How To Cash Out A Tax Deferred Annuity? 
That is a great question ! You will want to contact the agent that sold the annuity , or the financial institution that sold it , and ask them to start the process for you . You want to remember that in most cases , the amount of principal that was used to start the annuity will be the amount un-taxed , all of the interest earned on the annuity over the years will be considered gain , and thus taxable . Taking the funds out of the annuity in a lump sum will cause that tax to be applied at once also , and may substantially reduce the amount paid to you . If the annuity is still within the surrender period , there may be penalties or fees applied also that will reduce your payout . I do not know your reason for cashing it out , but there may be a better way to get cash if you need it quickly than to surrender your annuity . If you would like to discuss them , please contact me , I 'd be happy to help . Thanks for asking ! 