Backdoor Roth IRA Calculator
Calculate your direct Roth limits and determine if the backdoor strategy is right for you in 2026.
Last updated: April 2026
What is a Backdoor Roth IRA?
A Backdoor Roth IRA is not a specific type of account, but a legal tax strategy used by high-income earners who are over the IRS income limits for direct Roth IRA contributions.
By contributing to a Traditional IRA (which has no income limit for contributions) and then immediately converting those funds to a Roth IRA, you can effectively bypass the income limits and benefit from tax-free growth and withdrawals.
How to use this calculator
- 1Check Filing Status — Phase-out limits vary significantly between Single and Married filers.
- 2Input MAGI — Use your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (typically your Gross Income minus some deductions).
- 3Check Existing IRAs — If you have other pre-tax IRAs (Traditional, SEP, SIMPLE), the Pro-Rata rule may apply.
- 4Follow Steps — Review the generated roadmap below to see the exact execution steps.
Formula & example
Direct Limit = Max ($7k) - ((MAGI - PhaseStart) / (PhaseEnd - PhaseStart) * Max)
A single filer making $160,500 is in the middle of the phase-out. Their direct contribution limit would be reduced by 50%, allowing only $3,500 directly. The remaining $3,500 must be 'backdoored'.
Benefits
No Income Cap
Allows anyone, regardless of how much they earn, to save in a Roth vehicle.
Tax-Free Growth
Unlike a brokerage account, you pay $0 in capital gains taxes on your investments.
No RMDs
Roth IRAs do not require mandatory withdrawals during the owner's lifetime.
Use cases
High Earner Strategy
Ideal for professionals (MDs, Software Engineers, Lawyers) earning over $168k.
Early Retirement
Building a tax-free bucket of money for flexible withdrawals later in life.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Backdoor Roth legal?+
Yes. Congressional committee reports in 2017 clarified that the strategy is permitted under existing law.
What is the Pro-Rata Rule?+
The IRS looks at ALL your IRA accounts combined. If you have $93k in a pre-tax IRA and try to backdoor $7k, the IRS considers your total $100k balance. Only 7% of your conversion would be tax-free.