26 U.S.C. § 408A

Section 408A · Roth IRAs

Current version, with additions and removals from the June 7, 2001 version.

Current — December 29, 2022

As of June 7, 2001

(a) General rule

Except as provided in this section, a Roth IRA shall be treated for purposes of this title in the same manner as an individual retirement plan.

(b) Roth IRA

For purposes of this title, the term “Roth IRA” means an individual retirement plan (as defined in section 7701(a)(37)) which is designated (in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe) at the time of establishment of the plan as a Roth IRA. Such designation shall be made in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe.

For purposes of this title, the term "Roth IRA" means an individual retirement plan (as defined in section 7701(a)(37)) which is designated (in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe) at the time of establishment of the plan as a Roth IRA. Such designation shall be made in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe.

(1) No deduction allowed

No deduction shall be allowed under section 219 for a contribution to a Roth IRA.

(2) Contribution limit

The aggregate amount of contributions for any taxable year to all Roth IRAs maintained for the benefit of an individual shall not exceed the excess (if any) of—

(A) the maximum amount allowable as a deduction under section 219 with respect to such individual for such taxable year (computed without regard to subsection ~~(d)(1) or~~ (g) of such section), over

(A) the maximum amount allowable as a deduction under section 219 with respect to such individual for such taxable year (computed without regard to subsection (g) of such section), over

(B) the aggregate amount of contributions for such taxable year to all other individual retirement plans (other than Roth IRAs) maintained for the benefit of the individual.

(3) Limits based on modified adjusted gross income

(A) Dollar limit

The amount determined under paragraph (2) for any taxable year shall not exceed an amount equal to the amount determined under paragraph (2)(A) for such taxable year, reduced (but not below zero) by the amount which bears the same ratio to such amount as—

(i) the excess of—

(I) the taxpayer's adjusted gross income for such taxable year, over

(II) the applicable dollar amount, bears to

(ii) $15,000 ($10,000 in the case of a joint return or a married individual filing a separate return).

The rules of subparagraphs (B) and (C) of section 219(g)(2) shall apply to any reduction under this subparagraph.

(B) Rollover from IRA

A taxpayer shall not be allowed to make a qualified rollover contribution to a Roth IRA from an individual retirement plan other than a Roth IRA during any taxable year if, for the taxable year of the distribution to which such contribution relates—

(i) the taxpayer's adjusted gross income exceeds $100,000, or

(ii) the taxpayer is a married individual filing a separate return.

~~(C)~~ Definitions

(B) Definitions

For purposes of this paragraph—

(i) adjusted gross income shall be determined in the same manner as under section 219(g)(3), except ~~that—~~

(i) adjusted gross income shall be determined in the same manner as under section 219(g)(3), except that any amount included in gross income under subsection (d)(3) shall not be taken into account, and

(I) any amount included in gross income under subsection (d)(3) shall not be taken into account; and

(II) any amount included in gross income by reason of a required distribution under a provision described in paragraph (5) shall not be taken into account for purposes of subparagraph (B)(i), and

(ii) the applicable dollar amount is—

(I) in the case of a taxpayer filing a joint return, $150,000,

(II) in the case of any other taxpayer (other than a married individual filing a separate return), $95,000, and

(III) in the case of a married individual filing a separate return, zero.

~~(D)~~ Marital status

Section 219(g)(4) shall apply for purposes of this paragraph.

(4) Contributions permitted after age 701/2

Contributions to a Roth IRA may be made even after the individual for whom the account is maintained has attained age 701/2.

(D) Inflation adjustment

In the case of any taxable year beginning in a calendar year after 2006, the dollar amounts in subclauses (I) and (II) of subparagraph (B)(ii) shall each be increased by an amount equal to—

(i) such dollar amount, multiplied by

(ii) the cost-of-living adjustment determined under section 1(f)(3) for the calendar year in which the taxable year begins, determined by substituting "calendar year 2005" for "calendar year 2016" in subparagraph (A)(ii) thereof.

Any increase determined under the preceding sentence shall be rounded to the nearest multiple of $1,000.

~~(5)~~ Mandatory distribution rules not to apply before death

(4) Mandatory distribution rules not to apply before death

Notwithstanding subsections (a)(6) and (b)(3) of section 408 (relating to required distributions), the following provisions shall not apply to any Roth IRA:

(A) Section 401(a)(9)(A).

(B) The incidental death benefit requirements of section 401(a).

~~(6)~~ Rollover contributions

(5) Rollover contributions

(A) In general

No rollover contribution may be made to a Roth IRA unless it is a qualified rollover contribution.

(B) Coordination with limit

A qualified rollover contribution shall not be taken into account for purposes of paragraph (2).

~~(7)~~ Time when contributions made

(6) Time when contributions made

For purposes of this section, the rule of section 219(f)(3) shall apply.

(d) Distribution rules

For purposes of this title—

(1) Exclusion

Any qualified distribution from a Roth IRA shall not be includible in gross income.

(2) Qualified distribution

For purposes of this subsection—

(A) In general

The term “qualified distribution” means any payment or distribution—

The term "qualified distribution" means any payment or distribution—

(i) made on or after the date on which the individual attains age ~~591/2,~~

(i) made on or after the date on which the individual attains age 59½,

(ii) made to a beneficiary (or to the estate of the individual) on or after the death of the individual,

(iii) attributable to the individual's being disabled (within the meaning of section 72(m)(7)), or

(iv) which is a qualified special purpose distribution.

(B) Distributions within nonexclusion period

A payment or distribution from a Roth IRA shall not be treated as a qualified distribution under subparagraph (A) if such payment or distribution is made within the 5-taxable year period beginning with the first taxable year for which the individual made a contribution to a Roth IRA (or such individual's ~~spouse~~ made a contribution to a Roth IRA) established for such individual.

A payment or distribution from a Roth IRA shall not be treated as a qualified distribution under subparagraph (A) if such payment or distribution is made within the 5-taxable year period beginning with the first taxable year for which the individual made a contribution to a Roth IRA (or such individual's spouse, or employer in the case of a simple retirement account (as defined in section 408(p)) or simplified employee pension (as defined in section 408(k)), made a contribution to a Roth IRA) established for such individual.

The term “qualified distribution” shall not include any distribution of any contribution described in section 408(d)(4) and any net income allocable to the contribution.

The term "qualified distribution" shall not include any distribution of any contribution described in section 408(d)(4) and any net income allocable to the contribution.

(3) Rollovers from an ~~IRA~~ other than a Roth IRA

(3) Rollovers from an eligible retirement plan other than a Roth IRA

(A) In general

Notwithstanding ~~section~~ 408(d)(3), in the case of any distribution to which this paragraph applies—

Notwithstanding sections 402(c), 403(b)(8), 408(d)(3), and 457(e)(16), in the case of any distribution to which this paragraph applies—

(i) there shall be included in gross income any amount which would be includible were it not part of a qualified rollover contribution,

(ii) section 72(t) shall not apply, and

(iii) unless the taxpayer elects not to have this clause ~~apply for any taxable year,~~ any amount required to be included in gross income for ~~such~~ taxable year by reason of this paragraph ~~for any distribution before January 1, 1999,~~ shall be so included ratably over the ~~4-taxable year~~ period beginning with ~~such~~ taxable ~~year.~~

(iii) unless the taxpayer elects not to have this clause apply, any amount required to be included in gross income for any taxable year beginning in 2010 by reason of this paragraph shall be so included ratably over the 2-taxable-year period beginning with the first taxable year beginning in 2011.

Any election under clause (iii) for any distributions during a taxable year may not be changed after the due date for such taxable year.

(B) Distributions to which paragraph applies

This paragraph shall apply to a distribution from an ~~individual~~ retirement plan ~~(other than a Roth IRA)~~ maintained for the benefit of an individual which is contributed to a Roth IRA maintained for the benefit of such individual in a qualified rollover contribution.

This paragraph shall apply to a distribution from an eligible retirement plan (as defined by section 402(c)(8)(B)) maintained for the benefit of an individual which is contributed to a Roth IRA maintained for the benefit of such individual in a qualified rollover contribution. This paragraph shall not apply to a distribution which is a qualified rollover contribution from a Roth IRA or a qualified rollover contribution from a designated Roth account which is a rollover contribution described in section 402A(c)(3)(A).

The conversion of an individual retirement plan (other than a Roth IRA) to a Roth IRA shall be treated for purposes of this paragraph as a distribution to which this paragraph applies.

(D) Additional reporting requirements

Trustees of Roth IRAs, trustees of individual retirement plans, or ~~both,~~ whichever is appropriate, shall include such additional information in reports required under section 408(i) as the Secretary may require to ensure that amounts required to be included in gross income under subparagraph (A) are so included.

Trustees of Roth IRAs, trustees of individual retirement plans, persons subject to section 6047(d)(1), or all of the foregoing persons, whichever is appropriate, shall include such additional information in reports required under section 408(i) or 6047 as the Secretary may require to ensure that amounts required to be included in gross income under subparagraph (A) are so included.

(E) Special rules for contributions to which ~~4-year~~ averaging applies

(E) Special rules for contributions to which 2-year averaging applies

In the case of a qualified rollover contribution to a Roth IRA of a distribution to which subparagraph (A)(iii) applied, the following rules shall apply:

(i) Acceleration of inclusion

(I) In general

The amount required to be included in gross income for ~~each of~~ the first 3 taxable ~~years~~ in the ~~4-year~~ period under subparagraph (A)(iii) shall be increased by the aggregate distributions from Roth IRAs for such taxable year which are allocable under paragraph (4) to the portion of such qualified rollover contribution required to be included in gross income under subparagraph (A)(i).

The amount otherwise required to be included in gross income for any taxable year beginning in 2010 or the first taxable year in the 2-year period under subparagraph (A)(iii) shall be increased by the aggregate distributions from Roth IRAs for such taxable year which are allocable under paragraph (4) to the portion of such qualified rollover contribution required to be included in gross income under subparagraph (A)(i).

(II) Limitation on aggregate amount included

The amount required to be included in gross income for any taxable year under subparagraph (A)(iii) shall not exceed the aggregate amount required to be included in gross income under subparagraph (A)(iii) for all taxable years in the ~~4-year~~ period (without regard to subclause (I)) reduced by amounts included for all preceding taxable years.

The amount required to be included in gross income for any taxable year under subparagraph (A)(iii) shall not exceed the aggregate amount required to be included in gross income under subparagraph (A)(iii) for all taxable years in the 2-year period (without regard to subclause (I)) reduced by amounts included for all preceding taxable years.

(ii) Death of distributee

(I) In general

If the individual required to include amounts in gross income under such subparagraph dies before all of such amounts are included, all remaining amounts shall be included in gross income for the taxable year which includes the date of death.

(II) Special rule for surviving spouse

If the spouse of the individual described in subclause (I) acquires the individual's entire interest in any Roth IRA to which such qualified rollover contribution is properly allocable, the spouse may elect to treat the remaining amounts described in subclause (I) as includible in the spouse's gross income in the taxable years of the spouse ending with or within the taxable years of such individual in which such amounts would otherwise have been includible. Any such election may not be made or changed after the due date for the spouse's taxable year which includes the date of death.

(F) Special rule for applying section 72

(i) In general

If—

(I) any portion of a distribution from a Roth IRA is properly allocable to a qualified rollover contribution described in this paragraph; and

(II) such distribution is made within the 5-taxable year period beginning with the taxable year in which such contribution was made,

then section 72(t) shall be applied as if such portion were includible in gross income.

(ii) Limitation

Clause (i) shall apply only to the extent of the amount of the qualified rollover contribution includible in gross income under subparagraph (A)(i).

(4) Aggregation and ordering rules

(A) Aggregation rules

Section 408(d)(2) shall be applied separately with respect to Roth IRAs and other individual retirement plans.

(B) Ordering rules

For purposes of applying this section and section 72 to any distribution from a Roth IRA, such distribution shall be treated as made—

(i) from contributions to the extent that the amount of such distribution, when added to all previous distributions from the Roth IRA, does not exceed the aggregate contributions to the Roth IRA; and

(ii) from such contributions in the following order:

(I) Contributions other than qualified rollover contributions to which paragraph (3) applies.

(II) Qualified rollover contributions to which paragraph (3) applies on a first-in, first-out basis.

Any distribution allocated to a qualified rollover contribution under clause (ii)(II) shall be allocated first to the portion of such contribution required to be included in gross income.

(5) Qualified special purpose distribution

For purposes of this section, the term “qualified special purpose distribution” means any distribution to which subparagraph (F) of section 72(t)(2) applies.

For purposes of this section, the term "qualified special purpose distribution" means any distribution to which subparagraph (F) of section 72(t)(2) applies.

(6) Taxpayer may make adjustments before due date

(A) In general

Except as provided by the Secretary, if, on or before the due date for any taxable year, a taxpayer transfers in a trustee-to-trustee transfer any contribution to an individual retirement plan made during such taxable year from such plan to any other individual retirement plan, then, for purposes of this chapter, such contribution shall be treated as having been made to the transferee plan (and not the transferor plan).

(B) Special rules

(i) Transfer of earnings

Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to the transfer of any contribution unless such transfer is accompanied by any net income allocable to such contribution.

(ii) No deduction

Subparagraph (A) shall apply to the transfer of any contribution only to the extent no deduction was allowed with respect to the contribution to the transferor plan.

(iii) Conversions

Subparagraph (A) shall not apply in the case of a qualified rollover contribution to which subsection (d)(3) applies (including by reason of subparagraph (C) thereof).

(7) Due date

For purposes of this subsection, the due date for any taxable year is the date prescribed by law (including extensions of time) for filing the taxpayer's return for such taxable year.

(e) Qualified rollover contribution

For purposes of this section, the term “qualified rollover contribution” means a rollover contribution to a Roth IRA from another such account, or from an individual retirement plan, but only if such rollover contribution meets the requirements of section 408(d)(3). Such term includes a rollover contribution described in section 402A(c)(3)(A). For purposes of section 408(d)(3)(B), there shall be disregarded any qualified rollover contribution from an individual retirement plan (other than a Roth IRA) to a Roth IRA.

(f) Individual retirement plan

For purposes of this section—

(1) a simplified employee pension or a simple retirement account may not be designated as a Roth IRA; and

(2) contributions to any such pension or account shall not be taken into account for purposes of subsection (c)(2)(B).

(1) In general

The term "qualified rollover contribution" means a rollover contribution—

(A) to a Roth IRA from another such account,

(B) from an eligible retirement plan, but only if—

(i) in the case of an individual retirement plan, such rollover contribution meets the requirements of section 408(d)(3), and

(ii) in the case of any eligible retirement plan (as defined in section 402(c)(8)(B) other than clauses (i) and (ii) thereof), such rollover contribution meets the requirements of section 402(c), 403(b)(8), or 457(e)(16), as applicable.

For purposes of section 408(d)(3)(B), there shall be disregarded any qualified rollover contribution from an individual retirement plan (other than a Roth IRA) to a Roth IRA.

(2) Military death gratuity

(A) In general

The term "qualified rollover contribution" includes a contribution to a Roth IRA maintained for the benefit of an individual made before the end of the 1-year period beginning on the date on which such individual receives an amount under section 1477 of title 10, United States Code, or section 1967 of title 38 of such Code, with respect to a person, to the extent that such contribution does not exceed—

(i) the sum of the amounts received during such period by such individual under such sections with respect to such person, reduced by

(ii) the amounts so received which were contributed to a Coverdell education savings account under section 530(d)(9).

(B) Annual limit on number of rollovers not to apply

Section 408(d)(3)(B) shall not apply with respect to amounts treated as a rollover by subparagraph (A).

For purposes of applying section 72 in the case of a distribution which is not a qualified distribution, the amount treated as a rollover by reason of subparagraph (A) shall be treated as investment in the contract.

(3) Simple retirement accounts

In the case of any payment or distribution out of a simple retirement account (as defined in section 408(p)) with respect to which an election has been made under section 408(p)(12) and to which 72(t)(6) applies, the term "qualified rollover contribution" shall not include any payment or distribution paid into an account other than another simple retirement account (as so defined).

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Versions

Dec 29, 2022 – presentcurrentviewing
Annual edition
Subsec. (c)(2)(A). Pub. L. 117–328, § 401(b)(5), struck out “(d)(1) or” before “(g) of such section”.
▸ what changed
Source credit
Pub. L. 117–328, div. T, title I, § 126(b), title IV, § 401(b)(5), title VI, § 601(a), (c)(2), (d), Dec. 29, 2022, 136 Stat. 5316, 5388, 5390.
Dec 20, 2019 – Dec 29, 2022
Annual edition
Subsec. (c)(4) to (7). Pub. L. 116–94 redesignated pars. (5) to (7) as (4) to (6), respectively, and struck out former par. (4). Prior to amendment, text of par. (4) read as follows: “Contributions to a Roth IRA may be made even after the individual for whom the account is maintained has attained age 70½.”
▸ what changed changes vs current →
Source credit
Pub. L. 116–94, div. O, title I, § 107(c), Dec. 20, 2019, 133 Stat. 3149
Mar 23, 2018 – Dec 20, 2019
OLRC release point
Subsec. (d)(3)(B). Pub. L. 115–141, § 401(a)(77), inserted period at end.
▸ what changed changes vs current →
Source credit
Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(a)(77), (78), Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1187
Dec 22, 2017 – Mar 23, 2018
Annual edition
Subsec. (c)(3)(D)(ii). Pub. L. 115–97, § 11002(d)(1)(W), substituted “for ‘calendar year 2016’ in subparagraph (A)(ii)” for “for ‘calendar year 1992’ in subparagraph (B)”.
TCJA →
▸ what changed changes vs current →
Source credit
Pub. L. 115–97, title I, §§ 11002(d)(1)(W), 13611(a), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2060, 2165
Dec 23, 2008 – Dec 22, 2017
Annual edition
Subsec. (c)(3)(B). Pub. L. 110–458, § 108(d)(1), in introductory provisions, struck out second “an” before “eligible” and “other than a Roth IRA” before “during any taxable year”, and inserted as concluding provisions “This subparagraph shall not apply to a qualified rollover contribution from a Roth IRA or to a qualified rollover contribution from a designated Roth account which is a rollover contribution described in section 402A(c)(3)(A).”
changes vs current →
Source credit
Pub. L. 110–458, title I, § 108(d), (h), Dec. 23, 2008, 122 Stat. 5109
Jun 17, 2008 – Dec 23, 2008
Amended · full text not held
Subsec. (c)(3)(B). Pub. L. 110–458, § 108(d)(1), in introductory provisions, struck out second “an” before “eligible” and “other than a Roth IRA” before “during any taxable year”, and inserted as concluding provisions “This subparagraph shall not apply to a qualified rollover contribution from a Roth IRA or to a qualified rollover contribution from a designated Roth account which is a rollover contribution described in section 402A(c)(3)(A).”
Source credit
Pub. L. 110–245, title I, § 109(a), (b), June 17, 2008, 122 Stat. 1631, 1632
Aug 17, 2006 – Jun 17, 2008
Annual edition
Subsec. (c)(3)(B). Pub. L. 109–222, § 512(a)(1), redesignated subpar. (C) as (B) and struck out former subpar. (B). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “A taxpayer shall not be allowed to make a qualified rollover contribution to a Roth IRA from an individual retirement plan other than a Roth IRA during any taxable year if, for the taxable year of the distribution to which such contribution relates—
changes vs current →
Source credit
Pub. L. 109–280, title VIII, §§ 824(a), (b), 833(c), Aug. 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 998, 1004
May 17, 2006 – Aug 17, 2006
Amended · full text not held
Subsec. (c)(3)(B). Pub. L. 109–222, § 512(a)(1), redesignated subpar. (C) as (B) and struck out former subpar. (B). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “A taxpayer shall not be allowed to make a qualified rollover contribution to a Roth IRA from an individual retirement plan other than a Roth IRA during any taxable year if, for the taxable year of the distribution to which such contribution relates—
Source credit
Pub. L. 109–222, title V, § 512(a), (b), May 17, 2006, 120 Stat. 365
Jun 7, 2001 – May 17, 2006
Annual edition
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 107–16 inserted “Such term includes a rollover contribution described in section 402A(c)(3)(A).” after first sentence.
▸ what changed changes vs current →
Source credit
Pub. L. 107–16, title VI, § 617(e)(1), June 7, 2001, 115 Stat. 106
Oct 21, 1998 – Jun 7, 2001
Annual edition
Subsec. (c)(3)(A). Pub. L. 105–206, § 6005(b)(1), substituted “shall not exceed an amount equal to the amount determined under paragraph (2)(A) for such taxable year, reduced” for “shall be reduced” in introductory provisions.
changes vs current →
Source credit
Pub. L. 105–277, div. J, title IV, § 4002(j), Oct. 21, 1998, 112 Stat. 2681–908
Jul 22, 1998 – Oct 21, 1998
Amended · full text not held
Subsec. (c)(3)(A). Pub. L. 105–206, § 6005(b)(1), substituted “shall not exceed an amount equal to the amount determined under paragraph (2)(A) for such taxable year, reduced” for “shall be reduced” in introductory provisions.
Source credit
amended Pub. L. 105–206, title VI, § 6005(b)(1)–(7), (9), title VII, § 7004(a), July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 796–800, 833
Aug 5, 1997 – Jul 22, 1998
Annual edition
changes vs current →
Source credit
Added Pub. L. 105–34, title III, § 302(a), Aug. 5, 1997, 111 Stat. 825

See all changes since 1997 → current

Every enactment and amendment in this section's credit is listed. Full text is shown for versions back to 1997; earlier amendments are recorded by date and act, without pre-1994 full text.

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Part of

Terms defined in this section

qualified distributionfor purposes of this title
qualified rollover contributionfor purposes of this section
qualified rollover contributionfor purposes of this section
qualified special purpose distributionfor purposes of this section
Roth IRAfor purposes of this title