Earning a higher income may seem like the key to a more comfortable retirement, but it can actually be a barrier to some types of tax-advantaged retirement savings. That's because a larger salary can prevent you from contributing to aRoth IRA. Fortunately, there isa way around the Roth IRAroadblock for affluent taxpayers: a backdoor Roth IRA.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, single taxpayers with incomes over $153,000 and married taxpayers who file a joint tax return and have incomes over $228,000 are precluded from making contributions to a Roth IRA (up from $144,000 and $214,000 in 2022).
- However, you can contribute to a traditional IRA regardless of your income and convert those assets into a Roth IRA—a strategy known as a backdoor Roth IRA.
- If you have both pretax and after-tax money in your IRAs, you will have to prorate the amount you convert and pay tax on a portion of it.
Roth IRA Income Limits
For 2023, Roth IRA contributions are not allowed for single filers with a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of $153,000 or more or married couples filing jointly whose MAGI exceeds $228,000 (up from $144,000 and $214,000 in 2022).
Traditional IRAs have no income limits for eligibility. However, contributions to a traditional IRA are not tax-deductible if the taxpayer (or the spouse) has a retirement plan at work and earns over a certain amount.
In other words, high earners can't contribute directly to a Roth IRA, but they can contribute to a traditional IRA—and that is where a backdoor Roth IRA comes into it.
There have been attempts in Washington to eliminate the backdoor Roth IRA strategy. Most recently, the Build Back Better Act—passed by the House of Representatives but stalled in the Senate—would have curtailed its use. Similar legislation may eventually succeed.
How a Backdoor Roth IRA Works
A backdoor Roth IRA involves convertingtraditional IRA assets into Roth IRA assets. It's a multi-step process.
The first step is contributing to a traditional IRA. Next, convert that IRA into a Roth IRA.
You can complete the conversion using an existing Roth account, or you may open a new Roth IRA if you don’t have one. The easiest way to execute a conversion is via atrustee-to-trustee transfer.
There are no income limits on who can make a Roth conversion.
The financial institution holding your traditional IRA contributions transfers them directly to the institution that holds your Roth IRA. It can also be the same financial institution in what's known as a same-trustee transfer. The conversion is reported on IRS Form 8606 when you file your taxes for the year.
After the conversion is complete, the money in your Roth IRA becomes subject to Roth IRA distribution rules. The primary benefit to you is that any future earnings from investments in your account would not be subject to taxes when you (or your heirs) withdraw them.
In addition, Roth IRAs aren't subject to required minimum distributions. (RMDs). With a traditional IRA, you'd be required to begin taking distributions from your account at age 73 or face a hefty tax penalty. With a Roth, there are no RMDs during your lifetime. (The age minimum was raised a couple of times but was set at 73 as of Jan. 1, 2023.)
One Catch: The Roth Conversion Tax Bite
While converting to a Roth can minimize your tax liability in retirement, you won't be able to avoid taxes entirely. Untaxed amounts in your traditional IRA are taxed at the time the conversion is completed, just as if you were withdrawing them. Both pretax contributions and investment gains may be subject to tax.
A conversion could add significantly to your tax bill in the year you make the conversion, especially if a large sum is involved. For that reason, you might want to spread the process over several years.
The conversion should be relatively simple if all of your traditional IRAs were non-deductible IRAs. Because you didn't receive a tax deduction on your contributions when you made them, only the IRA earnings will be taxable.
However, the math gets more complicated if you have a mix of deductible and non-deductible IRAs. You can't simply convert the non-deductible portion into a Roth IRA. Instead, you must treat all your IRAs as one collective IRA and convert a proportional share of the pretax and after-tax dollars in the account. So, for example, if the money in your IRAs is 60% pretax and 40% after-tax, a $100,000 conversion would be 60% taxable.
The IRS does offer a workaround, however. If your employer allows it, you may be able to roll the pretax part of your traditional IRA contributions into your 401(k), leaving only the non-deductible portion behind for the conversion. This is known as a reverse rollover.
When Does a Backdoor Roth Make Sense?
A backdoor Roth IRA may be appealing if you've been blocked from contributing to a Roth because of your income. However, it's important to consider your retirement timeline. The further you are from retirement, the more a conversion may make sense. That's because the tax-free growth in your Roth account will have more time to make up for the immediate tax hit you'll take by converting.
Another consideration is whether you expect to be in a significantly higher tax bracket in the future than you are today—which might happen if, for example, tax rates rise significantly in the years ahead. That could argue for converting to a Roth and paying the taxes now so you won't have to pay even higher ones in the future.
How Much Can You Contribute to a Roth IRA?
If you're eligible for a Roth IRA, you can contribute up to $6,500 in 2023 (up from $6,000 in 2022) if you're under age 50 or $7,500 if you're 50 or older (up from $7,000 in 2022). The same maximum applies to traditional IRAs—it is also the total amount you can contribute in one year across multiple IRAs.
Are There Income Limits for Converting to a Roth IRA?
Not anymore. Prior to 2010, however, taxpayers with adjusted gross incomes over $100,000 were ineligible.
How Are Traditional IRA Distributions Taxed?
Distributions from a traditional IRA are taxed as ordinary income. That means you'll pay a rate equal to the highest marginal tax bracket your other income puts you into (such as 24%). If your distributions plus your other income exceed the maximum for that bracket, a portion of your distributions will be taxed at the rate of the next-highest bracket (such as 32%).
The Bottom Line
A backdoor Roth IRA can allow high-income taxpayers to enjoy the tax benefits of a Roth IRA. Though the conversion itself isn't difficult, untangling the tax issues associated with the process can be. Consulting a knowledgeable tax advisor to weigh the pros and cons could be worth the cost.
As someone deeply familiar with financial planning, retirement strategies, and tax-advantaged savings vehicles, I can affirm that the article provides a comprehensive overview of the complexities surrounding Roth IRAs, traditional IRAs, and the backdoor Roth IRA strategy. The intricacies of income limits, contribution rules, tax implications, and legislative attempts to modify these strategies are well-explained. Here's a breakdown of the key concepts and topics covered:
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Roth IRA Income Limits (2023):
- Single filers with a MAGI of $153,000 or more cannot contribute to a Roth IRA.
- Married couples filing jointly are ineligible if their MAGI exceeds $228,000.
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Traditional IRA Eligibility:
- There are no income limits for contributing to a traditional IRA.
- However, if you (or your spouse) have a retirement plan at work and earn above a certain threshold, contributions might not be tax-deductible.
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Backdoor Roth IRA:
- This strategy involves contributing to a traditional IRA and then converting it into a Roth IRA.
- The conversion process can be executed through a trustee-to-trustee transfer.
- Contributions to a traditional IRA can be non-deductible, which affects the tax implications during conversion.
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Tax Implications of Roth Conversion:
- Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA triggers taxes on untaxed amounts.
- The tax liability depends on the proportion of pretax and after-tax dollars in your IRAs.
- Strategies like a reverse rollover to a 401(k) can help manage tax implications.
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Benefits of Backdoor Roth IRA:
- Roth IRAs offer tax-free growth and no required minimum distributions (RMDs) during your lifetime, unlike traditional IRAs.
- The strategy is particularly beneficial for those expecting to be in higher tax brackets in the future.
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Contribution Limits:
- In 2023, the maximum contribution to both Roth and traditional IRAs is $6,500 for those under 50 and $7,500 for those 50 or older.
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Income Limits for Roth IRA Conversion:
- As of now, there are no income limits for converting to a Roth IRA.
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Taxation of Traditional IRA Distributions:
- Distributions from traditional IRAs are taxed as ordinary income, based on your income tax bracket.
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Legislative Considerations:
- Various legislative efforts, like the Build Back Better Act, have attempted to restrict or eliminate the backdoor Roth IRA strategy.
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Consultation:
- Given the complexities and potential tax implications, seeking advice from a knowledgeable tax advisor is crucial when considering a backdoor Roth IRA strategy.
In summary, while a higher income might initially seem like a barrier to tax-advantaged retirement savings, strategies like the backdoor Roth IRA can offer opportunities to navigate these complexities effectively.
