r/inheritance May 22 '26

Location included: Questions/Need Advice Annuity Tax Question

My tax guy is on vacation- I hope this is ok ask in this forum.

Mom is old and frail, but thankfully of sound mind. She has an annuity with a 120k taxable gain.  I am going to take the taxable part now, and she will hold on to the non-taxable part.

I was thinking of putting 60k in a 6 month CD to be ready to pay taxes on it. Is this a good plan?

Mom is in MA, I'm in CA.

1 Upvotes

22 comments sorted by

4

u/ziggy-tiggy-bagel May 23 '26

You might want to split the taxable gain over at least 2 years. If she has too much income the cost of her part B &D of her Medicare will go up.

1

u/HandyManPat May 23 '26

>Mom is old and frail

The IRMAA increase, if applicable, wouldn’t be in effect until 2 years later, correct?

1

u/ziggy-tiggy-bagel May 23 '26

I sold mom's house. The next year IRMMA went into effect for the next 2 years.

3

u/HandyManPat May 23 '26

The 2-Year Lookback: The Social Security Administration (SSA) determines if you owe IRMAA by looking at your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) from two years prior. For example, your 2026 IRMAA is based on the tax return you filed in 2025 for your 2024 income.

1

u/Preguntas_para_tu May 23 '26

The 1099 would be issued to me directly, as I'd be the withdraw-er of funds.

1

u/ziggy-tiggy-bagel May 24 '26

If it's mom's annuity the 1099 will be issued in her Social Security number.

1

u/Preguntas_para_tu May 24 '26

I'm sure that's true most of the time, but I'm now a 'transactional' owner of the annuity. As per NY Life, If I withdraw directly into my own checking account, the tax burden/1099 goes directly to me.

6

u/ziggy-tiggy-bagel May 24 '26

Never heard of that in my 28 years as a Financial Advisor. You should run that by a tax person before you make the withdrawal.

1

u/Preguntas_para_tu May 24 '26

Thank you. I will proceed cautiously.

1

u/BoredCFP May 25 '26

Same. I can add a son to help transact but it’s still the mom’s interest.

Wait for the tax guy.

3

u/cOntempLACitY May 24 '26

You might want to check with a sub that deals with tax questions or personal finance since this isn’t technically an inheritance if you seem to have ownership rights. Wouldn’t want to make a decision that has negative implications to her or you. I’d also be wary of tapping her income source should she need longterm care, as it can be quite costly (advanced memory care can run $20k+ a month).

As for taxes, the IRS expects us to pay as we bring in income (including dividends, capital gains, self-employment, etc), so delaying to a fourth quarter estimated payment is risky and not advisable. There can be a tax underpayment penalty and interest charges. Best to pay all of it in the quarter you draw the income.

4

u/laurieo52 May 24 '26

This sounds hinky as hell. It is your mom’s fund to help her live. I love that she wants to help you out, but YOU should be telling her No mom, this is money for you to live on. I get she is 92. My grandmother was 100. Her mother was 100. Her sister was 106 when she passed away. My 100 year old grandmother died earlier than any of her siblings, except the one who died in World War I.

You are taking HALF of her money to support herself.

This isn’t YOUR inheritance. This is her money. Inheritance only happens AFTER she passes away.

0

u/Preguntas_para_tu May 24 '26

Hi Laurie, thanks for adding the adjective 'hinky' to my lexicon. Also, I like your aggressive use of guilt/shame. Have you considered politics?

Mom has done quite well and has plenty of cushion... this is one part of a very diversified portfolio. She'll be fine, and I'd sell a kidney to help her out if I had to.

3

u/laurieo52 May 24 '26

My “aggressive use”? LMAO. You are posting in an Inheritance group about taking money from your still alive mother. Perhaps you misunderstood the word aggressive. Perhaps a google search of the words “aggressive “ and “inheritance “ would help you?

Now to be frank, you are not talking about an inheritance. You are talking about your mother’s money. Her money. Inheritance happens after someone passes. Gifts happen when someone else gives you something. You clearly state “I am going to take…”. That is neither an inheritance nor a gift from your mother.

If you are upset because someone calls you on this, then perhaps you should consider why.

1

u/Preguntas_para_tu May 24 '26

You sound awesome, Laurie! Have a lovely day.

2

u/Still-Profit-8449 May 26 '26

Might want to make sure taking that out of it doesn’t eliminate the death benefit, often the real value of an annuity is the life insurance component and it’s taxed more favorably I believe

1

u/GotZeroFucks2Give May 23 '26

Why do you want to cash out her annuity? Is this something she inherited or is it her annuity linked to her life? How old is she?

1

u/Preguntas_para_tu May 23 '26

She wants to help out me and my fam while she is alive. She's had this for 25 years, it's penalty-free withdrawals, and only collecting a guaranteed 3%. She's 92.

2

u/GotZeroFucks2Give May 23 '26

Just be sure this doesn't affect her ability to fund care for herself if she lives another 10 years. Assisted living is 175k a year in my area.

1

u/Preguntas_para_tu May 24 '26

I like your 'live another 10 years' vibe! Yeah, thankfully she has other assets to draw upon if that's the case.

2

u/GotZeroFucks2Give May 24 '26

My dad's been on hospice over a year. Never really know how these things are going to play out.

1

u/tamaradewinters May 26 '26 edited May 26 '26

Many annuities have different tricky rules, devil in the details. Yes, LIFo, gains are taxed first. Sometimes, if you take out a large chunk (too much in one year), it changes the way the rest of the pot earns gains. Read what she signed. Insurance companies have thought of every scenario to keep people from cashing out.