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Level 2
February 5, 2023
Question

Annuity withdrawal

  • February 5, 2023
  • 2 replies
  • 15 views

I took a $10,000 early withdrawal on my Annuity.  In two years I have made just slightly over $2000 in interest yet box 2a on my 1099R says of the $10000 withdrawn, $1375 is taxable.  How can it be so high?

    2 replies

    Level 15
    February 5, 2023

    The amount you pay in taxes depends on whether you bought the annuity with pre-tax or post-tax funds.

     

    If you purchase an annuity with pre-tax funds, the money you withdraw will be taxed as income.

     

    If you use post-tax funds to buy the annuity you’ll only pay taxes on the earnings (please see this excellent post from Tax Expert DianeW777 for additional information).

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    Level 2
    February 5, 2023

    Thanks so much Dana....the annuity was purchased with taxable dollars....it is a $100000 tax deferred annuity......have only made a little over $2000 since purchase so am confused why I'm they are saying $1375 is taxable income when I only withdrew $10000.  Thanks again for your wonderful assistance.

    Level 15
    February 6, 2023

    What you are describing is a non-qualified annuity. Annuity companies are required to distribute all of your earnings first and show those earnings as taxable. The non-taxable portion represents a return of your after tax investment. 

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    Level 15
    February 6, 2023

    I assume that this is a distribution from a nonqualified annuity (codes 1 and D in box 7 of the Form 1099-R).  If you previously took no distributions from this annuity, I would have expected the taxable amount to be slightly over $2,000, the entire amount of interest earned.  As JulieS said, non-periodic distributions from a nonqualified annuities come first from investment gains.  Only after all of the gains present in the account have been distributed do the distributions include a portion of your investment in the contract.

     

    Periodic (annuitized) distributions are different in that they include only part of your gains.

    Level 2
    February 6, 2023

    Thank you dmertz......wonderful explanation....