What happens to earnings in a traditional IRA until withdrawal?

Earnings in a traditional IRA accumulate tax-deferred until withdrawal. This means that any investment earnings—such as interest, dividends, or capital gains—generated within the IRA do not incur taxes during the accumulation period. Instead, the taxes are deferred until the account holder takes distributions, which can be beneficial as it allows the investments to grow without the drag of annual tax liabilities.

In contrast, if earnings were taxed annually, the growth potential of the account would be limited because taxes would reduce the compounding effect. Similarly, if the earnings were subject to higher tax rates or accrued tax-free, it would change the fundamental tax benefits typically associated with a traditional IRA. The key advantage of a traditional IRA lies in the ability to defer taxes, enabling a potentially larger nest egg upon retirement when withdrawals are made, usually at a lower tax rate.