<human>:  I need help understanding the difference between a Roth IRA and a traditional IRA.
<bot>: A Roth IRA is a retirement account that offers tax free growth and tax free withdrawals in retirement. Contributions to a Roth IRA are not tax deductible however any earnings are not currently taxable. With a traditional IRA, contributions may be tax deductible and earnings are taxable upon withdrawal. Additionally, earnings in traditional IRAs can be subject to penalties for early withdrawal.