At the end of the contract term, you may withdraw all of your money (without any surrender charge) or you may keep the contract and withdraw as much as you wish at any time. Some index annuities offer a return of premium which means you can get your entire premium back any time after the first contract year.

How are annuity withdrawals reported?

Withdrawals and lump sum distributions from an annuity are taxed as ordinary income. They do not receive the benefit of being taxed as capital gains.

Can you take a tax loss on an annuity?

You can deduct a loss on an annuity if the annuity was fully liquidated and there was a loss on the account. The loss would be deductible as a miscellaneous itemized deduction subject to the 2% of adjusted gross income floor.

Are there any exceptions to the tax rules for immediate annuities?

Notable exceptions are contracts held in a trust or other entity as an agent for a natural person, immediate annuities, annuities acquired by an estate upon the death of the owner. Annuities are also not taxable if owned by a charitable organization or a pension plan.

Are there contingent deferred sales charges on fixed indexed annuities?

Withdrawals or surrenders may be subject to contingent deferred sales charges. A fixed indexed annuity (FIA) is a tax-deferred financial tool designed for the long term. It offers a level of protection for your money against loss with the opportunity for it to grow based on the performance of a specific market index, or combination of indices.

When to take distributions from a qualified annuity?

Federal law requires the owners to begin taking distributions from qualified annuities at the age of 70 ½. There are no federal legal requirements for when withdrawal must begin from non-qualified annuities.

What should the exclusion ratio be on an annuity payout?

Once you select your payout method, you should ask for your exclusion ratio, which tells you how much is excluded from being taxed. If your exclusion ratio is 80% on a $1,000 monthly payout, then $800 is excluded from income tax and $200 is subject to taxation.