Publication 575, Pension and Annuity Income

Publication 575 is an IRS guide that specifies how taxpayers are to report distributions received from pensions and annuities on their annual tax returns. The publication focuses on qualified plans that meet IRS requirements, but it also contains guidance on non-qualified plans.

Thomas Brock, CFA, CPA, expert contributor to Annuity.org
  • Written By
    Thomas J. Brock, CFA®, CPA

    Thomas J. Brock, CFA®, CPA

    Investment Management and Finance Professional

    Thomas Brock, CFA®, CPA, is a financial professional with over 20 years of experience in investments, corporate finance and accounting. He currently oversees the investment operation for a $4 billion super-regional insurance carrier.

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  • Edited By
    Savannah Hanson
    Savannah Hanson, financial editor for Annuity.org

    Savannah Hanson

    Financial Editor

    Savannah Hanson is an accomplished writer, editor and content marketer. She joined Annuity.org as a financial editor in 2021 and uses her passion for educating readers on complex topics to guide visitors toward the path of financial literacy.

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  • Financially Reviewed By
    Rubina K. Hossain, CFP®
    Rubina K. Hossain

    Rubina K. Hossain, CFP®

    Certified Financial Planner™ Professional

    Certified Financial Planner Rubina K. Hossain is chair of the CFP Board's Council of Examinations and past president of the Financial Planning Association. She specializes in preparing and presenting sound holistic financial plans to ensure her clients achieve their goals.

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  • Updated: July 24, 2022
  • This page features 6 Cited Research Articles
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APA Brock, T. J. (2022, July 24). Publication 575, Pension and Annuity Income. Annuity.org. Retrieved September 24, 2022, from https://www.annuity.org/annuities/taxation/publication-575/

MLA Brock, Thomas J. "Publication 575, Pension and Annuity Income." Annuity.org, 24 Jul 2022, https://www.annuity.org/annuities/taxation/publication-575/.

Chicago Brock, Thomas J. "Publication 575, Pension and Annuity Income." Annuity.org. Last modified July 24, 2022. https://www.annuity.org/annuities/taxation/publication-575/.

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What Is Publication 575?

Publication 575 is a detailed document from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) that provides guidance on how to report distributions received from pensions and annuities on your tax return. While both pensions and annuities can provide income in retirement, the two types of investment vehicles are fundamentally different, as outlined below.

  • Pensions are retirement plans sponsored by employers. They provide a lifetime payout to retired workers. The payout amount is typically based on years of service and earnings.
  • Annuities are financial contracts sold by life insurance companies. They provide a stream of future income in exchange for an upfront payment. Annuities can be structured to provide income for life, and many contracts offer customizable features to meet your financial objectives.

Where Can You Find Publication 575?

Publication 575 is updated each year by the IRS. The document explains the tax treatment of distributions from pensions and annuities and describes how to report the income on your federal income tax return. The easiest way to find the document is by visiting the Publication 575 page on the IRS website.

What Does Publication 575 Cover?

According to the IRS, Publication 575 specifically covers the following topics:

  • How to figure the tax-free part of periodic payments under a pension or annuity plan, including using a simple worksheet for payments under a qualified plan
  • How to figure the tax-free part of nonperiodic payments from qualified and non-qualified plans, and how to use the optional methods to figure the tax on lump-sum distributions from pension, stock bonus and profit-sharing plans
  • How to roll over certain distributions from a retirement plan into another retirement plan or individual retirement account (IRA)
  • How to report disability payments, and how beneficiaries and survivors of employees and retirees must report benefits paid to them
  • How to report railroad retirement benefits
  • When additional taxes on certain distributions may apply (including the tax on early distributions and the tax on excess accumulation)

What Is Not Covered in Publication 575?

Publication 575 does not comprehensively cover non-qualified annuity taxation and the tax treatment of funds received from non-qualified pensions. For information relating to these types of non-qualified plans, see the page about Publication 939 on the IRS website.

Additionally, Publication 575 does not cover the treatment of individual retirement accounts (IRAs), civil service retirement benefits and tax-sheltered annuity plans, which are commonly referred to as 403(b) plans. For IRS guidance on these topics, visit the following links:

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How Are Your Annuity Distributions Taxed?

Annuities are designed to help you build wealth and facilitate future income payouts through tax deferral. This means that the interest earned in an annuity can grow free of taxation, which is a powerful savings advantage. The rate at which your investment accumulates is enhanced even more due to the power of compounding.

Generally, the interest earned with an annuity is not taxed until withdrawal. However, tax treatment varies, depending on whether you own a qualified or non-qualified annuity.

A qualified annuity, which allows for tax deductions, is purchased with pre-tax dollars. A non-qualified annuity is purchased with money that has already been taxed.

When you receive a distribution from a qualified annuity, the entire amount, including principal and earnings, is subject to ordinary income tax. With a non-qualified annuity, since you already paid tax on the money used to make the purchase, only the earnings are taxable. However, if the annuity was purchased within a retirement account with a Roth structure, the earnings are not taxable.

How Do You Report Your Annuity and Pension Income to the IRS?

Income received from an annuity or pension is reported to the IRS with Form 1099-R, which you should include with your annual tax filing. Generally, anyone who receives a distribution of $10 or more from an annuity or pension will receive a 1099-R on or before January 31 of each year. If you receive money from multiple payers, you will receive multiple forms.

All 1099-R distributions are reported to the IRS, but not all distributions are subject to taxation. Please consult with a tax professional to ensure your tax filings are accurately prepared.

Please seek the advice of a qualified professional before making financial decisions.
Last Modified: July 24, 2022
Thomas Brock, CFA, CPA, expert contributor to Annuity.org
Written By Thomas J. Brock, CFA®, CPA Investment Management and Finance Professional
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Savannah Hanson, financial editor for Annuity.org
Edited By Savannah Hanson Financial Editor
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Rubina K. Hossain
Financially Reviewed By Rubina K. Hossain, CFP® Certified Financial Planner™ Professional
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6 Cited Research Articles

Annuity.org writers adhere to strict sourcing guidelines and use only credible sources of information, including authoritative financial publications, academic organizations, peer-reviewed journals, highly regarded nonprofit organizations, government reports, court records and interviews with qualified experts. You can read more about our commitment to accuracy, fairness and transparency in our editorial guidelines.

  1. Internal Revenue Service. (2021, May 17). About Publication 571, Tax-Sheltered Annuity Plans (403(b) Plans) For Employees of Public Schools and Certain Tax-Exempt Organizations. Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-571
  2. Internal Revenue Service. (2021, May 17). About Publication 590-B, Distributions from Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs). Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-590-b
  3. Internal Revenue Service. (2021, June 26). About Publication 721, Tax Guide to U.S. Civil Service Retirement Benefits. Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-721
  4. Internal Revenue Service. (2021, July 9). About Publication 939, General Rule for Pensions and Annuities. Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-publication-939
  5. Internal Revenue Service. (2021, December 10). Instructions for Forms 1099-R and 5498. Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1099r.pdf
  6. Internal Revenue Service. (2022, March 2). Publication 575 (2021), Pension and Annuity Income. Retrieved from https://www.irs.gov/publications/p575