Contributing to Roth IRA at beginning of year












1














I plan to contribute the maximum $6000 to my Roth IRA for 2019 in the next month. However, there is a good possibility I will make over $122,000 dollars with overtime and therefore will be disqualified from contributing.



What happens if I do make over $122,000? Do I have to take the money out?










share|improve this question
























  • Did you already contribute the maximum for 2018? You can make your 2018 contribution up until the April tax deadline.
    – Hart CO
    2 hours ago








  • 1




    @HartCO Yes, maxed for 2017, 2018.
    – theblindprophet
    2 hours ago










  • Does your employer offer a 401k? If so, contributing to one will reduce your Modified Adjusted Gross Income, or MAGI. Keep in mind that the $122,000 limit applies to your MAGI, not your gross salary. Example: you earn $140,000 and contribute the 2019 max of $19000 to your 401k. Your MAGI would be $121,000, making you eligible for the full Roth contribution.
    – bigh_29
    17 mins ago
















1














I plan to contribute the maximum $6000 to my Roth IRA for 2019 in the next month. However, there is a good possibility I will make over $122,000 dollars with overtime and therefore will be disqualified from contributing.



What happens if I do make over $122,000? Do I have to take the money out?










share|improve this question
























  • Did you already contribute the maximum for 2018? You can make your 2018 contribution up until the April tax deadline.
    – Hart CO
    2 hours ago








  • 1




    @HartCO Yes, maxed for 2017, 2018.
    – theblindprophet
    2 hours ago










  • Does your employer offer a 401k? If so, contributing to one will reduce your Modified Adjusted Gross Income, or MAGI. Keep in mind that the $122,000 limit applies to your MAGI, not your gross salary. Example: you earn $140,000 and contribute the 2019 max of $19000 to your 401k. Your MAGI would be $121,000, making you eligible for the full Roth contribution.
    – bigh_29
    17 mins ago














1












1








1







I plan to contribute the maximum $6000 to my Roth IRA for 2019 in the next month. However, there is a good possibility I will make over $122,000 dollars with overtime and therefore will be disqualified from contributing.



What happens if I do make over $122,000? Do I have to take the money out?










share|improve this question















I plan to contribute the maximum $6000 to my Roth IRA for 2019 in the next month. However, there is a good possibility I will make over $122,000 dollars with overtime and therefore will be disqualified from contributing.



What happens if I do make over $122,000? Do I have to take the money out?







united-states roth-ira






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited 3 hours ago









Ben Miller

76.9k19207275




76.9k19207275










asked 4 hours ago









theblindprophet

1377




1377












  • Did you already contribute the maximum for 2018? You can make your 2018 contribution up until the April tax deadline.
    – Hart CO
    2 hours ago








  • 1




    @HartCO Yes, maxed for 2017, 2018.
    – theblindprophet
    2 hours ago










  • Does your employer offer a 401k? If so, contributing to one will reduce your Modified Adjusted Gross Income, or MAGI. Keep in mind that the $122,000 limit applies to your MAGI, not your gross salary. Example: you earn $140,000 and contribute the 2019 max of $19000 to your 401k. Your MAGI would be $121,000, making you eligible for the full Roth contribution.
    – bigh_29
    17 mins ago


















  • Did you already contribute the maximum for 2018? You can make your 2018 contribution up until the April tax deadline.
    – Hart CO
    2 hours ago








  • 1




    @HartCO Yes, maxed for 2017, 2018.
    – theblindprophet
    2 hours ago










  • Does your employer offer a 401k? If so, contributing to one will reduce your Modified Adjusted Gross Income, or MAGI. Keep in mind that the $122,000 limit applies to your MAGI, not your gross salary. Example: you earn $140,000 and contribute the 2019 max of $19000 to your 401k. Your MAGI would be $121,000, making you eligible for the full Roth contribution.
    – bigh_29
    17 mins ago
















Did you already contribute the maximum for 2018? You can make your 2018 contribution up until the April tax deadline.
– Hart CO
2 hours ago






Did you already contribute the maximum for 2018? You can make your 2018 contribution up until the April tax deadline.
– Hart CO
2 hours ago






1




1




@HartCO Yes, maxed for 2017, 2018.
– theblindprophet
2 hours ago




@HartCO Yes, maxed for 2017, 2018.
– theblindprophet
2 hours ago












Does your employer offer a 401k? If so, contributing to one will reduce your Modified Adjusted Gross Income, or MAGI. Keep in mind that the $122,000 limit applies to your MAGI, not your gross salary. Example: you earn $140,000 and contribute the 2019 max of $19000 to your 401k. Your MAGI would be $121,000, making you eligible for the full Roth contribution.
– bigh_29
17 mins ago




Does your employer offer a 401k? If so, contributing to one will reduce your Modified Adjusted Gross Income, or MAGI. Keep in mind that the $122,000 limit applies to your MAGI, not your gross salary. Example: you earn $140,000 and contribute the 2019 max of $19000 to your 401k. Your MAGI would be $121,000, making you eligible for the full Roth contribution.
– bigh_29
17 mins ago










3 Answers
3






active

oldest

votes


















3














I prefer this method because there are no decision points based on income.



Contribute to a Traditional IRA



There are no income limits for this. Do this at the same institution where you keep your Roth. Invest the money in a cash sweep account, do not put it in anything interest bearing, and especially, not in a bond or stock.



There are income limits for taking the tax deduction, but that matters not, since you don't want to do that. That makes it a Non-Deductible IRA, and the amount of your contribution will not be taxed when it comes back out, since you already did pay taxes on it. Gains would be taxable, so we're avoiding gains by putting it in a cash sweep account.



Convert to Roth



The very next day, convert the amount in the traditional IRA to Roth. There is no income limit on this either.



There is also no tax, because you are converting money you "already paid taxes on".



Normally, when you convert to Roth, you must treat the converted amount as taxable income, and normally you would aim to do this in a gap year. However, since you are converting from a non-deductible traditional IRA, there is no tax on the amount you contributed (yesterday).



Together these two are the "Roth backdoor" and can be done at any income level (provided your taxable income >= the contribution.)






share|improve this answer





























    2














    That may be the simplest option, but there are others.



    from non-authoritative source RothIRA.com:




    Recharacterize Your Contribution



    Ideally you would be able to recharacterize your extra contributions
    and any NIA into a Traditional IRA. “Recharacterize” means essentially
    “I don’t want these to go toward a Roth, I want them to go to a
    Traditional IRA.” This also assumes you would qualify to contribute to
    a Traditional IRA for that tax year. This is ideal because you’re
    still saving for retirement.



    Withdraw Your Contribution Overage



    If you don’t qualify for a Traditional IRA (and thus cannot
    recharacterize your overage), you can simply withdraw the extra
    contribution and any NIA (income earned by the excess contributions).



    Apply Your Contribution to a Future Year



    You can also apply the excess contribution and NIA to a future year.
    You may have to pay a 6 percent tax to the IRS to be able to do this.







    share|improve this answer





















    • Almost everyone with compensation is entitled to contribute to a Traditional IRA; the disqualification that you refer to is for deducting the Traditional IRA contribution -- said deduction not being allowed for high earners. Since the OP is already committing to contributing the maximum amount to a _Roth IRA (which provides for no deductions from taxable income for the contribution), just recharacterizing the contribution as a nondeductible contribution to a Traditional IRA is no skin off his nose.
      – Dilip Sarwate
      2 hours ago





















    1














    One option is to put the money into a non-deductible IRA in January 2019 making sure the custodian knows it is for 2019. Then a few days later do a backdoor Roth conversion.



    You will have to pay any taxes on the gains while it is in the non-deductible traditional IRA, but that shouldn't be that much.






    share|improve this answer





















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      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes








      3 Answers
      3






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      3














      I prefer this method because there are no decision points based on income.



      Contribute to a Traditional IRA



      There are no income limits for this. Do this at the same institution where you keep your Roth. Invest the money in a cash sweep account, do not put it in anything interest bearing, and especially, not in a bond or stock.



      There are income limits for taking the tax deduction, but that matters not, since you don't want to do that. That makes it a Non-Deductible IRA, and the amount of your contribution will not be taxed when it comes back out, since you already did pay taxes on it. Gains would be taxable, so we're avoiding gains by putting it in a cash sweep account.



      Convert to Roth



      The very next day, convert the amount in the traditional IRA to Roth. There is no income limit on this either.



      There is also no tax, because you are converting money you "already paid taxes on".



      Normally, when you convert to Roth, you must treat the converted amount as taxable income, and normally you would aim to do this in a gap year. However, since you are converting from a non-deductible traditional IRA, there is no tax on the amount you contributed (yesterday).



      Together these two are the "Roth backdoor" and can be done at any income level (provided your taxable income >= the contribution.)






      share|improve this answer


























        3














        I prefer this method because there are no decision points based on income.



        Contribute to a Traditional IRA



        There are no income limits for this. Do this at the same institution where you keep your Roth. Invest the money in a cash sweep account, do not put it in anything interest bearing, and especially, not in a bond or stock.



        There are income limits for taking the tax deduction, but that matters not, since you don't want to do that. That makes it a Non-Deductible IRA, and the amount of your contribution will not be taxed when it comes back out, since you already did pay taxes on it. Gains would be taxable, so we're avoiding gains by putting it in a cash sweep account.



        Convert to Roth



        The very next day, convert the amount in the traditional IRA to Roth. There is no income limit on this either.



        There is also no tax, because you are converting money you "already paid taxes on".



        Normally, when you convert to Roth, you must treat the converted amount as taxable income, and normally you would aim to do this in a gap year. However, since you are converting from a non-deductible traditional IRA, there is no tax on the amount you contributed (yesterday).



        Together these two are the "Roth backdoor" and can be done at any income level (provided your taxable income >= the contribution.)






        share|improve this answer
























          3












          3








          3






          I prefer this method because there are no decision points based on income.



          Contribute to a Traditional IRA



          There are no income limits for this. Do this at the same institution where you keep your Roth. Invest the money in a cash sweep account, do not put it in anything interest bearing, and especially, not in a bond or stock.



          There are income limits for taking the tax deduction, but that matters not, since you don't want to do that. That makes it a Non-Deductible IRA, and the amount of your contribution will not be taxed when it comes back out, since you already did pay taxes on it. Gains would be taxable, so we're avoiding gains by putting it in a cash sweep account.



          Convert to Roth



          The very next day, convert the amount in the traditional IRA to Roth. There is no income limit on this either.



          There is also no tax, because you are converting money you "already paid taxes on".



          Normally, when you convert to Roth, you must treat the converted amount as taxable income, and normally you would aim to do this in a gap year. However, since you are converting from a non-deductible traditional IRA, there is no tax on the amount you contributed (yesterday).



          Together these two are the "Roth backdoor" and can be done at any income level (provided your taxable income >= the contribution.)






          share|improve this answer












          I prefer this method because there are no decision points based on income.



          Contribute to a Traditional IRA



          There are no income limits for this. Do this at the same institution where you keep your Roth. Invest the money in a cash sweep account, do not put it in anything interest bearing, and especially, not in a bond or stock.



          There are income limits for taking the tax deduction, but that matters not, since you don't want to do that. That makes it a Non-Deductible IRA, and the amount of your contribution will not be taxed when it comes back out, since you already did pay taxes on it. Gains would be taxable, so we're avoiding gains by putting it in a cash sweep account.



          Convert to Roth



          The very next day, convert the amount in the traditional IRA to Roth. There is no income limit on this either.



          There is also no tax, because you are converting money you "already paid taxes on".



          Normally, when you convert to Roth, you must treat the converted amount as taxable income, and normally you would aim to do this in a gap year. However, since you are converting from a non-deductible traditional IRA, there is no tax on the amount you contributed (yesterday).



          Together these two are the "Roth backdoor" and can be done at any income level (provided your taxable income >= the contribution.)







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered 3 hours ago









          Harper

          20.1k33068




          20.1k33068

























              2














              That may be the simplest option, but there are others.



              from non-authoritative source RothIRA.com:




              Recharacterize Your Contribution



              Ideally you would be able to recharacterize your extra contributions
              and any NIA into a Traditional IRA. “Recharacterize” means essentially
              “I don’t want these to go toward a Roth, I want them to go to a
              Traditional IRA.” This also assumes you would qualify to contribute to
              a Traditional IRA for that tax year. This is ideal because you’re
              still saving for retirement.



              Withdraw Your Contribution Overage



              If you don’t qualify for a Traditional IRA (and thus cannot
              recharacterize your overage), you can simply withdraw the extra
              contribution and any NIA (income earned by the excess contributions).



              Apply Your Contribution to a Future Year



              You can also apply the excess contribution and NIA to a future year.
              You may have to pay a 6 percent tax to the IRS to be able to do this.







              share|improve this answer





















              • Almost everyone with compensation is entitled to contribute to a Traditional IRA; the disqualification that you refer to is for deducting the Traditional IRA contribution -- said deduction not being allowed for high earners. Since the OP is already committing to contributing the maximum amount to a _Roth IRA (which provides for no deductions from taxable income for the contribution), just recharacterizing the contribution as a nondeductible contribution to a Traditional IRA is no skin off his nose.
                – Dilip Sarwate
                2 hours ago


















              2














              That may be the simplest option, but there are others.



              from non-authoritative source RothIRA.com:




              Recharacterize Your Contribution



              Ideally you would be able to recharacterize your extra contributions
              and any NIA into a Traditional IRA. “Recharacterize” means essentially
              “I don’t want these to go toward a Roth, I want them to go to a
              Traditional IRA.” This also assumes you would qualify to contribute to
              a Traditional IRA for that tax year. This is ideal because you’re
              still saving for retirement.



              Withdraw Your Contribution Overage



              If you don’t qualify for a Traditional IRA (and thus cannot
              recharacterize your overage), you can simply withdraw the extra
              contribution and any NIA (income earned by the excess contributions).



              Apply Your Contribution to a Future Year



              You can also apply the excess contribution and NIA to a future year.
              You may have to pay a 6 percent tax to the IRS to be able to do this.







              share|improve this answer





















              • Almost everyone with compensation is entitled to contribute to a Traditional IRA; the disqualification that you refer to is for deducting the Traditional IRA contribution -- said deduction not being allowed for high earners. Since the OP is already committing to contributing the maximum amount to a _Roth IRA (which provides for no deductions from taxable income for the contribution), just recharacterizing the contribution as a nondeductible contribution to a Traditional IRA is no skin off his nose.
                – Dilip Sarwate
                2 hours ago
















              2












              2








              2






              That may be the simplest option, but there are others.



              from non-authoritative source RothIRA.com:




              Recharacterize Your Contribution



              Ideally you would be able to recharacterize your extra contributions
              and any NIA into a Traditional IRA. “Recharacterize” means essentially
              “I don’t want these to go toward a Roth, I want them to go to a
              Traditional IRA.” This also assumes you would qualify to contribute to
              a Traditional IRA for that tax year. This is ideal because you’re
              still saving for retirement.



              Withdraw Your Contribution Overage



              If you don’t qualify for a Traditional IRA (and thus cannot
              recharacterize your overage), you can simply withdraw the extra
              contribution and any NIA (income earned by the excess contributions).



              Apply Your Contribution to a Future Year



              You can also apply the excess contribution and NIA to a future year.
              You may have to pay a 6 percent tax to the IRS to be able to do this.







              share|improve this answer












              That may be the simplest option, but there are others.



              from non-authoritative source RothIRA.com:




              Recharacterize Your Contribution



              Ideally you would be able to recharacterize your extra contributions
              and any NIA into a Traditional IRA. “Recharacterize” means essentially
              “I don’t want these to go toward a Roth, I want them to go to a
              Traditional IRA.” This also assumes you would qualify to contribute to
              a Traditional IRA for that tax year. This is ideal because you’re
              still saving for retirement.



              Withdraw Your Contribution Overage



              If you don’t qualify for a Traditional IRA (and thus cannot
              recharacterize your overage), you can simply withdraw the extra
              contribution and any NIA (income earned by the excess contributions).



              Apply Your Contribution to a Future Year



              You can also apply the excess contribution and NIA to a future year.
              You may have to pay a 6 percent tax to the IRS to be able to do this.








              share|improve this answer












              share|improve this answer



              share|improve this answer










              answered 4 hours ago









              D Stanley

              51.2k8151160




              51.2k8151160












              • Almost everyone with compensation is entitled to contribute to a Traditional IRA; the disqualification that you refer to is for deducting the Traditional IRA contribution -- said deduction not being allowed for high earners. Since the OP is already committing to contributing the maximum amount to a _Roth IRA (which provides for no deductions from taxable income for the contribution), just recharacterizing the contribution as a nondeductible contribution to a Traditional IRA is no skin off his nose.
                – Dilip Sarwate
                2 hours ago




















              • Almost everyone with compensation is entitled to contribute to a Traditional IRA; the disqualification that you refer to is for deducting the Traditional IRA contribution -- said deduction not being allowed for high earners. Since the OP is already committing to contributing the maximum amount to a _Roth IRA (which provides for no deductions from taxable income for the contribution), just recharacterizing the contribution as a nondeductible contribution to a Traditional IRA is no skin off his nose.
                – Dilip Sarwate
                2 hours ago


















              Almost everyone with compensation is entitled to contribute to a Traditional IRA; the disqualification that you refer to is for deducting the Traditional IRA contribution -- said deduction not being allowed for high earners. Since the OP is already committing to contributing the maximum amount to a _Roth IRA (which provides for no deductions from taxable income for the contribution), just recharacterizing the contribution as a nondeductible contribution to a Traditional IRA is no skin off his nose.
              – Dilip Sarwate
              2 hours ago






              Almost everyone with compensation is entitled to contribute to a Traditional IRA; the disqualification that you refer to is for deducting the Traditional IRA contribution -- said deduction not being allowed for high earners. Since the OP is already committing to contributing the maximum amount to a _Roth IRA (which provides for no deductions from taxable income for the contribution), just recharacterizing the contribution as a nondeductible contribution to a Traditional IRA is no skin off his nose.
              – Dilip Sarwate
              2 hours ago













              1














              One option is to put the money into a non-deductible IRA in January 2019 making sure the custodian knows it is for 2019. Then a few days later do a backdoor Roth conversion.



              You will have to pay any taxes on the gains while it is in the non-deductible traditional IRA, but that shouldn't be that much.






              share|improve this answer


























                1














                One option is to put the money into a non-deductible IRA in January 2019 making sure the custodian knows it is for 2019. Then a few days later do a backdoor Roth conversion.



                You will have to pay any taxes on the gains while it is in the non-deductible traditional IRA, but that shouldn't be that much.






                share|improve this answer
























                  1












                  1








                  1






                  One option is to put the money into a non-deductible IRA in January 2019 making sure the custodian knows it is for 2019. Then a few days later do a backdoor Roth conversion.



                  You will have to pay any taxes on the gains while it is in the non-deductible traditional IRA, but that shouldn't be that much.






                  share|improve this answer












                  One option is to put the money into a non-deductible IRA in January 2019 making sure the custodian knows it is for 2019. Then a few days later do a backdoor Roth conversion.



                  You will have to pay any taxes on the gains while it is in the non-deductible traditional IRA, but that shouldn't be that much.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered 3 hours ago









                  mhoran_psprep

                  65.8k893170




                  65.8k893170






























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