Tax Liability Of An Annuity – Does It Exist?

Tax Liability Of An Annuity

Everybody is interested in avoiding taxation legally because no one likes to pay taxes. There is generally no tax liability in case of annuities and this is what makes it so popular. After all, ‘a penny saved is a penny earned’ therefore why not invest in these since they do not require you to pay tax? The tax-deferred growth that one can enjoy from an annuity is probably one of the most attractive features about it. The government isn’t going to tax you on any of the earnings as long as the money stays inside the annuity. Thus, if you were filing for 2009 taxes then your annuity wouldn’t come under it.

However, it cannot remain like this forever since all good things should come to an end. Therefore your deferred annuity will get taxed in its later stages. To understand this, it is necessary to take a look at the two stages of a deferred annuity. The accumulation phase is the first phase and during this phase the annuity is allowed to grow and there is no tax liability on it.

In the second phase, i.e. the distribution phase, the annuity is paid out and the payment can be made in a single lump sum or it can be segregated into a series of payouts at fixed intervals over a lifetime or a pre-determined period of time. It does not matter which mode of payment is opted because the income tax will be due on each of the annuity payment which the recipient receives.

Lifetime Annuity- How it has been Helping People

Lifetime annuity has been helping people in different ways. Investment products are deigned strategically so as to provide consumers with greater income in the future. Lifetime annuities are smart investment plans where the annuitant is entitled to receive a certain amount till he outlives. With rates of life expectancy reaching peaks, needs for lifetime annuities have been increasing. While term annuities mean that you will receive a specific amount for a specified time, lifetime annuities make sure you remain financially stable till the time you live.

Of all financial investments lifetime annuity that is fixed in nature, are considered a fruitful investment vehicle. Moreover, they are safe options for retired individuals who crave for a stable economic flow. Fixed lifetime annuities safeguard you from the risk prone fluctuating market. These investment plans promise the holder of benefits, where he is entitled to receive a steady flow of income regardless of any turmoil prevailing in the market.

While most of these investment products offer income for your life, others draw a line when it comes to offering you money. Lifetime annuities entitle you of receiving a certain sum of money either on a monthly, basis or on yearly basis depending upon your needs. Such kinds of income last for around 20 years or more. The annuitant has the right to receive the amount in lump sum. In that case he will have to inform the annuity company from beforehand.

Lifetime annuity helps avert market risks and in majority of instances the annuity provider has to bear market risks. Even if the economic conditions are poor the annuitant won’t be affected. This is why most people opt for lifetime annuity over other investment plans.

It is time you compare lifetime annuities

If you are unable to settle for the perfect investment plan you need to converse with an annuity expert. You need to seek help from a financial planner who has been in business for quite long. The expert having profound knowledge would readily offer you guidance on the same.  The expert after comparing different financial products would even go on to the extent of highlighting the merits and demerits of each product. Whether or not you will like to invest on a particular lifetime annuity investment would largely depend on his word of mouth. He is likely to show you the differences in return by using the annuity calculator and make it easier for you to select a plan.

Annuity Quotes- its day to day application

If you are nearing retirement you might start worrying about the different pension policies and the annuities. Whatever may be the pension policies, most importantly one should focus on the lifestyle that one will carry on after one stops working. An annuity converts a huge amount of sum generally the lump sum amount of the pension into a guaranteed income after retirement that will exist for entire life you live. Retirement annuities which give the best annuity quotes include increasing annuities, guaranteed annuities, joint-life annuities and investment-linked annuities.

Annuity quotes keep on changing from one holder to the next. The main reason why rates would constantly change is due to the insurance company where the annuity is purchased. There can be up or down in the rating of the quotes because of the clauses in the contract which the insurance company applies. The companies also control the rate of quotes which is responsible for the lifestyle and health condition of the contract holder and whenever there will be a change in the lifestyle the insurance companies will have the privilege to discontinue.

The type of annuity too has an effect on the annuity quotes. As for example life annuity would have a notable effect on the quotes since such a type of payment will be based on the entire span of one’s life. This means that the holder of the contract will stop with the payment upon death. Some annuity plans also consider the dates in the contract. This involves the cancellation of the contract well before the death of the contract holder. But this is not beneficial for the plan holder since he won’t be able to claim any more money in the near future. This is why each option of the annuity must first be reviewed before taking up of any claims. Again it is the discretion of the holder of the contract if he would stick to the laws set by the insurance company or whether he would be applying for another option after the expiry of the contract.

Apart from the contract and the type of annuity, annuity quotes can always be controlled through claiming. If a contract holder would not claim his earnings in a couple of months, the insurance company will have to increase the rate of interest from about 1 to 2%. Some insurance companies increase it to about 6%. The increase in the rate of interest depends upon the bylaws of the state as well as the boundaries in the contract. Any breach of contract is entitled to immense penalty.

Be Ready For Retirement & Plan Your Pension Now

In your early twenties it is hard to imagine that day when you can stop working for good. However, pensions have been big news recently and regardless of your age you should think about what kind of financial situation you want to be in come retirement.

How to go about setting up a pension

Setting up a pension will require some research as there are many different types of pension options. You should look at whether your company has a pension and also investigate pension schemes offered by outside agencies. In addition, don’t be afraid to go to a financial advisor for advice on which pension options would best suit you. Finally, think about investments if you are young. Buying property to let can be just as effective over a long period as paying additional pension contributions.

Why is it important?

As you grow older, you will inevitably reach an age where your health will prevent you from working. When you are no longer able to work you will need an income and this is where pensions come into play. They can provide you with income security during retirement and allow you to continue living a comfortable life. Having an adequate pension pot will be essential. Pensions also benefit the economy in that they allow people to continue contributing by purchasing products.

Workplace pensions

Many employers now offer a workplace pension that is open to all employees (sometimes after a specific period of working there). There are a number of different types of pension that they might offer, so you might want to research which one will provide you with the best deal. Possible pension schemes include: defined benefit schemes which can be calculated on your final salary or an average of what you have earned over your entire career. Alternatively, they could offer defined contribution schemes, such as money purchase schemes, group personal pension plans and group stakeholder pension schemes.

Private pensions

There is also the option of private pensions which can be purchased from insurance companies, investment organisations and banks. Policy holders contribute money, it is invested by these companies and a fund is built up. When you reach an agreed age, you are able withdraw a certain percentage of the fund and invest the rest. The outcome of these pensions schemes depend on the amount invested, how well investments perform etc.

How much you should be saving

You should start thinking about how much money you are going to need (remember you may have paid off borrowings by this time). There are a number of questions you will need to ask yourself in order to give yourself a rough idea of how much money will need to save. For example, when are you hoping to retire? How much have you already saved? How much do you want to have during retirement? What benefits are you going to receive through social security? There are some useful pension calculators available on the internet which can help you calculate this. When you have decided on plan you will need to stick to it!

Rising retirement ages

Retirement ages obviously depend on where you live, but it is true that in most countries the retirement ages are going up, up, up! Due to the fact that most people will be working way past previous retirement ages, it is important that you have your pension plans in place.

What you could face if you don’t have a pension

Facing old age without any savings is a grim prospect. The likelihood is that you will have to work longer, or if ill health prevents it, have to endure a worse quality of life. Without a pension you could face poverty in old age, so having a plan is vital.

Hannah Wilkie has experience in the field of retirement planning and likes to get her clients to start saving early. If putting money into a pension plan is too inflexible at this point in time then she recommends you search around for the best ISA rates so you get the best returns on your money but you are also less tempted to spend it than if it was in a regular savings account.