you're feeling out of sync because you don't understand how it works.
your thinking is one year behind what is actually happening.
you can't make a contribution and conversion for the previous year 2022 in Jan 2023.
On your 2022 tax return you will be reporting the conversion you already did in 2022.
"However, because this contribution and conversion were prior to the April tax filing deadline, this contribution/conversion is for the 2021 tax year."
not true, the contribution is for 2021 only if you tell the custodian it is for 2021 and then you report it on your 2021 tax return.
The conversion takes place in 2022 so you report that on your 2022 tax return.
Your contribution must have been defaulted to be for 2022 also or you would have problems doing the prior tax returns.
