Roth IRA Conversion Calculator 2026

Last updated: September 2026 · 2026 IRS & state tax rates

Find the tax cost of converting your Traditional IRA to a Roth, and compare the long-term after-tax value of Roth vs keeping it Traditional.

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$11,000
Estimated Tax on Conversion
Marginal rate on converted amount
$193,484
Roth Value (tax-free)
$150,917
Traditional (after-tax)
$42,567
Roth Advantage
Conversion Amount$50,000
Tax Owed Now$11,000
Effective Rate on Conversion22.0%
Roth Future Value (tax-free)$193,484
Traditional Future Value (after-tax)$150,917
Roth Advantage After Taxes$42,567

Is a Roth Conversion Right for You?

The key question: will your tax rate be higher or lower in retirement? If you expect your rate to be higher in retirement (RMDs pushing you into a higher bracket, Social Security becoming taxable), converting now at a lower rate saves money long-term. If you expect to be in a lower bracket in retirement, the Traditional IRA may be better.

Partial Conversions — The Smart Strategy

Rather than converting everything at once, many advisors recommend converting only up to the top of your current bracket. For example, if you're at $75,000 income and the 22% bracket tops out at $103,350, you have $28,350 of "room" to convert at 22% without spilling into the 24% bracket.

Roth conversions are also irreversible as of 2018 — you can no longer "recharacterize" a conversion back to a Traditional IRA if markets drop.

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Roth IRA Conversion: When It Makes Sense in 2026

A Roth IRA conversion moves money from a Traditional IRA or 401(k) into a Roth IRA. You pay income tax on the converted amount now, in exchange for tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals in retirement. The core question: will your marginal tax rate be higher now or in retirement?

When Conversion Makes Sense

2026 Conversion Rules

The converted amount is added to your taxable income in the year of conversion. There is no dollar limit and no income limit on conversions (unlike direct Roth contributions). A popular strategy is "bracket-filling" — converting just enough to use up your current tax bracket without bumping into the next one.