RetireBlueprint Pro — Tax Engine

X. Roth Conversion Solver

Fill lower tax brackets now before Required Minimum Distributions begin (age 73 if born 1951–1959, age 75 if born 1960 or later). Every dollar converted today at 12% instead of 24% later is a guaranteed tax saving.

Roth Window Status

PRIME — ACT NOW

Analysis Year

—

Chosen in Inputs tab

Optimal Conversion

—

Sweet spot this year

Marginal Tax Now

—

Cost to convert today

Lifetime Tax Savings

—

vs. waiting for RMDs

I. Federal Tax Brackets — Married Filing Jointly 2026

Your taxable income position shown

Your Tax Profile

2026 actuals from your sheet

Effective Federal Rate—

State Tax Rate—

Standard Deduction—

2026 Gross Income—

Taxable Income—

Est. Federal Tax—

Est. State Tax—

Headroom to 22% Bracket—

Target Bracket—

SS COLA2.5%/yr

Healthcare Inflation5.3%/yr

How It Works — Understanding Your Tax Engine

New to tax planning? Start here

3 things that matter most in retirement tax planning:
1. Your effective rate (not your bracket) is what you actually pay — often much lower than you think.
2. The gap between now and age 73 is your Roth conversion window — use it before RMDs force higher taxes.
3. Social Security is partly taxable — up to 85% can be added to your income, so plan carefully around it.

Scroll down to see your personalized tax breakdown, conversion analysis, and RMD schedule.

How Progressive Taxes Work

Think of the US tax system like filling buckets. Your income fills the 10% bucket first, then overflows into the 12% bucket, then the 22% bucket. Only the income in each bucket is taxed at that rate — not your entire income. If you earn $120,000 taxable income, you don't pay 22% on all of it. You pay 10% on the first $24,800, 12% on the next $76,000, and 22% only on the small amount above that.

The Gross-Up Principle

Most retirement plans underestimate withdrawals by ignoring taxes. Your plan works backward from your actual spending need. If you need $1,000 to pay bills and owe 12% in taxes, withdrawing $1,000 isn't enough. You need to withdraw $1,136.36 so that after paying $136.36 in tax, you have exactly $1,000 left. Your lifestyle is never underfunded due to tax drag.

The Roth Conversion Opportunity

Between retirement and your RMD age — 73 if born 1951–1959, 75 if born 1960 or later — (when RMDs begin), your income is temporarily lower. This is your Roth conversion window. You can move money from Pre-Tax accounts to Roth at today's lower rate — locking in tax savings before RMDs force withdrawals at a higher rate. Your plan shows significant projected lifetime savings from converting now vs. waiting.

Long-Term Capital Gains

Qualified dividends and long-term capital gains from your taxable brokerage account are taxed at preferential rates — 0%, 15%, or 20% depending on your income, not ordinary income rates. For MFJ filers, the 0% rate applies up to $98,900 of taxable income in 2026. Your brokerage account benefits from this lower rate on investment gains.

II. Gross-Up Solver Demo

Net need → gross withdrawal

You Need (Net)

$1,000

After-tax spending

→

Must Withdraw

$1,136

@ 12% effective rate

Try a different net amount:

IV. IRMAA Brackets 2026 — Medicare Premium Surcharges

Higher income = higher Medicare premiums · watch in Roth conversion years

Watch Your MAGI in Conversion Years

IRMAA (Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount) adds surcharges to Medicare Part B and D premiums when your MAGI exceeds the thresholds below. A large Roth conversion can accidentally push you into a higher IRMAA tier. Partner 1 qualifies for Medicare at 65, Partner 2 at 65. Plan conversions carefully around these thresholds.

Individual MAGI	Couple MAGI	Part B Premium/mo	Part D Surcharge/mo

Highlighted row = your likely 2026 bracket based on current income. IRMAA is based on income from 2 years prior.

V. Long-Term Capital Gains — MFJ 2026

Preferential rates for qualified dividends and long-term gains

✅ Your Brokerage Gets Preferential Treatment

Long-term capital gains (assets held 1+ year) and qualified dividends are NOT taxed as ordinary income. For MFJ filers at your income level, you qualify for the preferential capital gains rate — not your ordinary-income rate. Your taxable brokerage account is drawn down early in the plan (drawn down over the plan) precisely to capture these lower rates while your income is still in a favorable bracket.

Bracket	MFJ Taxable Income Threshold	LTCG Rate
$1	Up to $98,900	0%
$2	$98,901 – $613,700	15%
$3	Over $613,700	20%

Your 2026 Capital Gains Position

Taxable Income: —

Headroom to 15%: —

Your LTCG Rate: —

Effective Tax Rate Timeline — 50-Year Arc

Income and estimated tax across your plan · teal = income · rust = estimated tax

Loading timeline...

Tax Strategy Summary

Sequence of Withdrawal Strategy Active

Your plan draws accounts in tax-optimal order: Taxable brokerage first (captures preferential LTCG rate, drawn down over the plan), then Pre-Tax accounts (ordinary income, manages RMD exposure), Roth converted amounts last (tax-free, grows longest). This sequencing is calculated automatically by the Master engine.

Social Security Tax Torpedo Monitor SS years

When your partner's Social Security begins, combined SS income will be significant. Up to 85% of SS benefits can become taxable income when combined income exceeds $44,000 (MFJ). Your plan accounts for this in the Master engine's income calculations. Watch effective rates once both benefits are active.

RMD Planning Window Prime Now

Partner 1 RMDs begin at age 75, Partner 2 at 75. The years between now and RMD start are your window to reduce pre-tax balances through Roth conversions. Every $1 converted now reduces your future RMD obligation and the associated tax spike.

III. RMD Table

IRS Uniform Lifetime Table

Age	Distribution Period	RMD %
73	26.5	3.77%
74	25.5	3.92%
75	24.6	4.07%
76	23.7	4.22%
77	22.9	4.37%
78	22.0	4.55%
79	21.1	4.74%
80	20.2	4.95%
81	19.4	5.15%
82	18.5	5.41%
83	17.7	5.65%
84	16.8	5.95%
85	16.0	6.25%
86	15.2	6.58%
87	14.4	6.94%
88	13.7	7.3%
89	12.9	7.75%
90	12.2	8.2%
91	11.5	8.7%
92	10.8	9.26%
93	10.1	9.9%
94	9.5	10.53%
95	8.9	11.24%
96	8.4	11.9%
97	7.8	12.82%
98	7.3	13.7%
99	6.8	14.71%
100	6.4	15.62%

RMD = Prior year-end balance ÷ Distribution Period.

Annual Update Guide — Keep Your Plan Current

These values change each year. Bookmark this page and check each January to keep your plan accurate.

Tax Brackets & Deductions

IRS Tax Year 2025 Adjustments
IRS Rev. Proc. — Annual Bracket Updates
Tax Foundation 2025 Brackets (plain English)
Update in: Tax Engine sheet → Brackets tab

IRMAA Thresholds (Medicare)

Medicare.gov — Official Part B Costs
CMS 2025 Part B Premiums & IRMAA
SSA IRMAA Fact Sheet
Update in: Tax Engine sheet → IRMAA table

RMD Life Expectancy Tables

IRS Pub 590-B — RMD Calculations
IRS RMD Overview Page
Fidelity RMD Calculator (verify amounts)
RMD tables change rarely — last updated 2022

Social Security

ssa.gov/myaccount — Your SS Statement
SSA COLA History & Current Rate
Full Retirement Age by Birth Year
Update SS COLA rate in Inputs → Plan Settings

401k / IRA Contribution Limits

IRS 401k Contribution Limits
IRS IRA Contribution Limits
IRS Roth IRA FAQ
Update in: Inputs → Named Accounts → Annual Contrib

ACA / Healthcare Costs

HealthCare.gov — Browse Plans & Costs
KFF Benchmark Premium Data by State
HHS Federal Poverty Level Guidelines
Update in: Inputs → Healthcare section

Inflation Rate

BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI) — Official
FRED CPI Chart (St. Louis Fed)
Cleveland Fed Inflation Expectations
Update in: Inputs → Plan Settings → Inflation Rate

Real Estate Values

Zillow — Current Home Estimates
Redfin — Home Values & Market Data
FHFA House Price Index (annual appreciation)
Update in: Inputs → Debts & Real Estate

Annual check-in tip: Each January, take a few minutes to update six things: SS COLA rate, tax brackets (if they changed), IRMAA thresholds, account balances, home value from Zillow, and mortgage balance from your statement. Your whole plan recalculates automatically.

How to Use This Page

Step 1: Check your effective tax rate — if it's under 15%, you're in great shape for Roth conversions.
Step 2: Look at the bracket chart — the gold marker shows where your income sits today.
Step 3: Use the Roth conversion analysis to see how much you can convert without jumping brackets.
Step 4: Check the IRMAA table — make sure planned conversions won't trigger Medicare surcharges.
Step 5: Review the RMD schedule — know when required distributions begin and plan accordingly.

About these numbers: All 82 columns behind your plan are calculated fresh in your browser and checked line-by-line against your Google Sheet — and match it to the exact dollar on almost every one. On long-range running balances you may occasionally see a difference of a few dollars — that’s normal rounding between two calculators compounding over decades, not an error. Your Google Sheet stays the official record.