I am not sure if I can convert my 401k into a Roth IRA while I am still with the company. Is it allowed on a company-to-company basis, or is it a federal rule that I can convert my 401k in part to a Roth IRA only when I quit the company I am currently working for? Please advise.
Here is another thought. If your company allows "in service distributions" you can roll part of your 401K to an IRA and then convert that to a Roth IRA. You will owe taxes and it is best to pay the taxes I think out of your own pocket that to pay the taxes out of the converted IRA.
So contact the HR department and find out about the availability of "in service distibutions".
Your current employer can establish a ROTH 401(k) in tandem with your Traditional 401(k). At that time you may transfer from the traditional to the Roth 401(k), or you can run both plans at once. Adding new contributions to the Roth plan. Best of luck, Angela Thomson
Naren, you must take an in-service distribution and your plan must allow you to do it. For 401k contributions, you must be age 59 1/2 or older to take a distribution. Once you take the distribution, roll it to a traditional IRA. From there, you can convert the traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. You will owe the taxes in the year you do the conversion.
If you are part of a small company, you may suggest to the trustee to add Roth contributions as a new source of funds. Once the provision is added to your plan, you can move money from your 401k source to the Roth source regardless of your age. You will be responsible for the tax in the year the transaction is made.
Naren I do not think you will be allowed to convert your currentl 401K to a Roth IRA. Even if the plan has the Roth deferral feature it would be for future contributions only.The existing plan would have to allow "In service distribtuions", but normally this is after attaining age 50. You can check with the plan administrator or HR person to see if "In Service Distributions" are allowed and when. It is a Company plan rule not a Federal Rule. Godo Luck. Mark Schreiber
If you have appreciated company stock in your 401k, then you may want to consider the effects of net unrealized appreciation (NUA). Take a look at this IRS publication for more information: http://www.irs.gov/publications/p575/ar02.html
