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Level 2
March 24, 2021

Conversion from traditional to ROTH IRA

  • March 24, 2021
  • 1 reply
  • 18 views

Client took RMD of 24K from one IRA account.  Realized he could covert to ROTH instead of taking RMD.  RMD was shipped to his primary (major) money management firm.  This account (Primary) has (1) taxable spending account, (1) each TRADITIONAL IRA for him and spouse, and (1) each ROTH account for him and spouse Asked his primary account manager upon receipt of RMD in joint taxable account if they could directly transfer the 24K amount into a ROTH instead.  Primary account received 24K RMD into joint taxable account, and immediately (within 1 hour) transferred 24K into their traditional IRA, and then, same day, transferred 24K into ROTH IRA.  He received 2 Forms 1099-R.  The first (24K) was from the original Traditional IRA Account in the first firm.  He then received a second Form 1099-R from his primary account for 24K for the same amount of money.  He thinks he is double-taxed.  Any ideas on how to document this?  (I am afraid I know the answer.)

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1 reply

Level 6
March 26, 2021

It sounds like the first IRA distribution was an indirect rollover, entered on screen13.1 in the Rollovers section > Indirect Rollovers > To other than a Roth IRA.

Then enter the second 1099-R and enter the rollover amount in the Form 8606 section > Conversions to Roth IRA.

BUT - My understanding is that an RMD cannot be converted into a Roth.  From Pub 590-A

Required distributions. 

You can’t convert amounts that must be distributed from your traditional IRA for a particular year (including the calendar year in which you reach age 72) under the required distribution rules (discussed in Pub. 590-B).

rbynaker
Level 13
March 26, 2021

I'm not sure what tax year we're talking about.  For 2020 there were no RMDs, so this strategy works for that but not for most years.

Rick

Level 6
March 26, 2021

EXCELLENT CATCH!

Thank you!