How To Convert a Traditional IRA to a Roth After 60
You can convert a traditional IRA to a Roth no matter your age. But if the conversion boosts your income, it could have taxing consequences.


Donna LeValley
It's not difficult to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth if you understand the tax implications, but the process may pose challenges for some people aged 60 and up. Older savers are more likely to own traditional IRAs than Roth IRAs, as traditional IRAs have been around longer, Also, older savers may be wary of executing a conversion or may not know about this option. Still, if you're over 60, there's much to like about Roth conversions.
You can contribute to a traditional IRA at any age if you have earned income. But can someone aged 73 still roll over money from a traditional IRA to a Roth in retirement? Do you need to have earned income to make a successful conversion?
Let's delve into those questions and discover how to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA after 60.

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-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.
Who can convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA?
There's no age limit or income requirement to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. You must pay taxes on the amount converted, although part of the conversion will be tax-free if you have made nondeductible contributions to your traditional IRA.
Once the money is in the Roth, you can take tax-free withdrawals. (You may have to pay taxes on any earnings withdrawn within five years of the conversion, but only after you've withdrawn contributions and converted amounts.) See Roth IRA Basics: 10 Things You Must Know for more about tax implications on withdrawal.
Possible financial consequences of a conversion
Because converting to a Roth can have a ripple effect on other areas of your finances, be careful before making a big conversion in one year. For instance, the conversion will be included in your adjusted gross income, which could bump some of your income into a higher tax bracket and could also cause you to pay more for your Medicare premiums and higher taxes on your Social Security benefits.
Social Security
The Social Security Administration (SSA) determines who pays an income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) based on the income reported two years prior. So, the SSA looked at your 2023 tax returns to see if you must pay an IRMAA in 2025. Similarly, SSA will examine your 2024 tax returns to determine whether you must pay IRMAA in 2026.
The extra income from the conversion could also increase the portion of your Social Security benefits that is subject to income taxes. So, if you're already drawing Social Security, a Roth conversion could increase your income enough to have an impact. This is one reason why it’s beneficial to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth when you're younger, before you're drawing Social Security.
Medicare
If your adjusted gross income (plus tax-exempt interest income) is more than $103,000 if you're single or $206,000 if married filing jointly, you will have to pay the Medicare high-income surcharge for Parts B and D.
In 2025, people subject to the surcharge pay an additional $74.00 to $443.90 per person each month, depending on their income, for Medicare Part B premiums. They also pay a high-income surcharge of $13.70 to $85.80 above their Part D premiums. See Medicare Premiums 2025: IRMAA Brackets and Surcharges for Parts B and D for more information.
For 2025, Medicare beneficiaries with income over $106,000 (for single tax filers), $212,000 for joint filers and $106,000 (for married people that file separately) will pay the surcharge. For these beneficiaries, total monthly Part B premiums will range from $259 to $628.90, for Part D premiums will range from $60.20 to $132.30. See What You Will Pay for Medicare in 2025.
The basic premium for Part B is $185.00, an increase of $10.60 from 2024. Part D premiums decreased to $46.50 monthly in 2025, down $7.45 from $53.95 in 2024.
Keep an eye on RMDs (required minimum distributions) the year you convert your traditional IRA
Keep in mind that rolling money over from a traditional IRA to a Roth after 70-½ won't reduce your RMDs for the year of the conversion; the required withdrawal is based on your IRA balance as of the end of the previous year. But it can reduce your RMDs for future years.
Instead of making one big conversion, consider rolling over a portion of the money from a traditional IRA to a Roth every year, with a close eye on the top of your tax bracket and income limits for the Medicare high-income surcharge and Social Security taxes.
Related Content
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

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.
- Donna LeValleyRetirement Writer
-
How to Shop Smarter as Tariffs Drive Up Prices in 2025
Tariff fatigue is real. Here’s how to save as prices rise and uncertainty grows.
-
Retirement Reimagined: Finding Your Tribe in LGBTQ-Focused Communities
Demand for LGBTQ retirement communities in the U.S. is high, but inventory is not easy to find. Here are some safe havens to explore.
-
The $1 Million Retirement Question: Are You Being Tax-Smart About Your Pension?
A financial planner raises some key considerations for navigating retirement with a pension and recommends four strategies.
-
The Costly Mistake You Might Be Making With Your First 401(k)
Most people start contributing to their retirement savings later in life. That could be a big-time mistake, literally costing you thousands of dollars.
-
An Estate Planning Attorney's Guide to the Importance of POAs
Regularly updating your financial and health care power of attorney documents ensures they reflect your current intentions and circumstances. It's also important to clearly communicate your wishes to your chosen agents.
-
Divorce and Your Home: An Expert's Guide to Avoiding a Tax Bomb
Your home is probably your biggest asset, so if you're getting a divorce, the stakes are high. Keep it? Sell it? You need to have a good plan in place for how to handle it.
-
Fewer Agents, Fewer Audits: How IRS Staff Cuts Are Changing Enforcement
Significant reductions in the IRS workforce appear to be increasing the number of 'no change' audit closures. The shift could potentially increase the overall tax gap — the difference between taxes that should have been paid and those that were.
-
What if You Could Increase Your Retirement Income by 50% to 75%? Here's How
Combining IRA investments, lifetime income annuities and a HECM into one plan could significantly increase your retirement income and liquid savings compared to traditional planning.
-
Here's Why You Shouldn't Do an Estate Plan Without a Financial Planner
Estate planning isn't just about distributing assets. Working with a financial adviser can ensure you've considered the big picture — and the finer details.
-
Trump Tariffs and Taxes: Waiting to See What Happens Is Not a Strategy
Like presidents, tariffs come and go. Policy changes also shift about every two years with the election cycle. If you're paralyzed by uncertainty, you could be missing opportunities to benefit your financial future.