Annuity Beneficiary Tax
Like any other type of income inherited annuities are taxable.
Annuity beneficiary tax. However if the amount is taken as an annuity then the annuity is taxable in the hands of the beneficiary at the beneficiarys rate of tax as and when the annuity is paid. After a change in ownership the contract continues as if the surviving spouse owned the original contract. Inherited annuities come with a number of tax implications especially if the inherited beneficiary is a non-spouse.
In that case only the taxable income. Any distributions paid to the annuitant from a qualified annuity are treated as taxable income in the year theyre received. For example assume that you inherit an annuity from your spouse and you choose to stick with the original payment structure or the as-is option.
Annuity taxation is unquestionably favorable. Just like any other qualified account such as a 401 k or an individual retirement account the full value of a qualified annuity which was purchased with funds on which taxes were deferred will be subject to income tax. The beneficiary of a tax-deferred annuity may choose from several payout options which will determine how the income benefit will be taxed.
The main rule about taxation with an inherited annuity or one that is purchased is that any principal that is funded with money that was already subject to taxes will still not be taxed. If you inherit an annuity youll have to pay income tax on the difference between the principal paid into the annuity and the value of the annuity when the owner dies. It maintains its tax-deferred status meaning the beneficiary owes no immediate taxes.
If the beneficiary decides to take all of the annuity money in a lump sum payment shell need to pay taxes on the interest portion of the funds. Inherited annuities are taxable as income. For an annuity with a large untaxed gain that could mean that a lot of the money would go to pay state and federal income taxes.
If the beneficiary is the spouse of the annuitant the spouse can change the contract into his or her own name. How the beneficiary is taxed depends on whether they receive the annuity in a lump sum or whether they annuitize it take periodic payments. Generally speaking if the annuity is nonqualified the beneficiary of an annuity will pay taxes on the earnings.