What About The Tax Treatment Of Annuities?

Below is a general discussion about taxes and annuities.  You should consult a professional tax advisor to discuss your individual tax situation.

Under current federal law, annuities receive special tax teatment.  Income tax on annuities is deferred, which means you are not taxed on the interest your money earns while it stays in the annuity.  Tax-deferred accumulation is not the same as tax-free accumulation.  An advantage of tax deferral is that the tax breacket you're in when you receive annuity income payments may be lower than the one you're in during the accumulation period.  You'll also be earning interest on the amount you would have paid in taxes during the accumulation period.  Most states' tax laws on annuities follow the federal law.

Part of the payments you receive from an annuity will be considered as a return of the premium you've paid.  You won't have to pay taxes on that part.  Another part of the payments is considered interest you've earned.  You must pay taxes on the part that is considered interest when you withdraw the money.  You may also have to pay a 10% tax penalty if you withdraw the accumulation before age 59 and a half.  The Internal Revenue Code also has rules about distributions after the death of a contract holder.

Annuities used to fund certain employee pension benefit plans (those under Internal Revenue Code Sections 404(a), 401(k), 403(b), 457 or 414) defer taxes on plan contributions as well as on interest or investment income.  Within the limits set by the law, you can use pretax dollars to make payments to the annuity.  When you take money out, it will be taxed.

You can also use annuities to find traditional and Roth IRAs under Internal Revenue Code Section 408.  If you buy an annuity to fund an IRA, you will receive a disclosure statement describing the tax treatment.