What's New: 2010 Rules for Roth IRAs

Beginning January 1, 2010, the income and filing requirements for rollovers (including conversions) to a Roth IRA were eliminated. Additionally, for rollovers to a Roth IRA in 2010 only, a special 2-year option for reporting taxable portions of a rollover is available to taxpayers.

Previously, taxpayers were permitted to roll over (convert) a traditional IRA, SEP-IRA, SIMPLE IRA, and an eligible rollover distribution from an employer's retirement plan (other than from a designated Roth account) to a Roth IRA only if the following requirements were met:

• AGI for Roth IRA purposes was $100,000 or less; and


• tax filing status was not married, filing separate.

Under the new rules for 2010, regardless of income or filing status, individuals may roll over (convert) the following to a Roth IRA:

• a traditional IRA, SEP-IRA or SIMPLE IRA;


• an eligible rollover distribution from a 401(k), 403(b) (or similar plan, as permitted);


• an eligible rollover distribution to a beneficiary from a retirement plan.

For rollovers and conversions to a Roth IRA in 2010 only, taxpayers have the option of reporting all of the taxable portion of the rollover in 2010, or reporting half in 2011 and half in 2012.

Additional information about Roth IRA Conversions and Rollovers, Qualified Rollovers and the Taxation of Roth IRA conversions may be found in The Gold Book.