Bracket planning
How much can you convert before leaving a tax bracket?
The basic bracket-room idea
Start with your ordinary taxable income before the conversion. Then compare it with the top of the bracket you are willing to fill. The gap is rough conversion room before the next marginal bracket begins.
Why “fill the bracket” is not the whole plan
Bracket room is useful, but it is not a full tax return. A Roth conversion can interact with Medicare premiums, Social Security taxation, ACA subsidies, credits, deductions, state taxes, and investment income. BucketSavers uses warning messages when those issues may matter.
Use the calculator as a bracket ruler
The Roth conversion calculator shows how much of the taxable conversion lands in each bracket, plus quick “room through this bracket” targets.