Tax-Advantaged Order
Rule-of-thumb contribution priority from match % and HSA eligibility (educational).
Tax Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates based on general tax rules and may not reflect your specific situation. Tax laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Consult a qualified tax professional or CPA for advice tailored to your circumstances.
Inputs
Results
Rule-of-thumb order
401(k) match → HSA → IRA → taxable
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter the employer match percentage on your 401(k) — always contribute enough to capture the full match first.
- Indicate whether you have access to an HSA-eligible high-deductible health plan.
- Review the suggested contribution order: 1) 401(k) up to match, 2) HSA if eligible, 3) IRA, 4) max 401(k), 5) taxable brokerage.
- Use the priority scores to understand the tax advantage ranking of each account type.
- This order maximizes tax efficiency by prioritizing free money (match), then tax-free accounts (HSA, Roth IRA), then tax-deferred.
What each input means
- Employer match %
- Match on first X% of salary (enter match percentage).
- HSA-eligible HDHP?
- Whether you can contribute to a Health Savings Account.
How this is calculated
Worked example, using the default values
- Identify Input ParametersEmployer match % = 50, HSA-eligible HDHP? = 1 = 2 input(s) provided
- Calculate Rule-of-thumb order401(k) match → HSA → IRA → taxable = 401(k) match → HSA → IRA → taxable
- Calculate 401(k) score401(k) score = match * 2 + 40140 = 140
- Calculate HSA scoreHSA score = hsa * 35 + 3065 = 65
Engine last updated . Checked against 2 independently-derived tests — how we verify calculators.
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