converting ira to roth

Forum|Forum|8 months ago
October 22, 2025
1 reply
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I have been converting money from my IRA into a Roth for the past 5 years. I move just enough to stay in the lower tax bracket. Last year I was caught by surprise from my advisor that had sold shares in a non-qualified account which caused a capital gains of over $25,000. I was not expecting that and had to pay an additional $5000 in personal income tax. I want to avoid that this next year. Can I convert a certain mount before Dec 31, figure what my taxes would be after Jan 1, and repay to my IRA within the 60-day period if the amount I am converting puts me in a higher tax bracket for 2025? If I can do that, does it jeopardized in conversion I would want to do in 2026?

Ask the Experts - Navigating - Oct 2025

KatieP1

Employee Tax Expert

The deadline to convert from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA is December 31st of the year in which you want the conversion to be effective. You cannot reverse it or undo it. I advise you to work with your advisor to ensure that their actions do not put your Roth tax planning in jeopardy.

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user17610012171Author

Level 2

I understand the deadline to convert. Is converting treated different different than withdrawal from a traditional IRA. You have 60 days to repay without being taxed. Is that not the same on a conversion withdrawal? You do or do not have 60 days?

KatieP1

Employee Tax Expert

What you asked originally is if you can convert from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA by the December 31st deadline and then do anything to reverse that, and the answer is no.

But if you are instead wanting to take a distribution from your traditional IRA, then decide if you want to put it back or put it into a Roth IRA, you can do that, as long as it's within 60 days, as you mentioned. Just remember that the option to put the money back into a traditional IRA can only be done once in any 12-month period across all your IRAs. This limit doesn't apply if you decide to complete the conversion into the Roth IRA.

I hope this clarification helps!

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