The main characteristic that sets Roth IRAs apart from other IRAs is that Roth IRAs are funded with income upon which you’ve already paid federal and state income tax.  Conversely, most IRAs are funded with income upon which you haven’t yet paid federal or state income tax.  This means that when you rollover to or convert to a Roth IRA, you will be expected to pay income tax on those funds.

The question of how much tax you’ll owe depends on a number of factors, including how much money is involved and what your current tax bracket is.  Bear in mind also that you aren’t required to convert the entire balance of your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA at once – you can convert as much or as little as you choose at a time.  If you have further questions about these requirements, check out the IRS website for more information or, better yet, speak with your personal financial adviser or tax accountant.  He or she can help you to determine exactly how much tax you’ll be required to pay.

Another legal change that takes place in the year 2010 is when the Roth IRA taxes you owe will be due.  If you roll over to or convert to a Roth IRA in 2010, you’ll pay half of the taxes due in 2011 and the remaining half in 2012.  This allows you to spread out the tax burden, which could be a real bonus if you’re considering rolling over or converting a significant amount of money.  Again, your personal financial adviser or tax accountant can help you determine not only exactly how much tax you’ll be required to pay, but also how that will affect your taxes for the years 2010, 2011 and 2012.

Another bit of good news – if you choose to rollover your IRA to a Roth IRA or convert your funds to a Roth IRA, you’ll probably avoid the mandatory withholding and/or penalties that you would have incurred had you chosen to just cash out your IRA.  If you do decide to cash out your IRA instead of performing a Roth IRA conversion, you’ll also lose out on the benefit of deferring the tax burden and spreading it out over two years.

As you can see, rolling your IRA over to a Roth account or converting your funds to a Roth IRA isn’t without its tax consequences.  However, those tax consequences are less of a burden now than they’ve been in years past, making it a perfect time to consider this change in your retirement savings strategy.  Paying the required taxes now, during your rollover or conversion, may also play an important role in your estate planning, as it will minimize the necessary taxes for those who receive any funds in the Roth IRA from your estate later in life.

First, you cannot rollover funds from a Roth IRA into a traditionally structured IRA – you can only roll them over to another Roth IRA.  If you think about it, this makes logical sense – one of the reasons to have a traditionally structured IRA is to defer taxes on that portion of your income, a benefit you’ve lost already if the money is in a Roth IRA.  You can rollover funds from one Roth IRA to another Roth IRA if there is a compelling reason to do so, such as an opportunity to improve your investment portfolio’s management or returns.

You can also rollover funds from a traditionally structured IRA into a Roth IRA, but there will usually be taxes to be paid.  Legislative changes for the 2010 tax year are making it more advantageous to have a Roth IRA conversion account.  However, before you change the way your investments are structured, it’s a good idea to review your short and long term financial plans with a tax or financial adviser.  It may be beneficial for some individuals to pay those taxes upfront and convert money into a Roth IRA, but not for all.  Professional advice can help you to be certain where you stand before you initiate such a transaction.

One advantage of Roth IRAs is that having already paid taxes on the money you contributed, there are generally no taxes paid on withdrawals so long as they are considered qualified withdrawals or distributions.  To be considered a qualified withdrawal, you must have been participating in the Roth IRA for a minimum of five years and you must be at least 59 ½ years old.  However, if you’re buying your first home, become disabled, or are using your Roth IRA money to pay for higher education, then your distribution may be considered qualified without meeting those two criteria.  Withdrawals or distributions that are deemed not qualified may be termed early withdrawals, upon which the IRS imposes a 10 percent tax penalty.

One rule you should be aware of is that if you attempt to rollover your funds to a Roth IRA and are unsuccessful for some reason, you may also be subject to early withdrawal penalties.  Generally, speaking with the trustee or manager of the target Roth IRA will ensure that the Roth IRA is ready and able to accept any rollovers.  In fact, not having an account which is ready and able to receive funds is one of the most common Roth IRA rollover mistakes.

There is a wealth of information regarding Roth IRA tax rules located on the IRS website.  You may also be able to find IRS publications at your local post office or public library.  If you need help understanding the rules surrounding Roth IRA accounts and rollovers, talk with your tax adviser or financial planner.  When it comes to your future and your money, it’s a step well worth taking.