Recent legislation now permits plans to adopt a newly expanded Roth in-plan conversion feature. This new plan feature allows you to convert all or a portion of your pre-tax and traditional after-tax money to a Roth account within the plan.
Q: Who is eligible to make a Roth in-plan conversion?
A: All participants are eligible to convert pre-tax or traditional after-tax money to Roth within the plan.
Q: Can I recharacterize (undo) an in-plan Roth conversion?
A: No, a Roth in-plan conversion cannot be undone.
Q: What are the differences between an in-plan Roth conversion and a Roth IRA rollover?
A: See our grid to review the differences between the two.
Q: What are the benefits of a Roth conversion?
A: Roth assets, including earnings, can be withdrawn free of taxes provided that you are age 59½ or older and the account has been established for at least five years.
Tax-free withdrawals could be a significant benefit, especially if you expect to be in the same or a higher income tax bracket at the time of withdrawal than you are at the time of the conversion to Roth. That said, a Roth conversion is not for everyone.
Q: Who might benefit from a Roth in-plan conversion?
A: You might benefit from a Roth in-plan conversion if you:
Q: Who might not benefit from a Roth in-plan conversion?
A: You might not benefit from a Roth in-plan conversion if you:
Q: What happens if I withdraw Roth money within five years of the conversion?
A: If you withdrew Roth assets within five years of the conversion you would owe a 10% federal penalty tax on the portion of the withdrawal attributable to the conversion. In addition, you may also have to pay ordinary income tax as well as the 10% penalty on the portion of the withdrawal that represents Roth earnings, unless you are age 59 ½ or older.
Q: I have already been making Roth contributions within my plan. Does that count toward the five-year holding period that applies to Roth conversions?
A: No. Each Roth conversion has a separate five-year holding period for determining whether a withdrawal of converted money is subject to a 10% federal penalty tax. However, one five-year holding period applies to applicable Roth money for the purposes of determining whether earnings may be withdrawn tax-free.
Q: What are the costs of a conversion?
A: The tax owed on a conversion could be significant. You should consult a tax advisor before deciding to converting to Roth so you can better understand the costs as well as the potential benefits. Here are just some of the factors to be considered:
If you are converting pre-tax money to Roth:
If you are converting after-tax money to Roth:
Q: When would I have to pay taxes on the conversion?
A: You would have to pay taxes when you file your return for the year in which the conversion was completed.
If you're paying estimated quarterly taxes, you may want to consult with a tax advisor to determine if the conversion will impact your quarterly payments.
Q: Will Vanguard withhold taxes on a Roth in-plan conversion?
Q: Is Roth money exempt from required minimum distributions?
A: No. Unlike a Roth IRA, you have to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from Roth money in your plan. You do not have to take RMDs from a Roth IRA.
To avoid RMDs, you could roll over Roth money to a Roth IRA before age 72. However, unless you have a Roth IRA, this would restart the five-year holding period requirement before you could take tax-free withdrawals of earnings from the Roth IRA conversion account.
Q: What factors should I consider when choosing between a Roth in-plan conversion and a Roth IRA conversion?
A: Although your plan may now permit Roth in-plan conversions, you may also be eligible to convert all or a portion of your assets to a Roth IRA. Only assets that you have access to through a distributable event (such as termination from employment or the availability of in-service withdrawals) can be converted to a Roth IRA. Some of the factors worth examining are the level of creditor protection, investment selection, the costs and fees associated with each account, and the flexibility and control you have over each account.
Q: How do I request a Roth in-plan conversion?
A: Please contact a Vanguard Participant Services associate at 800-523-1188 Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Eastern time. You can also perform a Roth in-plan conversion online by logging onto your account at vanguard.com/retirementplans, and clicking Manage my money.
Q: Is there a deadline for completing an in-plan Roth conversion?
A: You can complete a Roth in-plan conversion at any time. Conversions submitted before 4 p.m., Eastern time, will receive that day's trade date.
All investing is subject to risk, including the possible loss of the money you invest.