You do not owe income taxes on your annuity until you withdraw money or begin receiving payments. Upon a withdrawal, the money will be taxed as income if you purchased the annuity with pre-tax funds. If you purchased the annuity with post-tax funds, you would only pay tax on the earnings.
How much tax do you pay on an annuity withdrawal?
Annuity withdrawals made before you reach age 59½ are typically subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty tax. For early withdrawals from a qualified annuity, the entire distribution amount may be subject to the penalty.
Can annuities be tax free?
First, a bit of good news: All annuities grow tax-deferred, meaning that you don't have to pay any taxes until you take a distribution either through a regular payment or a withdrawal from an accumulation annuity.