536 / What is the annuity starting date?

The annuity starting date is the “first day of the first period for which an amount is received as an annuity.”¹ For a deferred annuity, the annuity starting date is triggered when the annuity owner elects to annuitize and begin payments; a deferred annuity contract also specifies an annuity starting date by which annuitization payments must begin, if the owner has not elected to start them prior to such date.

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Planning Point: The annuity starting date is important not only to determine the onset of payments themselves, but also because the exclusion ratio for taxing annuity payments under a particular contract is determined as of the annuity starting date.

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For an immediate annuity, the annuity starting date is generally immediate upon the purchase of the contract. For example, suppose that a person purchases an immediate annuity on July 1 providing for monthly payments beginning August 1. The annuity starting date is July 1 (the first payment is for the one month period beginning July 1). Payments under settlement options usually commence immediately rather than at the end of the month or other payment period; hence the annuity starting date is the date of the first payment.