Execute a backdoor Roth IRA without a tax surprise
A non-deductible traditional IRA contribution made and converted to Roth IRA for the current tax year, with Form 8606 filed to document the non-deductible basis. All pre-tax IRA balances are either zero or accounted for so the pro-rata rule produces no hidden tax.
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Who it's for
High earners in the U.S. whose modified adjusted gross income exceeds the Roth IRA direct contribution limits for the tax year. Also suitable for anyone who already holds a traditional IRA and wants to convert without a tax surprise, provided they can clear pre-tax balances first. Not for those who qualify for a direct Roth IRA contribution.
About this playbook
A backdoor Roth IRA lets high earners contribute to a Roth IRA even when their income exceeds the direct contribution limits. This guide walks through the complete sequence: checking whether the pro-rata rule will create an unexpected tax bill, clearing pre-tax IRA balances if necessary, making a non-deductible traditional IRA contribution, converting it to Roth, and filing Form 8606 so the IRS records your basis correctly. It covers the mechanics only — not investment allocation or tax planning advice. You finish with a funded Roth IRA and a paper trail that prevents double taxation in retirement.
What you'll do, step by step
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Phase 1: Assess eligibility and pro-rata exposure
0/4Check your income against the Roth IRA limits, tally every pre-tax IRA balance you hold, estimate the tax cost of the pro-rata rule, and decide whether your employer plan accepts IRA rollovers. This phase determines whether the backdoor Roth is clean or requires clearing balances first.
- 15 min
- 0/520 min
- 10 min
Phase 2: Clear pre-tax IRA balances if you have them
3 stepsPhase 3: Make the non-deductible traditional IRA contribution
3 stepsPhase 4: Execute the Roth conversion
3 stepsPhase 5: File Form 8606 with your tax return
4 stepsDetails
What you need first
You must have earned income at least equal to the contribution amount for the tax year. Your 2026 MAGI should exceed the IRS phase-out range for Roth IRA contributions. You need a bank account and a brokerage account at a firm that offers both traditional and Roth IRAs. If you hold pre-tax IRA balances, you need access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan (401(k), 403(b), TSP, or similar) that accepts incoming rollovers from a traditional IRA.
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About the creator
I write playbooks about savings and long-term investing. Step by step, in the order things actually happen.
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