2017 tax changes to drive 2016 prescribed annuity sales

What’s changing?

The formula, specified by the Income Tax Act, used to calculate the taxable portion of a prescribed annuity* payment is changing:

Between now and December 31, 2016	The formula uses mortality tables published in 1971.
January 1, 2017 and beyond	The mortality tables will be replaced with an updated version.

This change won’t affect the amount of annuity income, but it will mean higher taxable portions for single and joint life annuities purchased on or after January 1, 2017.

The opportunity

Annuities sold any time before January 1, 2017 will still use the old mortality tables, even if annuity payments won’t begin until after January 1. The key requirement is that the annuity rates for a client’s annuity be “fixed and determined” before January 1. In general, a client’s annuity income has to be set by that date, even if it won’t start until after. “This rule provides a compelling reason for clients in or near retirement to buy a non-registered payout annuity before January 1, in order to pay less tax,” added Holdsworth.

See the difference

This table shows the potential impact of the tax changes, comparing identical annuities where the taxable portion is calculated using the existing vs. new mortality tables:

Age at purchase	Annual income	Annual taxable portion – existing	Annual taxable portion – new
Single life: male
65	$6,005	$510	$1,079
70	$6,885	$349	$1,002
75	$7,726	$34	$733
80	$8,671	$0	$540
Single life: female
65	$5,426	$595	$1,002
70	$6,242	$359	$922
75	$7,100	$0	$606
80	$8,066	$0	$314

$100,000 premium; 10-year guaranteed period; purchase date July 1, 2015; income starts August 1, 2015. For illustration purposes only. Different annuities will result in taxable portions that may not vary from old to new in the same proportion.

Which clients would benefit the most?

You may have clients who would benefit from prescribed annuities. Now is the time to start conversations if they:

• are age 60+ looking for a high level of guaranteed lifetime income,
• have non-registered assets,
• are near or in retirement,
• are interested in minimizing their taxable income in retirement, and
• want to take advantage of an attractive tax reduction strategy before its benefit is lessened by the new legislation.

Start the conversation

Download a short information sheet for clients, highlighting the tax advantages of purchasing a life annuity prior to January 1, 2017.

And when you’re ready to meet, get your clients involved. Use the Money for Life web app tools and calculators so clients can see the benefits of annuities first-hand:

• Annuity & GIC income comparison – Compare the income generated from a life annuity to the income that can be generated from a GIC using the same initial deposit (an annuity illustration is required before running this tool).
• Longevity risk illustrator – Show clients how long they could live and the health risks they may face as they age.
• Buy now, buy later – Help clients understand the trade-offs associated with delaying a life annuity purchase.
• Sustainable income demo – Discover what adding a life annuity to a retirement income plan can do.

More information

A one-page summary of the 2017 prescribed annuities tax changes is available on sunlife.ca/advisor.

If you have questions or want to learn more, contact a member of Sun Life Financial’s Wealth Sales Team.

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*An annuity purchased with non-registered assets that qualifies for prescribed tax treatment.