If you're under 591/2 and considering a Roth conversion, be careful if you have to use any portion of the conversion to pay the tax, as it's considered an early withdrawal and hit with the 10% penalty.
Example: John is 35 years old. He has a traditional IRA worth $100,000. John discussed the possibility of a Roth conversion with his advisor, but was concerned he did not have the extra funds available to cover the taxes due on the conversion. John’s advisor suggests having the taxes withheld from the IRA. This is bad advice, but John is unaware of the consequences. John converts the entire $100,000 and has $20,000 withheld for taxes. This $20,000 never gets converted. It is an early withdrawal, and John is hit with a 10% penalty of $2,000.
Copied from Ed Slott article.
Agreed, pay those Roth conversion taxes out-of-pocket! That conversion money growing tax free is gold. Plus, you can wait and pay in April, and perhaps receive more earnings on the money in the interim, before handing it over to your Uncle Sam.
