10/13/2026
The IRS controls which money leaves your Roth first 👀
Most people treat their Roth IRA as a single bucket. But the IRS sees it in three distinct layers, and the order those layers come out can determine whether you owe taxes or penalties.
Here's how it breaks down:
Layer 1: Contributions come out first. These are always tax-free and penalty-free, regardless of your age or how long the account has existed. You already paid tax on this money going in.
Layer 2: Conversions come out next, with the oldest conversion first. The converted amount itself won't be taxed again, but if you're under 59½ and that specific conversion is less than five years old, a 10% penalty could apply.
Layer 3: Earnings are last. They're only tax-free and penalty-free if your Roth has been open at least five years and you're 59½ or older, though certain exceptions exist.
Knowing which layer you're drawing from puts you in control of how and when you use this account, and opens up possibilities most people never consider.
Reach out through the link in my bio if you'd like some help with this.
Create Wealth Financial Planning, LLC (CWFP) is a registered investment advisor offering advisory services in the State of FL and in other jurisdictions where exempted. All content on this site is for informational purposes only. Portions of this content may have been generated with the assistance of AI tools.
Investing involves risk and the potential for loss. Please speak with a financial professional to evaluate your personal situation before taking action on any items discussed on this page.
Comments and reactions by viewers are not a guarantee of future investment outcomes and are beyond the control of Jeff McDermott and Create Wealth Financial Planning. Public comments are not selected, amended, deleted, or sorted by CWFP, although personally identifiable information, scam or fraud messages, and misinformation may be removed.
Create Wealth Financial Planning is a financial advisor serving Professionals, Executives, Business Owners, and rising professionals aged 35-55.