Roth Conversion Tax-Bracket Calculator
See which federal brackets a proposed Roth conversion would fill, the estimated extra tax, and how much room remains in your target bracket.
Conversion tax estimate
Estimated additional federal tax on this conversion
$8,700
A $50,000 conversion on top of $77,800 of taxable income is taxed at an effective 17.4%, leaving you in the 22% bracket with $275,750 of room before the 24% bracket tops out.
How the conversion fills 2026 brackets
View data table
| Bracket | Amount converted in bracket | Tax |
|---|---|---|
| 12% | $23,000 | $2,760 |
| 22% | $27,000 | $5,940 |
- Standard deduction applied
- $32,200
- Taxable income after conversion
- $127,800
- Effective rate on the conversion
- 17.4%
- Room left in the 24% bracket
- $275,750
Medicare IRMAA check
Your approximate MAGI after conversion ($160,000) stays in IRMAA tier 1 — about $58,000 below the next threshold. IRMAA uses a two-year lookback.What this may mean for you
This is the tax mechanics, not a recommendation. Conversions can also affect how much of your Social Security is taxed, Medicare premiums, ACA subsidies, and income-based credits — and converting makes most sense when today's rate beats the rate you'd otherwise pay later. A tax professional can pressure-test the full picture.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and may not reflect your complete financial or tax situation.
Understanding this calculator
A Roth conversion moves money from a traditional IRA or 401(k) into a Roth IRA. You pay ordinary income tax on the converted amount now; in exchange, qualified withdrawals later are tax-free and the money escapes future required minimum distributions. The whole game is choosing the amount and the year so the conversion is taxed at rates you're comfortable with.
Many retirees find a window between retiring and starting Social Security or RMDs when their taxable income dips. This tool shows exactly how a conversion stacks on top of your other income — which brackets it fills, where it spills into the next one, and how much room you have left if you're targeting the top of, say, the 22% bracket.
One caution: a conversion raises your modified adjusted gross income, which can ripple into Medicare IRMAA surcharges two years later, taxation of Social Security benefits, and income-based credits. The calculator flags IRMAA threshold crossings, but talk to a tax professional before executing a large conversion.
Assumptions and methodology
- Conversion dollars are treated as ordinary income stacked on top of your other ordinary income for the selected tax year.
- If you enter gross income, the standard deduction (plus age-65+ additions and the 2025–2028 senior deduction, with its 6% phase-out) is applied automatically.
- The bracket chart shows how the conversion itself is sliced across brackets; additional tax is the difference between tax with and without the conversion.
- The optional state estimate is a flat rate you choose times the conversion — state rules vary too much for more precision here.
- IRMAA context compares your approximate MAGI before and after against the displayed year's tiers; actual IRMAA uses your MAGI from two years prior.
- Not modeled: capital gains interactions, Social Security taxation, credits and phase-outs, state specifics, the pro-rata rule for after-tax basis, and withholding strategy.
Official sources
Last reviewed August 30, 2026. Year-specific figures show their tax or data year in the tool; data is reviewed when the IRS, SSA, and CMS publish annual updates.
Common questions
Is this a recommendation to convert?
No. It's an educational view of the tax mechanics. Whether converting makes sense depends on your current vs. future rates, cash to pay the tax, Medicare timing, heirs, and more — decisions worth making with a tax professional.
Why does the calculator warn about Medicare?
IRMAA surcharges are cliffs based on your MAGI from two years earlier. A conversion that crosses a threshold can raise both spouses' Part B and D premiums for a full year.
Can I convert just enough to fill my current bracket?
That's a common approach — the "room in target bracket" figure shows how much more conversion fits before the next rate kicks in.
Keep going
- Traditional vs. RothCompare the after-tax outcome of contributing pre-tax dollars to a traditional IRA versus a Roth IRA.Calculator
- RMD CalculatorEstimate this year's required minimum distribution and see projected RMDs for the years ahead.Calculator
- Medicare IRMAASee whether your income triggers Medicare premium surcharges — and how close you are to the next cliff.Calculator
- Income After TaxesEstimate your take-home pay after federal, state, and payroll taxes — by year, month, and paycheck.Calculator
- The Roth Conversion Planning GuideFilling brackets, dodging cliffs, and deciding whether conversions fit your plan.Guide
- The Roth Conversion Window Most People Don't Notice Until It's Closing7 min readArticle
Want a second set of eyes on this?
If you'd like to talk through what these numbers mean for your situation, you can schedule a free, no-pressure conversation. No products, no pitch — just questions answered.