06/03/2026
Many of the financial tools that you use for retirement have complicated tax rules. For example, the money you put in 401(k)s, Roth accounts and nonqualified investment accounts will be taxed at some point. The details depend on the type of account, how long you’ve held your money in the account, and sometimes even your income.
Another tool often included in a diversified retirement plan is an annuity. Annuities can help you save for retirement or generate a guaranteed lifetime income after you retire. They can also help protect you from the risk of outliving your money. We’ll look at annuity taxation—but let’s start with some annuity basics.
The tax rules for retirement accounts can be complicated, so you might wonder whether annuities are taxable. Here’s a breakdown.