Disclaimer: The figures provided by this calculator are for illustrative and educational purposes only and do not constitute financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Results are based solely on the information you provide and are not independently verified. Always consult with a qualified tax professional or financial advisor before making any financial decisions.
How This Works
A traditional IRA or 401(k) is tax deferred, not tax free — every dollar inside it still owes ordinary income tax. Converting to a Roth means paying that tax bill deliberately, now, in exchange for tax-free growth for life and a tax-free inheritance for your heirs. We'll compare both paths side by side.
About You
Wages, Social Security, pension, interest — everything except money from the retirement account. We use this to estimate which tax brackets your conversion would fill up.
Your Traditional Account
You don't have to convert everything — partial conversions are common. Defaults to your full balance.
Assumed investment return while the money stays invested. Shown assuming no growth guarantee — markets go up and down.
Conversion Strategy
Spreading a conversion across low-income years can keep each year's slice in a lower tax bracket. We'll compute the bracket math for you.
Tax Rates
The rate you (or your heirs) would eventually pay on this money if it stays in the traditional account. Most people who never convert pay their ordinary bracket rate — often higher in retirement when RMDs stack on top of other income.