Mega vs Regular Backdoor Roth: What's the Difference?
For high income earners, the Backdoor Roth conversion is a popular way to get around the income limits that prevent high earners from contributing directly to a Roth IRA. The Mega Backdoor Roth, on the other hand, is not just for high earners. However, a high income is necessary in order to get close to contributing up to the maximum, which is probably why they put “Mega” in the name. In this article, I will talk about the differences between the two backdoor conversions so that you can decide which one is right for you.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published in September 2021 and has been updated in December 2023 for accuracy.
A Quick Refresher
Before we talk about the differences between the Mega and regular Backdoor Roths, I want to briefly go over a few terms you’ll need to know.
Roth. If a retirement account has “Roth” in the name, that means that account has post-tax dollars in it and the earnings grow tax-free. So both the Roth 401(k) and Roth IRA share these qualities.
IRA. If a retirement account has “IRA” in the name, that means the account is opened and controlled entirely by you, not by an employer. The 2024 max contribution limit is $7,000 (under 50) and $8,000 (50+). If you contribute $3,000 to a Traditional IRA and $4,000 to a Roth IRA in 2024, you’ve reached the annual limit.
401(k). If a retirement account has “401(k)” in the name, that means the account is run through your employer. While you control how much money you invest in it and which fund(s) to invest in, your employer determines which fund(s) are available to you. The 2024 max contribution limit is $23,000 (under 50) and $30,500 (50+). For example, If you contribute $13,000 pre-tax dollars into a traditional 401(k) and $10,000 post-tax dollars into a Roth 401(k), you’ve reached the annual limit.
Employer match. As a company perk, some employers offer a match program where they contribute money into your 401(k). Basically free money. Typically, you’ll have to contribute a certain amount yourself, and employers will only match up to a certain dollar amount or percentage of your gross income. The employer contributions into your 401(k) do not count towards the annual $23,000 contribution limit. Instead, there’s actually a higher, combined employee + employer limit of $69,000 for 2024. For example, if you contribute $23,000 and your employer contributes $7,000, combined, you’ve used up $30,000 out of the combined $69,000 limit.
Mega vs Regular Backdoor Roth
The goal of the regular Backdoor Roth conversion is to work around the income limits that prevent high earners from contributing directly to a Roth IRA. For example, if you have an income between $146K and $161K, you are only allowed to contribute a fraction of the typical $7,000 maximum (available to single filers who make less than $146K per year). And if you recall from the definitions above, IRAs are opened and managed by you, not an employer. IRAs really have nothing to do with your 401(k)s.
The Mega Backdoor Roth, on the other hand, is a (rare) benefit offered by employers. In order to be able to do a Mega Backdoor Roth conversion, your employer needs to allow for after-tax contributions into your Traditional 401(k). Many employers don’t. But if yours does, you’re in luck!
| Backdoor Roth | Mega Backdoor Roth | |
|---|---|---|
| Requirements | None. You can do this yourself. | Your employer needs to offer after-tax contributions into your Traditional 401(k). |
| Contribution Limit | $7,000 or $8,000 (age 50+) | Less than or equal to $46,000 |
| Suggested Income Level | $146K and above (single) or $230K and above (married) | Any income level. But you need to make sure you leave enough paycheck for your expenses. |
| Complexity | Low-to-medium | High |
| Where To Learn More | Step-by-step guide | Blog post |
Only high earners will want to utilize the Backdoor Roth conversion. Why? Because going through the motions takes several extra steps compared to simply contributing directly to a Roth IRA. If you don’t make $146K (single) or $230K (married) in 2024, you might as well stick with the regular Roth IRA. Don’t bother with a Backdoor Roth conversion.
Takeaways
Both Backdoor conversions have a place in the personal finance playbook, but be sure to consider the complexities, tax consequences, and your income level before choosing which to utilize. Personally, I am fortunate that I am in a strong financial position to be able to max out both mine and my partner’s 401(k)s at $69,000 per year (utilizing both pre and post-tax contributions and the Mega Backdoor Roth benefits that both our employers offer), as well as maxing out both our regular Backdoor Roth IRAs at the start of the year at $7,000 apiece. And I will continue to max out all my retirement accounts so long as I am capable!
Aside: For those of you who’ve been wondering why I haven’t been actively publishing blog posts or Instagram posts, I have taken some well-deserved vacations and I’ve been working on some new and exciting things! Stay tuned for some coming announcements between now and the rest of the year!
