Does a 401(k) rollover into an IRA count against my annual contribution limit?
No – rolling over money from a 401(k) into a rollover IRA does not count toward your annual $7,000/$8,000 IRA contribution limit. Rollovers and contributions are entirely separate transactions in the eyes of the IRS. You could roll over a $200,000 old 401(k) into an IRA and still make your full $7,000 fresh contribution for the year on top of it. The annual limit only restricts new money you add from your own income; it never caps how much existing retirement money you can transfer between accounts. Just be sure to use a direct rollover so it isn't treated as a taxable distribution, and keep pre-tax rollover dollars in mind if you plan backdoor Roths, since they affect the pro-rata calculation. Otherwise, rollovers are a clean, penalty-free way to consolidate.