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A Roth conversion moves pre-tax dollars — from a traditional IRA, SEP-IRA, or old 401(k) — into a Roth IRA. You pay ordinary income tax on the amount you convert today, and in return those dollars grow tax-free and come out tax-free in retirement. This page explains how conversions work in plain English and gives you a quick estimator: enter your age, your current and expected retirement brackets, and how much you plan to convert.
Enter four numbers. The estimator computes the federal tax cost of converting today and projects how that compares with the tax you would have paid in retirement on the same dollars.
Educational estimate only. Assumes 7% annual growth and retirement at age 65. Does not account for state income taxes, net investment income tax, Medicare premium surcharges, or the impact on Social Security taxation. Consult a tax professional before converting.
How a conversion works
Move the money.
You instruct your custodian to transfer a chosen amount from a traditional or pre-tax account into a Roth IRA. You can convert any amount — there is no annual ceiling on conversions, unlike contribution limits. The conversion must be completed by December 31 to count for that tax year.
Pay tax now at your current rate.
The converted amount is added to your ordinary income for that year and taxed at your marginal federal (and state) rate. Paying from funds outside the retirement account is strongly preferred — using the Roth account itself to cover the bill shrinks the balance that gets to grow tax-free.
Let it grow — and withdraw — tax-free.
Once inside the Roth, the money compounds without further tax drag. Qualified withdrawals in retirement — after age 59½ and five years from the first contribution — are completely tax-free. There are also no Required Minimum Distributions during the owner's lifetime, so the balance can continue to grow indefinitely.
FAQ
If you arrived here from a search for “Roth conversion calculator” or “should I convert to a Roth”, the answers below cover the background, the tax rules, and the situations where conversions do and don't make sense. For your specific number, use the estimator above and follow up with a tax professional.
Beyond the calculator
Quillwright tracks every pre-tax account in one place, projects each year's RMD against the IRS table, and flags Roth conversion, QCD, and harvesting opportunities in plain English — not portfolio-manager shorthand.
7 days free, then $19/mo — cancel during the trial and you owe nothing.
Reminder
Educational only, not financial advice. The estimator above uses simplified assumptions: a 7% annual growth rate, retirement at age 65, and federal marginal rates only. It does not account for state income taxes, Medicare IRMAA surcharges, the impact on Social Security income taxation, phase-outs, or the five-year holding rule. Your actual tax outcome depends on your full income picture; consult a licensed tax professional before making any conversion decision.