I get a lot of questions about Roth conversions. Some have relatively straightforward answers and are asked with great frequency. So here’s a quick Roth conversion FAQ.
Q.: Dan, is a re-characterization of some 401(k) funds even allowed in a year where I have no earned income?
A.: Recharacterizations of conversions to Roth accounts are no longer permitted at all under the most recent tax code changes. Earned income only affects your ability to make an annual contribution to a Roth account. You must have earned income to make a contribution. Earned income is not a factor in determining your eligibility to convert traditional retirement money to a Roth account.
Q.: Can a Roth conversion be counted as part or all of my required RMD?
A.: No. The required minimum distribution (RMD) must come out first. Amounts withdrawn for RMD can NOT be converted. Once the RMD is satisfied, you can convert to a Roth account as much as you want over and above the RMD amount.
Q.: With so many retirees annoyed by the taxes on unneeded RMD, why would a retiree convert more money to a Roth IRA and pay even more taxes than the RMD requires?
A.: Any time the taxes payable upon conversion are likely to be less than the taxes payable whenever the money would eventually be taken out, a conversion is worth considering. A common reason to convert some retirement account money after the RMD is satisfied is that the tax schedule applicable to a couple filing a joint tax return is more favorable than the schedule that applies to a single taxpayer. At some point, one spouse will pass away leaving the other to file as a single and possibly be subject to higher rates.
Q.: Is there a particular time of year I should be doing the conversion?
A.: I recommend waiting until near year-end. With the new tax law eliminating the ability to reverse (“recharacterize”) a conversion, getting the intended effect is dependent on converting the right amount. Convert too much and you can put yourself in a higher tax bracket, reducing or eliminating the tax benefits of the strategy. You have the best chance of getting the amount right by waiting until late in the year to assess your tax situation.
If you do the conversion early in the year, you can only estimate what your income and deduction amounts will be. At a minimum, you will need to assess the amount of wages, bonuses, interest, dividends, earnings, capital gains, medical expenses, charitable donations, state and local taxes, and mortgage interest. By waiting until late in the year, you can use the year-to-date actuals and only need to estimate the activity over the final portion of the year.
Q.: I contributed to my nondeductible IRA. Since that is after-tax money, I should be able to convert that to my Roth tax-free, right?
A.: Maybe. Any portion of a conversion that is attributable to a nondeductible contribution, converts without tax. However, you cannot just pick out the nondeductible contribution for a conversion. If you have money in any traditional IRA in addition to the nondeductible contribution, you have to deal with the notorious pro rata rule.
Q.: I am planning on making a series of Roth conversions over the next few years. Do I need a separate account for each Roth conversion?
A.: No. In the past, many found that using a separate account for each conversion made the accounting on reversing or “recharacterizing” a conversion easier. However, the recent tax code changes prohibit recharacterizing a Roth conversion so that is no longer an issue.
If you have a question for Dan, please email him with ‘MarketWatch Q&A’ on the subject line.
Dan Moisand’s comments are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for personalized advice. Consult your adviser about what is best for you. Some questions are edited for brevity.
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