FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Annuity questions, explained.
Practical starting points, with links to the documents and deeper guides that give each question context.
What is an offshore annuity?
On this site, “offshore annuity” describes research into an annuity arrangement across national borders. It is not a separate guarantee about tax, returns, or safety. Start with the legal issuer and the payment terms in our offshore annuity guide.
Are offshore annuities automatically tax-free?
No exemption follows merely from the word “offshore.” The IRS describes worldwide-income obligations for U.S. citizens and resident aliens, and other readers need the rules relevant to their own jurisdictions. See the tax guide and official sources before relying on a claim.
What should I check when researching a Swiss annuity?
Identify the exact insurer, relevant authorization, controlling policy language, payment currency, access conditions, and your own tax questions. The Swiss annuity guide separates these checks from a provider’s country branding.
Is a private annuity the same as an insurance annuity?
Do not assume so. Ask whether the proposal is an insurer-issued policy or a privately negotiated payment obligation, and identify who owes the money. Read the private-versus-insurance guide and obtain advice on the actual structure.
Can U.S. foreign-annuity reporting involve both FBAR and Form 8938?
The IRS comparison lists foreign-issued cash-value annuity contracts under both systems, subject to their respective requirements. One filing does not replace the other. The U.S. reporting guide links to the official comparison and explains what to prepare for an adviser.
Does the foreign earned income exclusion cover annuity payments?
For this U.S. exclusion, the IRS identifies pension and annuity payments as amounts not included in foreign earned income. This does not settle every other tax question. See the official IRS source and the tax-claim guide.
Does a Swiss policy always pay in Swiss francs?
Do not infer currency from the country label. Ask the provider to identify contribution, valuation, and payment currencies in the actual contract. Our currency guide explains how to compare a proposed payment with your spending currency.
Which fees should I ask about?
Ask for the calculation base and timing of each charge, any optional-feature cost, and examples of withdrawal or surrender calculations. Also request conversion and payment-routing information. Use the full cost-review guide rather than assuming every contract has the same charges.
How should I check a provider?
Begin with the exact issuing entity, not the logo. Connect licensing claims to official records, benefit claims to policy provisions, and payment instructions to a verified process. Follow the provider research workflow.
What happens to an annuity when the owner dies?
The actual contract, payment option, designations, and applicable law need review. Ask separately who can claim and which amount is payable at that stage. The family-planning guide organizes the questions without assuming a universal death benefit.
Does this site sell policies or provide quotations?
No. OffshoreAnnuity.com is an educational resource. It does not issue policies, accept premiums, provide quotations, or give personalized advice. Read about this resource and the disclosures.
How can I report a factual error?
Email [email protected] with the page, the specific statement, and a relevant official source. Do not include policy documents, account details, or identification information. See the contact page for scope.