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March 02, 2017 at 03:30 AM
It’s that time of year again: tax season.
March is a great time of year to talk to your clients about the benefits of annuities. This is because they have been receiving 1099 forms in the mail over the last month — and seeing just how much tax they are paying on the interest in their investments. Many people are very interested in learning how they can reduce their tax bills going forward.
Related: 4 tax-planning tips for a fiscally healthy 2017
While your job description may not include “tax advisor,” clients often have numerous questions around the taxable status of an annuity before they purchase. Here are some commonly asked questions you may get this year, along with answers you can use to help clients understand the tax benefits of purchasing an annuity.
No. 6: When is an annuity taxed?
An annuity isn’t taxed until a client makes a withdrawal or starts taking regular distributions. As a result, for a client who is simply letting his or her money grow with interest, the money continues working for the client instead of for Uncle Sam.
No. 5: What is the advantage of owning an annuity over another type of savings vehicle?
An annuity can make a client’s money work harder for them. That’s because he or she can earn interest on the principal, interest on the interest, and interest on the tax savings. This triple-compounding process is great because the interest from an annuity is not subject to current income tax until it is withdrawn — meaning 100 percent of your client’s interest can continue to compound instead of being used toward taxes.
No. 4: Can I move money from my retirement plan to an annuity without getting taxed?
Yes. If your client has money in a corporate retirement plan — such as a 401(k), 403(b) or 457 plan — or in an existing IRA, those funds can be transferred into an annuity tax-free. This can be done without any tax implications, as long as the annuity is designated on the application as an IRA.
Related: 5 fixed annuity questions you should be asking
What’s more, as an annuity earns interest, that interest can stay in the annuity tax-free. However, as with all IRAs — and as with all corporate retirement plans for that matter — when your client ultimately takes withdrawals, the withdrawals will be taxed as ordinary income.
An annuity can make a client’s money work harder for them. (Photo: iStock)
No. 3: What if I have money in a Roth IRA or Roth retirement plan?
Roth funds can also be transferred into an annuity tax-free. Simply designate the annuity on the application as a Roth IRA.
