Annuity plans may make sense to the original who bought it but it may not mean anything to those who inherited it. It may be that the heir is in an income tax bracket higher than that of the original plan holder and small payments for him are rather insignificant. In this case, selling the inherited annuity is a good option.
Another good reason to sell inherited annuity is the tax that comes with it. Income from the inherited annuity is not free of tax. You would be taxed as your benefactor was taxed before. There are cases wherein the inherited annuity could put you in a higher tax bracket and prompt a costly tax bill that should be paid within the period of five years except if you choose to take the money over time.
Annuities are not like other inheritances, which cost minimal or at least acceptable taxes when sold later. Inherited annuities generally cost more because they fall under ordinary income tax with a ceiling of resounding 35 percent, which applies to all gains upon distribution. Whats more, they are included in the taxable estate. So the key question to ask is the how the annuity was paid.
If the annuity was purchased by an employer to give...