@l1a1son
<<To be clear : over 59 1/2 with a Roth that has been established for > 5 years : any IRA conversion to Roth at any time is able to be withdrawn tax free including earnings. Is this correct?>>
yes that is correct .... and if you have multiple Roth accounts that were opened at different times, as long as ONE of them was opened prior to 1/1/20 (five calendar years for 2024 tax year), then ALL of your Roth accounts satisfy the five year requirement.
<<each IRA conversion starts a new 5 year clock for tax free withdrawals: that obviously doesn't apply to principal, which has been taxed. Is it your point that this requirement does not apply if I am older than 59 1/2?>>
It doesn't apply because you are over 59.5 years old (no 10% penalty) AND the oldest Roth account has been opened for at least 5 calendar years (otherwise, any earnings withdrawn prior to the oldest account being open for 5 calendar years would be subject to income tax. )
and the rules are quite confusing!!!!
