Craig Wear explains why timing kills Roth conversions: contributions have until April 15, 2026, but conversions must close by December 31, 2025. Miss that date and you lose the tax year, even if your custodian processes it later.
December 31, 2025 (must be finished/processed by year-end).
April 15, 2026 (the 2025 tax-year contribution deadline).
Craig Wear, CFP®.
Here's the mistake people make with Roth conversions. They think they can convert right before the 2026 tax deadline and still have it count for 2025. No, it doesn't work that way. Roth contributions. You have until April 15, 2026. Roth conversions must be done, finished, completed by December 31, 2025. No exceptions. So if you want that conversion to apply to 2025, make sure it's processed before the end of the year. And many of the custodians, because they're just crammed full of requests or the end of the year, they have specific dates. You got to make sure you don't miss the date, because if you miss the date, you miss the benefit. Know the rules. Don't let the calendar technicality cost you thousands of.
