The Tax Deferred Annuity

A tax-deferred annuity helps manage tax liability.

A tax-deferred annuity is a plan in which income tax on an original deposit of investment income is not charged during the investment period. The tax liability is deferred until the owner or beneficiary begins to receive (or accesses funds) periodic payments of earnings from the invested funds. This benefit is known as tax deferral or deferred annuity.

Tax Sheltered Annuities

One of the most attractive features of a tax-sheltered annuity is a tax advantage known as a deferral. Tax deferral is allowed as long as the funds in the annuity are kept intact and not touched by the annuity owner. The interest or earnings credited to the annuity grow and accumulate, tax-deferred, sheltered until the funds in the annuity are accessed, either by the sheltered annuity owner or their designated beneficiary. The accumulated funds in the annuity can then be accessed as needed as a pension or supplemental income for the owner or beneficiaries’ income needs.

The original deposits or the last funds to be removed from an annuity are never taxed, as the liability is only assessed on the accumulated tax-deferred portion. Tools can assist the owner in managing the future tax liability of a deferred annuity, and using these tools, and the annuity owner can shelter tax liability and use the future accumulated value as an income option. If the funds are merely removed, the full tax liability of the funds is due.

Partial removal of the tax-deferred results in tax liabilities on the amount is removed. But when the sheltered annuity owner uses the funds in a tax-deferred annuity as income with a fixed payment option, the tax liability can be managed and spread over a period chosen by the sheltered annuity owner.

Income Tax on Annuities

This method of spreading the sheltered liability over a chosen period is known as the exclusion ratio, or income option, and allows the annuity owner control over the sheltered liability. The actual amount of taxable income and tax-free income (the refund of original deposit) is calculated by the insurance company when the annuity owner initiates a fixed payment period option. The amount of sheltered tax liability varies, based on the amount of the original deposit, the accumulated earnings, and the income option selected by the annuity owner.

In the event an annuity is inherited by a beneficiary, the full sheltered liability of the accumulated interest in a tax-sheltered or deferred annuity passes to the beneficiary. If the funds are removed in a lump sum, 100% of the sheltered liability is realized, but the IRS allows for a delay of up to five years in the beneficiary's receipt of income from the sheltered annuity, which provides for tax planning fitting the beneficiaries specific needs and situation.