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Roth Conversion Calculator
Use our Roth Conversion Calculator to estimate conversion taxes, project Roth IRA and Traditional IRA retirement values, and compare the potential after-tax difference based on your tax rates, age, conversion amount, and expected investment growth.
Total current pre-tax balance in your Traditional IRA
No annual limit on conversions. You owe income tax on the full converted amount in the year of conversion.
Combined federal + state rate applied to the conversion this year
Your expected effective rate on Traditional IRA withdrawals in retirement
Your age today
Average annual portfolio growth rate. Both accounts grow tax-deferred; Roth grows tax-free.
Qualified Roth withdrawals require age 59½ and a 5-year account seasoning period.
Paying from outside keeps the full converted amount growing tax-free inside the Roth.
year-by-year Roth | Traditional values |
|---|---|
Estimated Conversion Cost
Estimated Conversion Cost
Traditional After-Tax Value
Traditional After-Tax Value
Adjusted Roth Value
Adjusted Roth Value
Net Advantage
Net Advantage
Total current pre-tax balance in your Traditional IRA
Key IRS Rules for 2026
Total current pre-tax balance in your Traditional IRA
What Is a Roth Conversion Calculator?
A Roth Conversion Calculator estimates the tax cost of converting money from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA and shows how that decision may affect your retirement savings over time. Using details such as your IRA balance, conversion amount, tax rates, age, retirement timeline, and expected investment growth, the calculator creates a personalized projection.
The calculator estimates your conversion tax, projects the future value of a Roth IRA and the after-tax value of a Traditional IRA, and compares the two outcomes side by side. It can also show the potential net advantage of converting and how account values may change over time, helping you evaluate whether a Roth conversion may be beneficial based on your assumptions.
What Inputs Does a Roth Conversion Calculator Use?
A Roth Conversion Calculator uses information about your retirement accounts, tax rates, and retirement timeline to estimate the Estimated Tax Due, project the Roth Value at Retirement, calculate the Traditional IRA After-Tax Value at Retirement, and determine the Net Difference between both scenarios. Each input affects one or more of these projected results.
Current tax rate
A higher current tax rate generally increases the Estimated Tax Due and may reduce the projected Net Difference.
Traditional IRA balance
Your Traditional IRA balance is the total amount currently held in the account. The calculator uses this value to verify that the conversion amount does not exceed the funds available in your Traditional IRA.
Current age
Your current age establishes the starting point of the projection. The calculator uses this value to determine how many years the converted assets have to grow before retirement.
Retirement tax rate
The calculator uses this assumption to calculate the Traditional IRA After-Tax Value at Retirement and the resulting Net Difference.
Expected annual return
The expected annual return directly affects both the projected Roth Value at Retirement and the Traditional IRA After-Tax Value at Retirement.
Retirement age
Your retirement age sets the endpoint of the projection period. It also helps determine whether future withdrawals occur after the commonly referenced age 59½ threshold for qualified Roth IRA distributions.
Tax payment source
The tax payment source affects the amount invested in the Roth IRA, which can influence the projected Roth Value at Retirement and overall Net Difference.
Amount to convert
The calculator uses this amount to estimate the Estimated Tax Due, project the Roth Value at Retirement, and calculate the Traditional IRA After-Tax Value at Retirement.
What Formula Does a Roth Conversion Calculator Use?
A Roth Conversion Calculator uses your conversion amount, tax rates, expected annual return, retirement timeline, and tax payment source to calculate the Estimated Tax Due, project the Roth Value at Retirement, estimate the Traditional IRA After-Tax Value at Retirement, and determine the Net Difference between the two outcomes.
How Does a Roth Conversion Calculator Apply the Formula?
Tax Due on Conversion
Tax = Conversion Amount × Current Tax Rate
Roth Starting Amount
If taxes are paid from outside savings:
Roth Start = Conversion Amount
If taxes are paid from IRA assets:
Roth Start = Conversion Amount − Tax
Roth IRA Value at Retirement
Roth Value = Roth Start × (1 + Return Rate) ^ Years
Traditional IRA After-Tax Value at Retirement
Traditional Value = Conversion Amount × (1 + Return Rate) ^ Years × (1 − Retirement Tax Rate)
Net Difference
If taxes are paid from IRA assets:
Net Difference = Roth Value − Traditional Value
If taxes are paid from outside savings:
Outside Tax Cost Value = Tax × (1 + Return Rate) ^ Years
Adjusted Roth Value = Roth Value − Outside Tax Cost Value
Net Difference = Adjusted Roth Value − Traditional Value
A positive net difference indicates that the Roth IRA has the higher projected value, while a negative net difference indicates that the Traditional IRA has the higher projected value based on the assumptions entered.
These calculations generate the calculator's four primary outputs: Estimated Tax Due, Roth Value at Retirement, Traditional IRA After-Tax Value at Retirement, and Net Difference. Together, these results show which scenario yields the higher projected after-tax retirement value given the assumptions entered.
How Does a Roth Conversion Calculator Estimate Taxes?
The calculator estimates conversion taxes using the conversion amount and your current tax rate:
Estimated Tax Due = Conversion Amount × Current Tax Rate
This is a simplified estimate and does not account for factors such as tax bracket changes, deductions, credits, IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjusted Amount) surcharges, state taxes, or other tax planning considerations.
What Results Does a Roth Conversion Calculator Show?
A Roth Conversion Calculator produces four primary outputs: Estimated Tax Due, Roth Value at Retirement, Traditional IRA After-Tax Value at Retirement, and Net Difference. Together, these results provide a side-by-side comparison of converting to a Roth IRA versus keeping the same funds in a Traditional IRA.
Estimated tax due
The calculator estimates the Estimated Tax Due, helping you understand the potential upfront tax cost of the conversion. This amount is calculated using the conversion amount and your current tax rate and represents the upfront cost of moving funds from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.
Roth value at retirement
The Roth value at retirement is the projected value of the converted funds after applying the expected annual return over the selected retirement period. If conversion taxes are paid from outside savings, the full conversion amount remains invested. If taxes are paid from IRA assets, the projected value is based on the reduced amount that enters the Roth IRA.
Traditional IRA after-tax value at retirement
The calculator directly compares the Roth Value at Retirement and the Traditional IRA After-Tax Value at Retirement using the same growth assumptions. The calculator applies the expected growth rate and then estimates the taxes that may be due at withdrawal using the retirement tax rate.
Net difference between Roth and Traditional IRA outcomes
The Net Difference helps identify which scenario produces the higher projected retirement value. When taxes are paid from outside savings, the calculator also accounts for the future value of those tax dollars to provide a more balanced comparison. A positive net difference means the Roth IRA produces the higher projected value based on the assumptions entered. A negative net difference means the Traditional IRA produces the higher projected value. This result indicates which scenario the calculator's estimate favors, not which option is guaranteed to perform better in the future.
When May a Roth Conversion Be Worth It Over Time?
A Roth conversion may be worth it over time when the projected Roth IRA value exceeds the projected after-tax value of the Traditional IRA. Factors that commonly improve the Roth outcome include a lower current tax rate, a longer growth period, and paying conversion taxes from outside savings. While every situation is different, the calculator generally favors a Roth IRA when certain tax and growth assumptions create a positive net difference compared with keeping the funds in a Traditional IRA.
Positive net difference
A positive net difference means the projected Roth IRA value exceeds the projected after-tax value of the Traditional IRA at retirement. The calculator's estimate indicates that the Roth conversion yields the stronger long-term outcome based on the values entered.
The current tax rate is lower than the retirement tax rate
A Roth conversion often becomes more attractive when your current tax rate is lower than the tax rate you expect to pay in retirement. In this scenario, paying taxes on the conversion today may cost less than paying taxes on future Traditional IRA withdrawals.
Longer Roth growth period
A longer time horizon gives the converted funds more years to grow and compound inside the Roth IRA. The more time available before retirement, the greater the potential impact of tax-free growth on the projected Roth value.
Conversion tax paid from outside savings
Paying conversion taxes from outside savings allows the full conversion amount to remain invested in the Roth IRA. Because more money stays invested and compounds over time, this approach often produces a stronger projected Roth outcome than paying taxes from IRA assets.
What Factors Can Change Roth Conversion Calculator Results?
Factors affecting Roth conversion calculator results include tax bracket changes, RMDs, IRMAA surcharges, Social Security taxation, the pro-rata rule, and the five-year rule. While the calculator estimates conversion taxes and future account values, these factors can change the actual tax outcome and are not fully reflected in a simplified projection.
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Tax bracket changes: The calculator uses the current and retirement tax rates you enter, but future tax brackets may be different. If your actual tax rate at retirement is higher or lower than expected, the projected comparison between the Roth IRA and the Traditional IRA may change.
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RMD impact: Traditional IRAs are generally subject to Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), which can increase taxable income during retirement. While the calculator considers a retirement tax rate, it does not calculate future RMD amounts or their potential tax impact.
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IRMAA impact: A Roth conversion can increase taxable income in the year of conversion and may affect Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) surcharges. The calculator does not calculate IRMAA thresholds or Medicare premium increases that may result from a conversion.
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Social Security taxation: Additional taxable income from retirement account withdrawals can affect how much of your Social Security benefits becomes taxable. The calculator does not estimate the interaction between Roth conversions, retirement income, and Social Security taxation
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Pro-rata rule: If you own both pre-tax and after-tax IRA assets, the IRS pro-rata rule may affect the taxable portion of a Roth conversion. The calculator assumes a simplified conversion scenario and does not perform a detailed pro-rata rule calculation
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Five-year rule: Roth IRAs are subject to five-year holding requirements that can affect when earnings and converted amounts may be withdrawn without penalties or additional taxes. The calculator does not evaluate five-year rule timing requirements for individual conversions.
Because these factors can influence the actual tax outcome, the calculator's results should be viewed as estimates rather than guaranteed projections.
What Are the Benefits of a Roth Conversion Calculator?
The main benefits of a Roth Conversion Calculator are estimating conversion taxes, comparing Roth and Traditional IRA outcomes, and showing the potential net advantage of converting before making a decision. These projections can help you better understand the potential financial impact of a Roth conversion before making a decision.
Estimates the tax due on a Roth conversion
The calculator estimates the tax liability created by converting funds from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. This helps you understand the potential upfront cost of the conversion before proceeding.
Tests how current and retirement tax rates affect the result
Because tax rates play a major role in Roth conversion decisions, the calculator allows you to compare different current and retirement tax rate assumptions and see how they influence the projected outcome.
Compares the Roth value with the Traditional IRA after-tax value
The Roth conversion calculator projects the future value of a Roth IRA and compares it with the estimated after-tax value of a Traditional IRA at retirement. This side-by-side comparison provides a clearer view of both scenarios.
Shows how paying tax on outside savings changes the outcome
The calculator accounts for whether conversion taxes are paid from outside savings or retirement assets. This comparison helps illustrate how keeping the full conversion amount invested in the Roth IRA may affect long-term growth.
Shows the net difference between conversion and no conversion
It estimates the projected difference between Roth and Traditional IRA outcomes. This result helps identify which option yields the higher estimated retirement value given the assumptions entered.
Helps review whether a conversion may be worth it over time
By combining tax estimates, growth projections, and account comparisons, the calculator provides a structured way to evaluate whether a Roth conversion may produce a favorable outcome over your selected retirement timeline.
What Are the Limitations of a Roth Conversion Calculator?
The main limitations of a Roth Conversion Calculator are its reliance on projected tax rates, assumed investment returns, and simplified tax calculations, which may not reflect actual future outcomes. While the calculator provides a useful estimate based on the values entered, it cannot account for every variable that may affect the actual outcome of a Roth conversion.
Future tax law changes
Tax laws can change over time, affecting both conversion taxes and future retirement withdrawals. The calculator uses the tax rates entered today and cannot predict future tax legislation.
Market return uncertainty
The calculator assumes a fixed annual rate of return throughout the projection period. Actual investment performance may be higher or lower than expected, which can significantly affect future account values.
State tax differences
State income taxes may impact both Roth conversions and retirement withdrawals. Because state tax rules vary by location and can change over time, the calculator does not fully account for every state tax situation.
Personal income changes
Future income may differ from current expectations due to career changes, retirement timing, pensions, business income, or other sources of earnings. These changes can affect future tax brackets and the overall value of a Roth conversion.
Simplified tax assumptions
The calculator uses simplified tax assumptions to estimate conversion costs and retirement outcomes. It does not fully account for factors such as IRMAA surcharges, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), Social Security taxation, pro rata rule calculations, deductions, credits, or other tax-planning considerations.
Advisor or tax professional review
The Roth conversion calculator provides an estimate, not personalized tax, legal, investment, or financial advice. Before completing a Roth conversion, consider reviewing the results with a qualified tax professional or financial advisor who can evaluate your specific circumstances.
How Does a Roth Conversion Calculator Compare a Traditional IRA and a Roth IRA?
A Traditional IRA is generally taxed when money is withdrawn, while a Roth IRA is generally taxed when money is converted but allows tax-free qualified withdrawals. A Roth Conversion Calculator compares these tax treatments by estimating future account values, taxes, and the potential net difference between the two options.
This calculator is for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Estimates are based on the inputs entered and may not reflect actual outcomes. Consult a qualified professional before making Roth conversion decisions.
Roth IRA Calculator FAQs
Disclosures:
Information and interactive calculators are made available to you as self-help tools for your independent use and are not intended to provide investment, tax, or legal advice. We cannot and do not guarantee their applicability or accuracy in regards to your individual circumstances. All examples are hypothetical and are for illustrative purposes. We encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding all personal finance issues.
Traditional IRA account owners have considerations to make before performing a Roth IRA conversion. These primarily include income tax consequences on the converted amount in the year of conversion, withdrawal limitations from a Roth IRA, and income limitations for future contributions to a Roth IRA. In addition, if you are required to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) in the year you convert, you must do so before converting to a Roth IRA.
Contributions to a traditional IRA may be tax deductible in the contribution year, with current income tax due at withdrawal. Withdrawals prior to age 59 ½ may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax in addition to current income tax.
This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax or legal advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor.
Content in this material is for general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual.