roth 401k
I contribute monthly to an employer roth 401k, the employer match is placed in a different account. Can I do the “back door roth” transfers and if so can they be done every month as soon as the employer match is deposited. This may not be possible because it is 401k not ira, any knowledge of this. Thanks Jon
Permalink Submitted by Alan - IRA critic on Fri, 2018-03-09 16:07
With respect to a 401k plan, the back door strategy requires a plan that allows “employee contributions” which are after tax contributions made to a separate sub account in the pre tax portion of the plan. Such sub accounts are usually eligible for distribution at a frequency determined by the plan. Earnings on these after tax contributions remain in the after tax sub account, so a direct rollover to a Roth IRA will involve tax on the earnings. That said, if the earnings are large enough, a split rollover per Notice 2014-54 can be done where the earnings go to your TIRA account and current tax is avoided. You would have to ask your plan administrator how often you can make distributions from the after tax sub account to your Roth IRA, and if not to your Roth IRA then to your Roth 401k. The latter is called an IRR (In plan Roth rollover). If you have a choice it is usually better to elect transfer to your Roth IRA. Regarding your employer match, it is usually based on your Roth 401k deferrals and goes to your pre tax account, but does not affect the after tax sub account.