The Roth conversion presents a unique opportunity for investors looking for tax-free income during
retirement. All individuals, regardless of income, are allowed to convert as much or as little of their IRA
and eligible employer-sponsored plan assets as they want. With some careful planning, this strategy can
help maximize future retirement savings and add another layer of tax diversification to your portfolio.
Key Features
• Contributions are made with after-tax dollars, and withdrawals of your contributions can be taken
at any time, tax and penalty free.
• Earnings grow free of federal and state taxes, provided certain conditions are met.
• There are no required minimum distributions (RMDs).
• Qualified distributions are tax and penalty free after five years*, provided one of the following
conditions is met. The account holder:
– Is age 59½ or older
– Incurs a disability
– Is a first-time homebuyer (up to $10,000 lifetime limit)
– Passes away
– Uses the distributions for qualifying medical expenses or higher education
Who Can Convert to a Roth?
Any taxpayer can convert traditional, rollover, SEP, or SIMPLE IRA (after the two-year period) assets, as
well as eligible employer-sponsored plan assets, to a Roth. Also, thanks to the passage of the American
Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, those with access to a qualified plan containing a Roth provision also have the
opportunity to convert their contributions at any time, without the need of a triggering event. The conversion
amount is reported and taxed as a distribution for the conversion year.
The Tax Implications of Conversion
There is one very important rule to keep in mind when it comes to converting to a Roth: federal and state
income taxes must be paid on any portion of the conversion that has not already been taxed.
So, when considering a conversion, be sure you understand the tax implications and how you will pay the
taxes incurred.
• If an account has been funded with both nondeductible and deductible contributions, federal
income tax is owed on the previously untaxed amounts.
• Under the pro-rata rule, the calculation for taxes owed on the conversion is based on the ratio of
nondeductible contributions to the market value of the account. For IRAs, all account balances,
including SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, are aggregated, not just the account being converted. In other
words, if nondeductible assets are converted from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, and you hold
other IRAs, it is assumed that the conversion amount comes prorated from the aggregate amount
of money in all of your IRAs.
Formula for Calculating Tax-Free Amount
Nondeductible contributions ÷ total value of all IRAs = % of conversion amount that is tax free
To Convert or Not to Convert
Because there are many factors to weigh when considering a conversion, here are several
important questions to help you make a decision:
1. Do you want to pay taxes now or later?
• Income tax is owed on any taxable portion of the amount converted.
• A Roth IRA conversion may push you into a higher tax bracket.
2. Do you expect that your income tax bracket will be higher at or during retirement,
or do you expect tax rates to increase?
• If the answer is yes, it may be beneficial to do a full or partial conversion now.
• If the answer is no, it may not be prudent to convert.
3. Can tax on the conversion amount be paid from a source other than the IRA?
• It’s generally better to pay taxes with non-IRA assets because tax payments from
the IRA itself could be looked at as early distributions and therefore be penalized.
• A partial conversion may be beneficial if you cannot pay the entire tax burden.
4. Will you need to access the money within the next five years?
• Distributions taken prior to the five-year holding period may be subject to
taxes and penalties.
5. Do you intend to leave tax-free income to beneficiaries?
• Because there are no RMDs with a Roth IRA, a conversion may be a good strategy
for accumulating assets for future generations.
• Heirs may receive a tax-free inheritance. (Please note: Depending on the
circumstances, non-spouse beneficiaries will be required to take minimum
distributions over their life expectancy or deplete the full balance within 10 years of
the original depositor’s death.)
Other Considerations
• If an account has been funded with both nondeductible and deductible contributions, federal
income tax is owed on the previously untaxed amounts.
• A Roth conversion must be executed by December 31; individuals have until the tax-filing
deadline to pay taxes on the conversion.
• In the past, you could use a recharacterization to undo or reverse a previously processed Roth
conversion. That is no longer the case. As of 2018, the IRS no longer allows Roth conversion
contributions to be recharacterized.
* Distributions are taken from the nontaxable portion first. Only when all contributions have been withdrawn will
any earnings or conversion assets be distributed (subject to tax and an early withdrawal penalty, unless an
exception applies).
This material has been provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute either tax or legal advice.
Although we go to great lengths to make sure our information is accurate and useful, we recommend you consult a tax preparer,
professional tax advisor, or lawyer.