Roth Withdrawals

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I am over 59 1/2: I have 2 IRA conversions to a single Roth IRA account : in 2018 and 2020. Can I withdraw the earnings from the 2018 Roth conversion tax free? Are the earning calculated on a "basis" method?

Opus 17Answer

Level 15

All withdrawals are tax-free in your case.

Remember that you paid income tax on the converted amounts in 2018 and 2020. The 5 year rule for conversions means that you pay an additional 10% penalty for early withdrawal if you withdraw in less than 5 years, but only if you are under age 59-1/2. Because you are older, you are never subject to the additional 10% penalty, even on conversions less than 5 years old.

Roth earnings are taxable if withdrawn before age 59-1/2, or if withdrawn less than 5 years after opening your first Roth account, even if you are over age 59-1/2. Since your earliest Roth account was at least 2018 (if not earlier) then withdrawal of earnings is also not taxable at this point.

Opus 17

Answer

Level 15

All withdrawals are tax-free in your case.

NCperson

Level 15

@l1a1son further, and it doesn't matter in your case since any distribution is going to be tax free for the rest of your life, but when you distribute from a Roth IRA, the IRS assumes that all contributions are distributed first, all conversion dollars are distributed 2nd and then and only then are the earnings distributed.

So while you asked about distributing your earnings, it may be you are technically distributing the conversion dollars because of the IRS priority order of distributions :-).

l1a1sonAuthor

Level 2

I am caught up with the IRS guidelines :" 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?

The IRS guidelines are confusing because of the different rules based on age : even financial/tax experts have given me conflicting advice or punted.

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 5 years : any IRA conversion to Roth at any time is able to be withdrawn tax free including earnings.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?