gov before making actual contributions. The details matter; the order rarely changes.
Last updated 2026-04-18 · Not financial advice. Tax rules change every year, always verify current limits at IRS.gov before contributing.