In certain cases, you may be eligible to make a Mega Backdoor Roth contribution. At a high level, this involves making a non-Roth, after-tax contribution to your 401(k), then rolling it out of your 401(k) into a Roth IRA. Under the right circumstances, this can allow you to contribute tens of thousands of dollars into a Roth IRA. However, the rules are very restrictive and prohibitive, and can be difficult to navigate.
This flowchart addresses some of the most common issues that arise while trying to make a Mega Backdoor Roth contribution. It considers:
- The maximum amount that can be contributed
- The impact of the ACP test
- 401(k) plan-specific features providing in-service distributions and/or separate accounts
- The tax impact upon rollover
- The step-by-step process to complete this kind of contribution
