Backdoor Roth Question

I’m 62 and plan to retire at the end of the year with a traditional IRA balance of $0.  I’m expecting my modified adjusted gross income in 2025 to exceed the Roth IRA income limit so I plan to make a the maximum contribution (after-tax) to my traditional IRA as early as possible in January and then convert the entire traditional IRA balance in full to my Roth IRA.   Since I’m retiring, I’ve elected to rollover the lump sum of my cash balance pension to my traditional IRA and expect this rollover to be completed after the completion of the backdoor Roth conversion.  Will having a balance in the traditional IRA after the pension funds are rolled over complicate matters relative to 2025 Form 8606 (Nondeductible IRA’s) when I file my tax return in 2026? If it does create a problem, I still have time to redirect the rollover the lump sum of my cash balance pension to my 401(k).  Thank you!



I think you misstated the years. If you will not have any earned income in 2025, you cannot make an IRA contribution unless it’s a spousal contribution. You may have meant 2024 for a non deductible IRA contribution that you can also convert in 2024 tax free as long as you do not roll funds into your IRA until 2025.

Any year you do a conversion and roll it pre tax dollars, the conversion will be mostly taxable, so you should make the contribution this year and convert this year while delaying the rollover until 2025.

Sorry for any confusion and hopefully I can clarify.  I already made my 2024 non deductible IRA contribution in Q1 of 2024 and I will have earned income in 2025 primarily due to a 2024 bonus that will be paid out in Q1 2025.  Hence, the non deductible IRA contribution I mentioned for early January 2025 is for 2025 and not 2024.  My concern is whether the sequence of events: i.e. 1) starting 2025 with a $0 TIRA balance, then performing the mega backdoor Roth conversion which also will leave a $0 TIRA balance, then 2) rolling over my pension to the TIRA thus ending 2025 with a six-figure balance; will present any issue(s) on the 2025 Form 8606 (Nondeductible IRA’s) when I file my 2025 tax return in 2026?

Under these circumstances, your 2025 back door Roth conversion would be almost entirely taxable due to the pension rollover.

However, will your 2025 MAGI after retirement still be too high to qualify for a regular Roth IRA contribution? If you can make a regular Roth IRA contribution for 2025, that will eliminate the need for a back door Roth contribution/conversion that would be taxable due to the pension rollover.

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