- Step 1 - contributing to a nondeductible IRA, and
- Step 2 - converting that n.d. IRA to a Roth.
Your balance in a pre-tax TIRA is irrelevant for Step 1. To complete Step 2 without invoking the pro-rata rule (which will tax part/all of the conversion), you must have zero balance in a pre-tax IRA on 12/31 of the calendar year in which you convert. 12/31 is the only day of the year that matters. Or, like Dr. Mom recommended, you can just wait until the new year to do it all in the same year.
See Explaining Backdoor Roth IRAs for a more exhaustive analysis.
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