Lower Tax Now or Tax-Free Forever? Weighing Roth Conversion vs. Traditional Contribution
2023 tax rates for a single taxpayer (federal income tax rates in the United States are the same for 2023 and 2024) Scenario: Your taxable income is $12,000, placing you in the 12% tax bracket. Options: You could contribute more to a retirement account, thereby reducing your taxable income to below $11,001. Alternatively, you could perform a Roth conversion, pushing your taxable income up to the upper limit of $44,725. Weighing Roth Conversion vs. Traditional Contribution Here's a breakdown of the pros and cons for each option considering the potential sunset of favorable tax rates in 2025 and the benefits of Roth IRAs: Option 1: Traditional Retirement Account Contribution Pros: Lower your tax bill for 2024: This will put more money in your pocket now. Tax-deferred growth: Your contributions and earnings grow tax-deferred within the account. Cons: Tax on withdrawal: When you withdraw the money in retirement, you'll pay income tax at your then-current tax rate. RMDs: After rea...