How to get money out of an annuity without penalty?

Asked by: Lonzo Goodwin  |  Last update: October 22, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (51 votes)

When should you start taking money out of your annuity? To avoid an early withdrawal penalty tax from the IRS, wait until you turn 59 ½. After you turn 73, the IRS requires you to take a required minimum distribution each year.

Can I withdraw from an annuity without penalty?

Some, but certainly not all, annuity contracts allow you to withdraw a portion of your funds each year without being subject to surrender charges. You're often granted up to 10% of your total annuity contract value. This is called the free withdrawal provision.

What is the best way to cash out an annuity?

4 ways to get out of an annuity
  1. Pay the surrender charge. Most annuity companies allow you to cash out, or surrender, the contract for its current value, or withdraw a portion of the accumulated funds before income payments begin. ...
  2. Withdraw options. ...
  3. 1035 exchange. ...
  4. Sell a portion of your payments.

How much does a $100,000 annuity pay per month?

Here's a look at how much cash you can expect each month from a $100,000 annuity: Immediate Income Annuity: For someone 65, you might get around $614 each month with an immediate income annuity. If you're a 65-year-old woman opting for a lifetime annuity, it might be closer to $608 a month.

What is the biggest disadvantage of an annuity?

Annuities tie money up in a long-term investment plan that has poor liquidity and does not allow you to take advantage of better investment opportunities if interest rates increase or if the markets are on the rise. The opportunity cost of putting most of a retirement nest egg into an annuity is just too great.

How Can I Get Money From My Annuity Without Penalty

27 related questions found

What is the 5 year rule for annuities?

Please note that each of these options apply to either both qualified and non-qualified annuities, or just one of them. Five-Year Rule — Under this tax law requirement, the beneficiary must take the distribution of the entire account value of the annuity within five years of the owner's death.

Has anyone ever lost money in a fixed annuity?

Let's get right to it: can a fixed annuity actually lose money? The answer is no! The insurance company will pay you a set interest rate no matter how the stock market performs. If the stock market tanks, your fixed annuity will not lose money.

How much does a $300,000 annuity pay per month?

With a $300,000 fixed immediate annuity, a 65-year-old man could receive around $1,450 to $1,950 per month for life, while a 65-year-old woman may get $1,800 to $2,200 per month. These payments are guaranteed for as long as the annuitant lives.

Do you pay taxes on an annuity?

Key Takeaways. Annuities offer tax-deferred growth, but taxes are eventually owed on withdrawals. Qualified annuities (pre-tax funds) are fully taxable upon withdrawal. Nonqualified annuities (after-tax funds) involve taxing earnings before original contributions.

What is the best option for annuity payout?

There are different payout options, but most people choose lifetime income. It is important to note that immediate annuities offer little or no liquidity. Instead, you get the peace of mind that you have a stream of steady, guaranteed income*.

What does it cost to cash out an annuity?

Typically around 7% of the withdrawal amount if taken before a defined period of time — usually 5 to 7 years. The penalty percentage usually decreases yearly until it reaches zero. There may be a 10% penalty for annuity owners who surrender their contract prior to the age of 59½, plus income tax on any earnings.

Can I cash in an existing annuity?

Annuities are for life so once you've bought one, it can't usually be changed or cashed in. This limits how much you can change your income to match your needs. The income from annuities isn't affected by market changes unless it is a variable annuity.

What is the best thing to do with an annuity?

The most appropriate use for income payments from an annuity contract is to fund your retirement. Only an annuity can pay an income that can be guaranteed to last as long as you live.

How do I avoid 10% penalty on annuity withdrawals?

Pre-59½ distributions from an IRA can avoid a 10% penalty tax if they are:
  1. Received under the "SEPP" exception as described earlier.
  2. Paid to the IRA owner's total and permanent disability.
  3. Paid to a beneficiary or to the IRA owner's estate after the death of the IRA owner.

Can I cancel my retirement annuity and get my money back?

In that sense, you can cancel your retirement annuity and get your money back. If you no longer want to contribute to a retirement annuity, and your investment is larger than R15,000, you would need to wait until you are 55 to access that money.

What percentage of people never remove money from an annuity?

Options for Withdrawal

When considering withdrawal options, consider that the restrictions applying to withdrawals will eventually disappear and that there is an estimated 75 percent of all people investing in annuities who never remove any money.

How much does a $50,000 annuity pay per month?

For a $50,000 immediate annuity (where you start getting payments immediately), you're looking at around $300 to $320 per month if you're about 65 years old.

At what age are annuities taxed?

If you take out money before you reach age 59½, you pay a tax penalty (unless you become disabled or switch your money to another annuity). The government does not set an age when you need to start taking income payments from an annuity outside of an IRA or 401(k) plan.

At what age do seniors stop paying federal taxes?

Taxes aren't determined by age, so you will never age out of paying taxes. People who are 65 or older at the end of 2024 have to file a return for tax year 2024 (which is due in 2025) if their gross income is $16,550 or higher. If you're married filing jointly and both 65 or older, that amount is $32,300.

How much does a $1,000,000 annuity pay per month?

How much does a $1 million annuity pay per month? As of January 2025, with a $1,000,000 annuity, you'll get an immediate payment of $6,000 monthly starting at age 60, $6,608 monthly at age 65, or $7,125 monthly at age 70.

Is it better to take annuity or lump sum?

If you are concerned about the reliability of your retirement income, you might want to take the annuity for the security. If a lot of your retirement income is dependent upon the market rather than guaranteed, security might be a better bet for retaining a certain minimum lifestyle.

What is the age 75 rule for annuities?

The “annuity age 75 rule” is a misconception that often arises due to the relationship between age and annuity payouts. Generally, annuity payouts increase with age because older people have a shorter life expectancy.

Why don't retirees like annuities?

Insurance agents and financial advisors have been investing their clients' retirement money in annuities for decades. This practice has its detractors, with the criticism usually focusing on the high commissions paid to annuity salespeople and stiff fees charged to annuity owners year after year.

Can I take all my money out of an annuity?

Closing or cashing out an annuity altogether is an option if you need all the funds. However, this may also result in surrender charges, tax implications and the 10% federal tax penalty.

What to watch out for with annuities?

Check the interest rate, find out how quickly the annuity will grow in value and when you can reap its benefits. Some annuity rates can change over time, so make sure that you understand the difference between the guaranteed minimum rate, the current rate and any first-year or so called “bonus” rates.