Qualified vs. Non-Qualified Annuities

Qualified and non-qualified are terms that characterize how the IRS treats annuities and other retirement-focused financial products at tax time. Both qualified and non-qualified annuities offer powerful savings advantages, but qualified annuities are typically tax-deductible while non-qualified annuities are not.

Terry Turner, writer and researcher for RetireGuide
  • Written by
    Terry Turner

    Terry Turner

    Senior Financial Writer and Financial Wellness Facilitator

    Terry Turner has more than 35 years of journalism experience, including covering benefits, spending and congressional action on federal programs such as Social Security and Medicare. He is a Certified Financial Wellness Facilitator through the National Wellness Institute and the Foundation for Financial Wellness and a member of the Association for Financial Counseling & Planning Education (AFCPE®).

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    Lee Williams
    Lee Williams, senior editor for RetireGuide.com

    Lee Williams

    Senior Financial Editor

    Lee Williams is a professional writer, editor and content strategist with 10 years of professional experience working for global and nationally recognized brands. He has contributed to Forbes, The Huffington Post, SUCCESS Magazine, AskMen.com, Electric Literature and The Wall Street Journal. His career also includes ghostwriting for Fortune 500 CEOs and published authors.

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  • Financially Reviewed By
    Ebony J. Howard, CPA
    Ebony J. Howard, CPA

    Ebony J. Howard, CPA

    Credentialed Tax Expert at Intuit

    Ebony J. Howard is a certified public accountant and freelance consultant with a background in accounting, personal finance, and income tax planning and preparation.  She specializes in analyzing financial information in the health care, banking and real estate sectors.

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  • Published: November 29, 2021
  • Updated: July 11, 2024
  • 5 min read time
  • This page features 4 Cited Research Articles
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APA Turner, T. (2024, July 11). Qualified vs. Non-Qualified Annuities. RetireGuide.com. Retrieved November 29, 2024, from https://www.retireguide.com/annuities/taxes/qualified-vs-non-qualified-annuity/

MLA Turner, Terry. "Qualified vs. Non-Qualified Annuities." RetireGuide.com, 11 Jul 2024, https://www.retireguide.com/annuities/taxes/qualified-vs-non-qualified-annuity/.

Chicago Turner, Terry. "Qualified vs. Non-Qualified Annuities." RetireGuide.com. Last modified July 11, 2024. https://www.retireguide.com/annuities/taxes/qualified-vs-non-qualified-annuity/.

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One of the key features of annuities is their ability to grow tax-deferred, which means investment earnings are not taxed until they are paid out to the purchaser. However, there are IRS rules that govern if and when annuity taxes are due on the premium, which is the money you used to purchase the annuity.

These rules are characterized by the terms qualified and non-qualified. Qualified and non-qualified annuities differ in a number of ways — most importantly in how they are purchased and taxed.

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How Are Qualified and Non-Qualified Annuities Different?

A qualified annuity allows for a tax-deductible purchase (made with pre-tax dollars), while a non-qualified annuity involves a purchase made with money which has already been taxed. Moreover, when you receive a distribution from a qualified annuity, the entire amount — premium and earnings — is subject to ordinary income tax.

With a non-qualified annuity, only the earnings component is taxable since you already paid tax on the money used to make the purchase.

Another important distinction relates to the money used to purchase the annuity. A qualified annuity can only be purchased with money from another type of qualified vehicle, such as a regular 401(k) plan or a traditional individual retirement account (IRA). An annuity purchased with a non-qualified source of money is automatically classified as non-qualified.

Key Features of Qualified and Non-Qualified Annuities
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The Basics of Qualified Annuities

A qualified annuity is a tax-advantaged financial product that can help you save for retirement. This is because the premium is allowed to grow tax-deferred, which can have a powerful cumulative effect over time.

You won’t pay taxes on the premium or the accumulated earnings until your annuity begins paying out, which usually occurs in retirement. However, the money used to purchase a qualified annuity must come from another source of IRS-qualified funds.

Types of IRS-Qualified Funds
How to roll your IRA or 401(k) into an annuity

In addition to the funding source restriction, the IRS limits how much you can contribute to a qualified annuity annually. The limit depends on your income and the extent to which you participate in other qualified savings plans.

Withdrawals prior to age 59 1/2 are subject to a 10% IRS penalty, while distributions are mandatory at the age of 70 1/2 (or 72 if the owner reaches age 70 ½ after December 31, 2019). All distributions are subject to ordinary income tax, regardless of what age you take them.

It’s worth noting that in certain situations, the money in a qualified annuity can be transferred into a similar qualified annuity without triggering a tax liability. This transaction is known as an IRS 1035 exchange.

Benefits of a 1035 Exchange
  • Earn a higher rate of return
  • Reduce fees
  • Take advantage of enhanced features offered by another annuity
  • Move the money to a more financially sound insurance company
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The Basics of Non-Qualified Annuities

Like a qualified annuity, a non-qualified annuity is a tax-advantaged financial product that can greatly facilitate your retirement savings effort. However, while a qualified annuity is purchased with pre-tax money and subject to contribution limits, a non-qualified annuity is purchased with after-tax dollars and has no contribution limits.

As a result, the purchase of a non-qualified annuity is not connected to IRS-qualified plans, such as 401(k) plans and traditional IRAs. The money used to purchase a non-qualified annuity can come from anywhere. Common sources of funding include savings accounts, taxable brokerage accounts and inheritances.

Since the money used to purchase a non-qualified annuity has already been taxed, it will never be taxed again. However, accumulated earnings on the premium will be taxed when you begin taking distributions — unless the annuity was purchased within a Roth 401(k) plan or a Roth IRA. Earnings in Roth-style accounts are not taxable.

As with qualified annuities, non-qualified withdrawals prior to age 59 1/2 are subject to a 10% IRS penalty. However, unlike with qualified annuities, distributions are not mandated at the age of 70 1/2 (or 72 if the owner reaches age 70 ½ after December 31, 2019).

Finally, like a qualified annuity, a non-qualified annuity can be transferred via a 1035 exchange in certain circumstances.

Retirement Considerations

Annuities are often purchased and customized to meet retirement objectives. For many retirees, these products provide a great way to achieve a guaranteed stream of income in a low-risk, hands-off manner.

Given their tax-deferred growth potential, both qualified and non-qualified annuities can facilitate saving for retirement. That said, there are a number of notable differences between these two types of vehicles, including tax deductibility, annual purchase limits, tax treatment of distributions and distribution requirements.

All of these factors need to be carefully evaluated before you purchase an annuity. If you opt to move forward, one day you will face another important decision: how to receive your distributions.

There are usually three distribution options:
  • A lump-sum payment
  • A stream of fixed payments for a set period of time
  • A stream of fixed payments for life

Depending on your unique circumstances, any of one of these options could be optimal. Be aware that the lump-sum payment option could result in a sudden and significant tax liability, while the payment stream alternatives will spread your tax liability over time.

Regardless of your situation, remember that annuities are just one way to plan for retirement. Consider talking to a financial advisor about all of the ways you can save and invest and whether an annuity is sensible for your financial circumstances.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Qualified and Non-Qualified Annuities

Are annuities qualified or non-qualified?
Annuities are financial contracts between an individual and an insurance company. Annuity contracts can be either qualified or non-qualified. Qualified annuities are purchased with pre-tax dollars, while non-qualified annuities are purchased with money that's already been taxed.
Is there an RMD for non-qualified annuities?
There is not a required minimum distribution (RMD) for non-qualified annuities. This type of annuity is funded with after-tax money, so it does not carry a withdrawal requirement like a qualified annuity.
Can you roll a non-qualified annuity into an IRA?
You cannot roll over a non-qualified variable annuity into a traditional IRA because the annuity is funded with after-tax dollars. IRAs are funded with pre-taxed dollars. However, you can move a non-qualified annuity into another type of account, such as another annuity or a CD.
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Last Modified: July 11, 2024

4 Cited Research Articles

  1. Investor.gov. (n.d.). Section 1035. Retrieved from https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/investing-basics/glossary/section-1035
  2. IRS.gov. (2021, August 26). 401(k) Plans. Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/401k-plans
  3. IRS.gov. (2021, November 5). Roth IRAs. Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/roth-iras
  4. IRS.gov. (2021, June 26). Traditional IRAs. Retrieved https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/traditional-iras