Understanding what happens when you surrender an annuity

Need to tap into your annuity? Before you cash out, it’s important to know what you’re really walking away with. Early withdrawals aren’t as straightforward as with a traditional savings account — surrender charges, tax penalties, and other hidden costs can take a bigger bite out of your funds than you might expect.

This article covers how annuity surrender charges and other fees work, the difference between cash value and surrender value, and smart ways to access your money with minimal loss.

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What’s an annuity surrender period?

The annuity surrender period is the time in which early withdrawal will result in a penalty (surrender charges). Almost all annuities designate a surrender period beginning from the time a policy holder enters the contract. Typical surrender periods range from five to 10 years, but the contract can specify surrender periods outside those parameters.

For most annuities, a surrender charge declines as the account progresses. It’s at its highest when the contract begins and eventually slides to zero at the end of the surrender period. So, the closer you are to the end of the surrender period, the less money will be deducted for early withdrawal.

At the end of the surrender period, you can withdraw funds without paying the surrender charges. However, taxes and IRS penalties on your gains still apply.

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What’s the surrender value on an annuity?

The surrender value of an annuity is the actual amount you receive from the insurance company if you cash out early — it’s the cash value of the annuity minus the surrender charges and tax penalties.

Cash value vs. surrender value

The cash value of an annuity is the total amount of money that has accumulated in the annuity contract, including the initial deposit. For example, if you purchased a deferred annuity for $100,000 and after five years it grew by $20,000, then the cash value is $120,000.

The surrender value is the cash value after the annuity provider deducts surrender charges for early withdrawal. Using the example above, suppose the annuity has a seven-year surrender period that starts with a 7% surrender charge in the first year, and decreases by 1% each year until it reaches 0%. If you decide to cash out after the fifth year (when the cash value is $120,000), you’d have a 2% surrender fee. That means your annuity surrender charge is $2,400 (2% of $120,000).

The money you earned over your initial deposit, $20,000, would also be subject to income tax, and you might have to pay an early withdrawal penalty if you’re under the age of 59½. This is usually 10% of the amount of your gains — so another $2,000 in addition to the income taxes you owe.

Here’s what the early distribution would look like then for an annuitant who’s younger than 59½:

• Cash value: $120,000
• Surrender charge: $2,400
• IRS early distribution penalty: $2,000
• Taxes on income at 14%*: $2,800
• Net proceeds: $112,800

* Tax rates vary depending on income level — this example assumes a 14% rate for simplicity.

From this scenario, you can see how early withdrawal from an annuity can substantially impact your earnings.

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Why do annuity surrender charges exist?

Surrender charges discourage investors from exiting annuities early. Because annuities are structured as long-term contracts that pay reliable yields with reduced risk, they rely on beneficiaries remaining in their contracts for longer periods.

The surrender charge, along with the surrender annuity tax consequences, make it cost-prohibitive to exit early. If you must cash out early, you can still access the bulk of your funds. But your financial institution can recoup the administrative costs involved in creating and maintaining the contract.

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How are surrender charges deducted from annuities?

An annuity surrender charge is at its highest at the start of the annuity, and they typically move on a sliding scale. Before entering into a contract, you should carefully review the annuity surrender charge schedule.

Here are two common types of schedules. These are only examples of how surrender charges are structured — many surrender charge schedules start with higher penalties and have longer surrender periods.

Fixed percentage decline

Surrender fees fall in a linear pattern. The example we used in the previous section had a seven-year sliding annuity surrender charge, which worked like this:

• Inception to end of year 1: 7%
• After year 1: 6%
• After year 2: 5%
• After year 3: 4%
• After year 4: 3%
• After year 5: 2%
• After year 6: 1%
• After year 7: 0%

Step-down schedule

The surrender charge remains relatively high for the first several years and eventually declines after a certain point:

• Year 1: 9%
• Year 2: 8%
• Year 3: 7%
• Year 4: 6%
• Year 5: 5%
• After year 5: 0%

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Tax implications of surrendering an annuity

In addition to surrender charges in your contract, there may be tax consequences for early withdrawal. The IRS refers to annuity surrender before the age of 59½ as early distribution. Unless you qualify for one of the early distribution exceptions, your gains are subject to a 10% penalty.

Here’s more on how IRS penalties can affect your net surrender value:

• The IRS considers gains first: For example, assume your initial deposit in a tax-deferred annuity was $100,000 and the current cash value is $140,000. You decide to withdraw $30,000 even though you’re under the age of 59½. The IRS considers the $30,000 you’re withdrawing as part of the $40,000 gain, not your initial deposit, which means it’s subject to both the early distribution penalty and income tax.
• Surrender charges aren’t tax deductible: Even if you paid surrender charges, the IRS doesn’t deduct them from your gains before applying the 10% penalty, and they don’t allow you to deduct them from your income. Some exceptions may apply.
• 59½ only applies to the early distribution penalty: Early distribution penalties are separate from income taxes. Even if you’re over the age of 59½, you may still be subject to income taxes on your gains.

A 1035 exchange is an IRS provision that allows you to transfer funds from one annuity to another without triggering taxes on your gains. Be sure to review the terms of both annuities before making the switch, as new surrender periods and fees may apply.

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This communication is for informational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be interpreted as, individualized investment, legal, or tax advice.