Roth IRA transfer bonuses

Updated October 16, 2026 · Offer data last verified 2026-10-16 · Not financial or tax advice.

A Roth IRA is one of the most valuable accounts you can have, because qualified withdrawals are tax-free. That makes moving one carefully important. The good news is that a properly done Roth-to-Roth transfer is not a taxable event, and several brokers will pay you for it.

Live offers that accept IRA transfers

Offer	Type	Max bonus	Min deposit	Hold	Ends	Source
Firstrade IRA	IRA	$3,000	$100,000	1825d	No end date listed	official terms ↗
Webull IRA match	IRA	$2,500	$8,600	1825d	No end date listed	official terms ↗
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing	Brokerage	$1,000	$5,000	90d	2027-01-21	official terms ↗
Public	Brokerage	$1,000	$100,000	1825d	No end date listed	official terms ↗
Robinhood IRA match	IRA	$225	$7,500	1825d	No end date listed	official terms ↗

Some of these are general brokerage promotions that also count IRA money. Confirm on the official page that the specific IRA type and transfer method qualify.

Firstrade IRA: DoC lists 3% transfers / 2% contributions; official page now only shows up to $250 transfer-fee rebate — likely changed.
Webull IRA match: 3.5% contribution match with Premium (age 50+ limit shown); 1% transfer/rollover match with Premium. Premium is a paid subscription.
J.P. Morgan Self-Directed Investing: New money maintained for 90 days. Brokerage or IRA. Extended through 1/21/27 per Bonus Professor.
Public: Uncapped 1% match on ACATS & IRA transfers, paid monthly over 5 years ($100k example).
Robinhood IRA match: 1% contribution match ($75 at 2026 limit); 3% with Robinhood Gold ($5/mo) = $225. Transfers/rollovers get 1% (e.g. $10k on $1M).

Use a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer

Start the move at the new broker and request a transfer from your existing Roth IRA, usually by ACATS. The assets go straight from one custodian to the other and you never take possession. This kind of transfer isn't reported as a distribution and doesn't count toward the one-rollover-per-year limit.

The alternative, an indirect (60-day) rollover, means taking a distribution and redepositing it within 60 days. It's riskier: miss the deadline and the money may be treated as a distribution. IRA-to-IRA indirect rollovers are also limited to one per 12 months across all your IRAs. For bonus purposes there's rarely a reason to use one.

Match the account type exactly

Open a Roth IRA at the new broker to receive a Roth IRA. Sending Roth assets into a traditional IRA, or the reverse, isn't allowed as a plain transfer. Converting traditional money to Roth is a taxable event and shouldn't be done just for a bonus.

Your five-year clock moves with you

The Roth five-year rule for tax-free earnings is based on when you first funded any Roth IRA, so transferring doesn't reset it. Keep records of your first contribution year anyway.

Where does the bonus land?

For IRA promotions, the bonus is usually deposited inside the IRA as earnings, where it grows tax-free in a Roth. It generally doesn't count against your contribution limit. Confirm with the provider. If a firm pays the bonus to a taxable account instead, that payment is generally taxable. See tax basics.

Mind the long holds

IRA transfer matches often require assets to stay for several years, and some pay out over time. Since Roth money is usually long-term money, a long hold may not bother you, but compare the annualized return honestly using this method and read the clawback guide.

Checklist

Open a Roth IRA (same owner) at the new broker.
Enroll in the promotion or enter the promo code first.
Request a direct ACATS transfer from the new broker.
Check for assets that can't be moved (proprietary funds, fractional shares).
Ask for transfer-fee reimbursement if offered.
Calendar the end of the holding period.

FAQ

Is transferring a Roth IRA taxable?

A direct trustee-to-trustee transfer from one Roth IRA to another is generally not taxable or reportable as a distribution. A bonus paid outside the IRA may be taxable.

Does moving my Roth reset the five-year rule?

No. The five-year clock for tax-free earnings starts with your first Roth IRA contribution and carries over to new Roth IRAs.

Can I move a Roth IRA more than once a year?

Direct transfers aren't limited by the one-rollover-per-year rule, which applies to indirect 60-day IRA rollovers.

Does the bonus count toward my Roth contribution limit?

Brokers generally treat IRA bonuses as earnings, not contributions. Confirm with the specific provider.