Yes. IRA vs 401k contributions are completely independent. You can max out both every year. You can do a mega backdoor Roth 401k and a backdoor Roth IRA every year.

IRA is $7k with $1k catchup. To do the back door Roth IRA you need to ensure you don’t have an existing IRA balance. If you do have a regular IRA (with balance) the pro-rata rule applies. You can always do the 7k (+1k catchup) when over 50.

***existing "previously deducted" IRA balance.****

Pro tip, if former military and you have your dormant TSP still around, you can move IRA (previously deducted amounts plus growth) into your TSP, that way you can use your IRA for only non-deductible contributions which become back door ROTH contributions when above the income limit and not have to take the tax hit of moving deducted IRA contributions over to your ROTH.

Same technique applies to the Delta 401(k), with an arguably important twist that makes it better: UNlike the TSP, you can take rollover contributions and roll them OUT of the 401(k), *and* you can split your pre-tax and after-tax funds when so doing. Roll all IRAs *in* to the 401(k) (to include the TSP, if you're inclined to move that money to a Roth); then roll all of the rollover funds back *out* of the 401(k), into a traditional IRA (pre-tax funds) and a Roth IRA (after-tax funds); and finally roll the traditional IRA back *in* to the 401(k), thus setting yourself up for next year with a $0 IRA balance.

this will not work as an end solution if you roll funds into the Delta 401k. Send a dart to R&I before finding yourself in a lurch by trying this. Essentially, once you roll your TSP or IRA into the delta 401k, it’s not coming back out until separation. Only unconverted (meaning not automatically converting to Roth for mega back door 401k) 401a contributions are eligible to roll out into a Roth IRA while still employed.

better solution…. Roll TSP into delta 401k, or any other traditional IRA, now you have a $0 traditional IRA balance, if traditional IRA, don’t close the acct, just zero it out. Then backdoor Roth IRA to the limit. Feel free to use the brokeragelink in the 401k if you want to manage your own investments. If you have Roth and traditional balances in the delta 401k, you will have a traditional and Roth brokeragelink acct (seperate).

Not true. "Rollover Contributions" are tracked as a distinct source, and may be rolled out at any time.


On this we agree (as I said), but it's incomplete. The difference is, if you roll it into the 401(k), any after-tax money keeps earning pre-tax gains. If those after-tax funds are instead rolled out into a Roth IRA, then the gains are also tax free. This requires rolling ALL of the Rollover Contributions amount out, since a pro-rata rule applies (you can't say "roll out 100% of my after-tax but 0% of my pre-tax funds"--it comes out pro rated from both types). What you CAN do is designate a different target for pre-tax and after-tax: say, a traditional IRA for pre-tax & a Roth IRA for after-tax. Once that's done, rolling the traditional IRA (with only pre-tax funds) back into your 401(k) preserves your $0 balance in the IRA for next year's "back door" conversion.

You may be thinking of Roth 401(k) funds. Those can't be moved while you're employed (not sure why).

If you want to completely max the so-called "mega back door" option, you need to call Fidelity to move your after-tax money to a Roth IRA. For reasons I've never gotten an explanation for, they won't let you automate it. Putting it into an "in-service Roth 401(k) conversion," which you can automate--but, at the cost of not being able to move that money out. I spent about two years calling Fidelity every two weeks to move the money, then I decided the amounts were relatively modest enough that the automation was worth not dealing with the hassle, even though that money is now stuck w/ the 401(k). Everyone's situation will be different....

ok. I’d send a dart and ask about it. Happens to be there are people who deal with this stuff regularly.

Never a bad idea.

this has been eating at me.

I don’t want to argue with you, it’s only going to end up ugly and with both IRS and SPD references, but to those looking at this post later….


If you don’t understand tax consequences and the rights and restrictions of the 401k SPD, please reach out to a financial professional or at least a dart to those who intimately know the DPSP. The DAL 401K is awesome, but restrictions exist.

If you want to do the mega back door 401k, or mega back door Roth IRA , or simply a back door Roth IRA and/or spousal back door Roth IRA…. It can be done. The sequence of steps is very important and needs to be understood. Don’t take a forum response to make a lifetime decision.

Yes, I agree. I have IRAs but nothing previousy deducted so I think pro-rata won't affect me or the spouse.