A so-called backdoor Roth IRA is a strategy used by some earners to convert funds from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. This strategy is often used by individuals who cannot contribute directly to a Roth retirement account due to IRS income limits.
In this article, we’ll provide a basic overview of this strategy. Keep in mind, however, that Roth conversions may involve complex calculations and important tax considerations. So before making any decisions, consult a tax advisor.
Roth IRAs are a popular way to plan for retirement, thanks to the potential tax benefits they offer:
But not everyone can contribute to a Roth IRA. According to IRS rules, eligibility to contribute is based on your income and tax-filing status. If your annual income – specifically, your modified adjusted gross income – is above a certain limit, you won’t be able to make contributions directly to a Roth IRA.
Good to know: You can visit the IRS website for more information about how much you can contribute to a Roth IRA each year based on your income and tax-filing status. Keep in mind that contributions are not tax-deductible.
This is where the backdoor Roth IRA strategy comes in. With this option, you’d open and fund a Traditional IRA with nondeductible (after-tax) contributions and then convert those funds to a Roth IRA (note: nondeductible contributions are contributions for which you cannot take a tax deduction).
For earners who cannot make direct contributions to a Roth account due to the income caps, this is a technique for contributing to a Roth IRA.
Be aware, however, using this strategy may trigger a taxable event depending on your financial situation. In other words, you may have to pay taxes on some or the full amount you’re converting, so we recommend first consulting a tax advisor.
This is important: You will be liable for payment of income taxes on the amount you convert from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. You can choose to withhold a percentage of the funds for income tax withholding purposes. You should consult an independent tax professional or IRS Publication 590A for more information. Nothing communicated to you herein should be considered tax advice.
A backdoor Roth IRA comes with a number of tax considerations. You’ll want to speak with a tax professional before using this strategy as part of your tax or retirement planning.
While using this strategy may appear straightforward, the tax calculations can get complicated due to the IRS pro-rata rule for Roth conversions. This is especially true if you have multiple Traditional IRAs or your account(s) contains a mix of deductible and nondeductible contributions.
With the IRS pro-rata rule, the IRS looks across all the Traditional IRAs you own and treats them as one single account (taxable entity) when assessing the taxes owed on your conversion. Generally speaking, any deductible contributions and investment earnings (i.e., funds that were not previously taxed) you’re converting from your Traditional IRA are taxable.
To help figure out the taxable amount of your conversion, you’ll have to determine what percentage of your total Traditional IRA balance consists of deductible contributions versus nondeductible contributions. The percentage of your deductible contributions (out of the total balance across your Traditional IRAs) is then used to help calculate the taxes owed on your conversion.
Here’s a basic example:
*The calculations in this example are for illustrative purposes only.
As you can see, the tax calculations can get complicated if you own multiple Traditional IRAs or your account(s) contains a mix of deductible and nondeductible contributions. This is why it may be worthwhile to enlist the help of a professional tax advisor if you’re considering this strategy.
Good to know: The deadline for converting funds in retirements accounts to a Roth IRA is December 31 of the year for which taxes will be owed on the converted funds.
This strategy may make sense for earners who can’t contribute to a Roth IRA directly due to IRS income caps but want the potential tax benefits that a Roth account has to offer.
That being said, this strategy may not be appropriate for all. It really depends on your financial circumstances. Here are some key considerations to keep in mind:
Bottom line: Talk to your tax advisor for more information or if you have questions about your situation – they can guide you through the conversion process and potential tax implications. Together, you can then decide whether this strategy is appropriate for you.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized professional tax advice. Individuals should consult their own tax advisor for matters specific to their own taxes. This article was prepared by and approved by Marcus by Goldman Sachs, but does not reflect the institutional opinions of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc., Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC or any of their affiliates, subsidiaries or divisions. Goldman Sachs Bank USA and Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC are not providing any financial, economic, legal, accounting, tax or other recommendations in this article. Information and opinions expressed in this article are as of the date of this material only and subject to change without notice. Information contained in this article does not constitute the provision of investment advice by Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC or any of their affiliates. Neither Goldman Sachs Bank USA, Goldman Sachs & Co. LLC nor any of their affiliates makes any representations or warranties, express or implied, as to the accuracy or completeness of the statements of any information contained in this document and any liability therefore is expressly disclaimed.
Join our Marcus social media community, where we share content and inspiration to help improve your financial health. See you there!