2010 eligibility to do a ROTH Conversion

[Bart]

In the past you had to live separate from your spouse for the entire year if your tax filing status was “married filing separately” and you wanted to do a ROTH conversion. Is that still the case for 2010 or has that rule changed?

[Don in Upstate NY]

In the past you had to live separate from your spouse for the entire year if your tax filing status was “married filing separately” and you wanted to do a ROTH conversion. Is that still the case for 2010 or has that rule changed?

From Pub 590 (What's new for 2010)

Conversions to Roth IRAs. Beginning in 2010, the modified AGI and filing status requirements for converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA are eliminated.Also, for any 2010 rollover from an IRA other than a Roth IRA to a Roth IRA, any amounts that would be included as income will be included in income in equal amounts in 2011 and 2012. You can choose to include the entire amount in income in 2010.