A Roth IRA is an account or annuity set up in the United States solely for the benefit of you or your beneficiaries. It is an individual retirement plan. However, it differs from traditional IRAs in that contributions are not deductible. For information on contributions and the limitations please refer to Chapter 2 of the Publication 590, Individual Retirement Arrangements.

Distributions made after the 5 year period beginning with the first year a contribution was made to a Roth IRA set up for your benefit, are not taxable if made either:

1. after you are 59 1/2,
2. because you are disabled,
3. to a beneficiary or your estate after your death, or
4. to buy, build or rebuild a first home.

Distributions that are a return of your regular contributions are tax–free.

You may be able to convert (roll over) your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Conversions can be done through a trustee–to–trustee transfer, or by taking the IRA out of one account and depositing it into another within 60 days from the date you receive it, please refer to the Publication 590 regarding limits on the modified adjusted income with respect to conversions. If you are married, you must file a joint return unless you did not live with your spouse at any time during the year. You must include in gross income any amount you convert from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. The taxable amount is calculated on Form 8606 (PDF), Nondeductible IRAs, and shown on Form 1040 (PDF) or Form 1040A (PDF).

If you converted your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, but were not eligible to do so, unless you recharacterize the amount you converted, your conversion will be treated as a taxable distribution from your traditional IRA that may be subject to additional tax, and will be treated as a regular contribution to your Roth IRA that may be subject to an excise tax if it is an excess contribution.

You may decide to recharacterize your Roth IRA conversion by transferring in a trustee–to–trustee transfer, the amount you converted (including net income allocable to that amount) back to a traditional IRA. You may do this prior to the due date, including extensions, for filing your tax return. Show the conversion on Form 8606. Refer to the Form 8606 Instructions for information on reporting recharacterizations.

For information on Roth IRA distributions, refer to Topic 428. For information regarding Roth IRAs, refer to Publication 590, Individual Retirement Arrangements.