Roth Conversion Tax Calculator
Federal, state, and total tax on a Roth conversion amount.
What it does
Roth conversions trade a tax bill today for tax free growth later. The math that matters first is the bill itself: converted pre tax dollars join income this year at marginal rates. Pricing that keeps April free of shock.
The tool above multiplies the amount by federal and state rates. Converting $50,000 at 22 percent federal with no state tax owes $11,000.00, all due with the conversion year return. Same dollars, same rates, no mystery.
Brackets make timing the strategy. Filling a low bracket in a gap year costs less than converting at a peak earnings marginal rate. Big conversions can also lift Medicare premiums and phaseouts, so large moves deserve staged years.
Funding the tax from outside the IRA protects the move. Dollars pulled from the converted sum shrink the Roth base and can add early withdrawal penalties under 59 and a half. Cash on hand keeps the full $50,000 working.
How to use
- Enter the conversion amount.
- Enter the federal marginal rate.
- Enter the state marginal rate.
- Read the federal tax first.
- Read the state tax.
- Read the total bill for the year.
Formula
- amount
- Pre tax dollars moved to Roth.
- federal rate
- Marginal federal rate as a percent.
- state rate
- Marginal state rate as a percent.
Conversion distributions from pre tax accounts are includible in gross income in the year received, which IRS publications confirm. Qualified Roth withdrawals later escape tax when the rules are met. Paying the bill from non retirement funds keeps the full converted amount compounding inside the Roth.
Worked example
Example: $50,000 at 22%
Defaults: $50,000 at 22% federal and 0% state. These are also the default values, so the page opens on this answer.
- Convert: $50,000 of pre tax savings.
- Federal rate: 22%.
- Federal: 50000 x 0.22 = $11,000.00.
- State rate: 0%.
- State: 50000 x 0.00 = $0.00.
- Total: 11000 + 0 = $11,000.00.
- Tool shows $11,000.00 federal with $0.00 state and $11,000.00 total.
Reference table
| Convert | Rate | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| $20,000 | 12% | $2,400.00 |
| $50,000 | 22% | $11,000.00 |
| $100,000 | 24% | $24,000.00 |
Limits
- Estimate from marginal rates, not a full return.
- Ignores bracket creep inside the conversion.
- Ignores AMT, NIIT, and credit phaseouts.
- State rules vary widely.
Common mistakes
- Converting at peak earnings rates.
- Paying tax from the converted sum.
- Forgetting state tax on top.
- Ignoring Medicare premium triggers.
- Converting without cash for April.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
$20,000 at 12% federal, no state?
Federal $2,400.00 with $0.00 state and $2,400.00 total.
$50,000 at 22% plus 5% state?
Federal $11,000.00 with $2,500.00 state and $13,500.00 total.
Questions
How is the federal tax found?
Multiply the taxable converted amount by the marginal rate. Here 50000 x 0.22 = $11,000.00.
Does it raise taxable income?
The converted amount joins gross income in the conversion year, which can push brackets higher.
Can I undo a conversion?
No. Post 2017 conversions cannot be recharacterized, so the bill sticks.
Pay tax from where?
Pay from cash outside the IRA when possible, so the full amount keeps growing tax free.
State tax always due?
State rules differ and some states exempt retirement income, so local rates matter.
Does it say convert or not?
No. Brackets, deductions, and future rates decide; this tool prices the bill only.