Making sense of Roth conversions

Are you considering a Roth conversion? You’re not alone – converting at least part of one’s tax-deferred retirement account into a Roth IRA has become a popular consideration. But, the fact is, Roth conversions can be complicated and may not be worth it for everyone – a lot will depend on your particular situation.

Let’s explore some of the criteria that could make Roth conversions advantageous.

A Roth IRA is a retirement account where you contribute after-tax dollars to your plan. When converting a pretaxed account like a traditional IRA, 401(k), SEP or SIMPLE IRA to a Roth IRA from a tax-deferred account, income tax also must be paid on funds being transferred or converted. Because you have already paid taxes on these contributions, the Roth IRA distributions are tax-free after a five-year holding period and provided you are over 59 1/2.

Also, there are no Required Minimum Distributions for original Roth IRA holders (versus named beneficiaries), making Roth conversions appear attractive relative to a tax-deferred retirement account, where you face RMDs and must pay income tax on future withdrawals.

Taxes on funds transferred from a tax-deferred account to a Roth could be substantial, so you want to temper the tax liability as much as you can.

We suggest you consult a tax professional along with your financial planner to fully understand the tax ramifications of a Roth conversion for your circumstances.

“The decision to do a Roth conversion is partly based on considering whether you will come out ahead despite the initial tax outlay,” says wealth planner Lori Bensing. “Ideally, you want to do a conversion when your income is lower, and therefore, your marginal tax rate is lower.”

This can create a narrow window of time for a Roth conversion.

Early retirees with low or no income can be good candidates to do Roth conversions, especially if they haven’t started to take Social Security yet, says Bensing.

There may be other life stages where you move into a lower income tax bracket. Yet, even with lower income, the amount of funds you are converting could bump you into a higher tax bracket if they are all transferred in the same year. If this is the case, your Roth conversion may need to be planned out annually over several years.

“You need to be willing to commit to a multiyear process,” says wealth planner Andrew Band. “Otherwise, a conversion in one year can move your marginal tax rate up substantially.”

A multiyear process for conversion can also help prevent higher Medicare premiums, which rise much like taxes after your income passes certain thresholds. During the conversion process, work with a tax professional and your planner to help manage your tax liabilities, which may involve postponing certain tax events, like selling your home.

Roth conversions may also result in lowering future traditional IRA RMDs. Since the age for first year RMDs has been extended, you potentially have a bit more time to spread out these conversions to age 73.

In addition to the time that the conversion itself takes, the converted funds may need to sit in the Roth account for years before posting gains that put you financially ahead of where you would have been had you left the funds in a tax-deferred account.

“Conversions make sense if you don’t need to access the converted funds for several years,” says Bensing, also noting the five-year holding requirement to avoid withdrawal penalties.

Another consideration: your life expectancy.

“You need to make a calculation about your longevity that allows for enough time to recoup in the market what you lost initially from paying taxes upfront,” says Band.

Before worrying about recouping the taxes triggered by a Roth conversion, you need the money to pay for the taxes themselves.

We generally advise against using funds from your retirement accounts to pay for the taxes as that could leave you with less retirement income in the long run. If you use money from retirement accounts to pay the taxes (including penalties if you are converting before age 59 1/2), you won’t benefit from any investment growth that money may have had.

Given the amount of savings that may be required to pay for a Roth conversion, this requirement itself may be a deal breaker – or at the very least, it may mean a conversion doesn’t provide a large enough advantage.

“For many, a Roth conversion could end up being a wash as far as how much it saves you on taxes,” says wealth planner Phil Wilson. “It just depends on your unique circumstances.”

Don’t forget the other criteria for a Roth conversion, as well, such as managing your tax liabilities and not needing the funds for at least five years, and perhaps much longer to recoup the tax impact.