How to Tell If You Have a Roth IRA

Check your financial institution statements and account registrations

The simplest way to know if you have a Roth IRA is to look at your bank or brokerage statements. If you opened a Roth IRA, you will have received account documents when you created it — usually a confirmation email and a paper statement showing the account type. Search your email for messages from your bank or investment company that say "Roth IRA" or "Individual Retirement Account — Roth". Look for statements dated from when you think you opened the account.

Log into your online banking or brokerage portal and check your account list. Most financial institutions label each account by type. You will see labels like "Roth IRA", "Traditional IRA", "Brokerage Account", or "Savings Account". If you have multiple accounts, the Roth IRA will be listed separately from your checking or savings accounts. Write down the account number and the institution's name — you will need both if you ever need to move the account or take a withdrawal.

If you cannot find your statements or remember which bank you used, check your tax returns from the year you opened the account. The IRS Form 5498 (IRA Contribution Information) is sent to you and filed with the IRS whenever you contribute to a Roth IRA. This form will show the account custodian's name and the type of IRA.

Key Takeaways

Your Roth IRA account documents and statements will clearly label the account type as "Roth IRA" or "Roth Individual Retirement Account".
Log into your bank or brokerage website and look at your account list — the Roth IRA will be listed separately from checking and savings accounts.
If you cannot find recent statements, check your IRS Form 5498 from the year you opened the account, which names the financial institution and account type.
The IRS maintains a record of all IRAs you have opened; you can contact the IRS or your state tax authority if you have lost track of an account.

Look for the IRS Form 5498 in your tax documents

The IRS sends Form 5498 to you every year you have a Roth IRA with a balance or make a contribution. This form is filed with the IRS and a copy goes to you, usually by May 31 of the year after you contribute. The form shows the name of the financial institution (the custodian), your account number, and the type of IRA — it will say "Roth IRA" in the box labeled "Type of IRA".

If you have kept your tax documents, look for Form 5498 from any year you think you had a Roth IRA. You do not need the most recent year — even a form from five or ten years ago will tell you the institution and account number. Call that institution with your Social Security number and ask if the account is still open. If you have moved or changed your name, bring a copy of your ID and any name-change documents.

Contact the IRS or your state tax authority

If you have lost all your statements and cannot find Form 5498, the IRS has a record of every IRA you have opened. Call the IRS at 1-800-829-1040 (the main customer service line) and tell them you are trying to locate an IRA account. Have your Social Security number ready. The IRS can tell you which financial institutions have reported IRA accounts in your name, though they cannot tell you the current balance — you will need to contact the institution directly for that.

Some states also maintain records of IRAs opened by residents. Contact your state's tax authority or department of revenue if the IRS cannot locate the account. This is especially useful if the account was opened through a state-sponsored program or if the financial institution has closed.

Ask your employer or former employer

If you opened a Roth IRA through a workplace retirement plan — such as a SEP-IRA or Solo 401(k) that you rolled into a Roth IRA — your employer's payroll or benefits department may have records. Contact your current employer's human resources or benefits office and ask if they have documentation of any IRAs you opened through the company. If you opened the account at a former employer, call their benefits department or check any separation documents you received when you left.

Some employers offer Roth 401(k) plans, which are different from Roth IRAs but function similarly. If you are unsure whether you have a Roth IRA or a Roth 401(k), your employer's benefits office can clarify. They can also tell you whether the account was rolled over into an IRA after you left the company.

Review your credit report and financial history

If you opened a Roth IRA many years ago and have lost touch with the account, check your credit report for clues. While IRAs do not appear on your credit report, the financial institution that holds your IRA may appear in your credit history if you have had other accounts there. Pull your free credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com (the official site run by the three major credit bureaus) and look for banks or brokerages you recognize. Then contact those institutions to ask if you have an IRA account with them.

You can also review old tax returns, bank statements, or investment statements from years past. Look for any mention of an IRA contribution or any transfers to an IRA account. Even a single reference will give you the institution's name, which you can then use to track down the account.

Understand what you will see in a Roth IRA account

Once you have located your account, you will see certain features that confirm it is a Roth IRA. The account will show your contributions (the money you put in), the earnings (growth from investments), and the current balance. You will also see the account's opening date and the date of your most recent contribution or withdrawal.

A Roth IRA statement will show the investments you hold — stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or cash, depending on what you chose. It will not show a required minimum distribution (RMD) calculation, because Roth IRAs do not require you to withdraw money at any age during your lifetime. If your account statement shows an RMD, it is a Traditional IRA, not a Roth IRA.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have a Roth IRA without knowing it?

No. You must open a Roth IRA yourself or authorize someone (like a financial advisor) to open one on your behalf. You will receive account documents and confirmation. If you have no memory of opening one and cannot find documents, you almost certainly do not have one.

What if I opened a Roth IRA but never contributed?

You still have the account. Even with a zero balance, the account exists and the financial institution will have records. You may receive annual statements showing a zero balance, or the institution may close the account after a period of inactivity — check with them directly.

Can I have more than one Roth IRA?

Yes. You can open multiple Roth IRAs at different institutions. Your total contributions across all of them cannot exceed the annual limit set by the IRS, but you can split your money among several accounts. Check all your financial institutions to find every Roth IRA you own.

What if the financial institution where I opened my Roth IRA has closed?

Your account was transferred to another institution when the original one closed. Contact the FDIC (if it was a bank) or SIPC (if it was a brokerage) with the original institution's name and your account number. They can tell you where your account was moved.

Do I need to do anything once I find my Roth IRA?

Not immediately. Once you have located it, review the balance and investments to make sure they match your goals. If the account has been inactive for years, you may want to update your beneficiary information or consider whether you want to continue contributing.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.