What type of retirement account allows contributions to be made after-tax?

A Roth IRA is the type of retirement account that facilitates contributions made with after-tax income. This means that when you contribute to a Roth IRA, you do so with money that has already been taxed. As a result, when you eventually withdraw funds from this account during retirement, both your contributions and any investment earnings grow tax-free, provided certain conditions are met. This feature makes the Roth IRA a valuable option for individuals who anticipate being in a higher tax bracket in retirement, as they can benefit from tax-free withdrawals later on.

In contrast, traditional IRAs and 401(k)s allow for pre-tax contributions. In these accounts, taxes are deferred until withdrawal, which could potentially result in a tax burden if you are in a higher tax bracket at that time. A 403(b) plan, similar to a 401(k), is also generally funded with pre-tax dollars. Thus, the standout feature of a Roth IRA is its after-tax contribution structure that leads to tax-free withdrawals during retirement.