Annuities supplement retirement income by deferring taxes on earning and adding distributions to gross income. There are four designated parties to any annuity contract: the annuitant, the owner, the insurance company and the beneficiary. The insurance company is the seller of the annuity and promises to pay lifetime and death benefits. Beneficiaries receive death benefits. The owner and annuitant are often confused. The owner is the person buying the annuity to pay benefits on the annuitant's life. The owner is responsible for tax considerations while payments are based on the age and date of death of the annuitant. Annuity owners can be changed.
Pick a new owner. Options include a spouse, child or even a charity. Get the new owner's legal name, date of birth and Social Security number.
Call the insurance company at the customer service number located on the annuity contract. Request an "Annuity Change of Ownership Form," or a similarly titled form.
Fill out the form with the original owner's information, being careful to not have any typos, use the full legal name and double check contract and Social Security numbers to make sure nothing was transposed. Fill out the new owner's information.
Sign and submit the form.
