Roll Over a Lump-Sum Pension Payout Into an IRA

Be sure to watch out for the tax bite when choosing between a traditional or Roth individual retirement account.

Kimberly Lankford's avatar
By
published
in Features
Pile of cash, a laptop, eyeglasses and paperwork on a desktop
(Image credit: Getty Images)

I’m looking into options for rolling over a pension payout. Can I roll it over to a Roth IRA? --T.L., El Paso, Texas

You generally can roll a pension lump sum into a Roth IRA, but that may not be a good idea. You’ll have to pay taxes on the rollover, as you would with any Roth conversion, and a big conversion in one year could bump you into a higher tax bracket or have other ripple effects, such as making you subject to the Medicare Part B and Part D high-income surcharges.

Another option is to roll the pension money directly into a traditional IRA, which creates no new tax bill, then gradually convert some of the money to a Roth every year. If you use that approach, keep an eye on your tax bracket and other income limits.

Article continues below

From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance

Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues

CLICK FOR FREE ISSUE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/y99mlvgqmn1763972420.png

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.

Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.

Sign up
Kimberly Lankford
Kimberly Lankford
Contributing Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance

As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.