The indicated federal tax owed is insensitive to what fraction of a traditional IRA distribution I returned to a Roth IRA in a conversion. This seems like an error.

[dumb_ass_require]

under 1099-R entries. When I say "I did something else" with the money.  Eg. $380k IRA distribution, $180k of that was immediately converted to Roth. But the Fed Tax did not go down. Why?

[VolvoGirl]

If you converted 180k to a ROTH IRA it is taxable.  Going from a Traditional IRA to ROTH IRA is a taxable event.  What did you do with the rest of it?

[ShelleyD]

With a Roth IRA you pay the tax and then when you withdraw, there is no tax due. The benefit is you can grow your money tax free.