California Immediate Annuity (SPIA) Rates & Tax Guide
California has the largest population of seniors in the US at 5.8 million aged 65+. While the state has higher taxes, annuities remain a popular choice for guaranteed retirement income.
Key Facts for California Annuity Buyers
Tax Treatment of Annuity Income in California
California taxes annuity income as ordinary income at state rates up to 13.3%.
California taxes annuity income as ordinary income with no retirement income exclusion; Social Security is exempt. The state guaranty association covers 80% of contract value up to the $250,000 cap.
Premium tax: California levies a premium tax on some annuity purchases (2.35% on non-qualified annuity premiums; 0.5% on qualified annuity premiums). Carriers build this into their quotes, which is one more reason quotes for California residents should be compared side by side rather than estimated from national tables.
Remember that federal taxes still apply regardless of your state. For non-qualified annuities, only the earnings portion is taxed (the "exclusion ratio" shelters your original investment). For qualified annuities funded with pre-tax money, 100% of each payment is taxable at the federal level. Read our complete tax guide for details.
Is Your Annuity Protected in California?
Annuity guarantees are backed first by the issuing insurance company, which is why we only publish carriers rated A or better by AM Best. Behind that stands California's life and health insurance guaranty association, a state-mandated safety net funded by insurers doing business in the state.
If an insurer licensed in California were ever to fail, the guaranty association protects annuity benefits up to $250,000 in present value per contract owner, per insurance company.
Planning to invest more than $250,000? The standard approach is to split your premium across two or more highly rated carriers so each contract stays fully within the guaranty limit. Because we quote 8 A-rated carriers side by side, structuring a multi-carrier purchase is straightforward — and often captures the best rate at each company. See how this works for larger amounts in our guide to $500,000 annuity payouts.
Buying a SPIA in California: What to Know
- Free-look period. California law gives you a free-look window (at least 10 days, longer for some buyers) after receiving a new annuity contract, during which you can cancel for a full refund.
- Licensed agents only. Annuities in California must be sold by an insurance professional licensed in the state, and recommendations must meet best-interest / suitability standards.
- Our rate tables are not state-specific. The figures in our rate tables pool quotes run for clients in many states, so read them as a guide for California, not as a California quote. Your own quote is run for your state, including premium tax where it applies. The after-tax income you keep depends on California tax rules.
- Quotes lock for 7–14 days. Rates reprice frequently — compare all carriers in one sitting, then lock the best one. Start with our SPIA guide or go straight to a free California quote.
Male SPIA Rates in California
Monthly income from a $100,000 SPIA for men, from our national rate tables. The tables are not specific to California. Your own quote is run for your state.
Male Monthly Income Rates
Updated| Carrier | Rating | Age 55 | Age 60 | Age 65 | Age 70 | Age 75 | Age 80 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Life | A++ | $616/mo | $649/mo | $693/mo | $767/mo | $893/mo | $1,046/mo |
| Nationwide | A+ | $577/mo | $609/mo | $669/mo | $751/mo | $873/mo | $1,041/mo |
| Western & Southern | A+ | $587/mo | $625/mo | $676/mo | $737/mo | $852/mo | $1,013/mo |
| Athene | A+ | $590/mo | $634/mo | $688/mo | $763/mo | $872/mo | $1,037/mo |
| Penn Mutual | A+ | $571/mo | $604/mo | $664/mo | $732/mo | $836/mo | $960/mo |
| Pacific Life | A+ | $539/mo | $578/mo | $629/mo | $706/mo | $830/mo | $998/mo |
| Mutual of Omaha | A+ | $530/mo | $545/mo | $601/mo | $677/mo | $795/mo | $942/mo |
| Lincoln Financial | A | $492/mo | $515/mo | $573/mo | $654/mo | $769/mo | $926/mo |
Source: LifeAnnuities.us quote surveys run for real clients. 54 base survey runs received and 52 used for pricing (July 14 to September 14, 2026), checked against 7 new survey runs (September 18 to 29, 2026): 1 of 8 published carriers repriced, 7 held. Joint figures at ages 65 and 70 are calibrated to a direct same-age joint quote. Single life or joint (100% to survivor), 5-year period certain, per $100,000. How we build these figures.
How this table was built. Ages 60, 65 and 80: read at a surveyed age in an earlier round, then repriced. Ages 55, 70 and 75: interpolated between surveyed ages in an earlier round, then repriced. Your exact figure depends on your age, state, premium and payout option: request a personalized quote.
Female SPIA Rates in California
Monthly income from a $100,000 SPIA for women. Women receive lower monthly payments but benefit from longer total income periods.
Female Monthly Income Rates
Updated| Carrier | Rating | Age 55 | Age 60 | Age 65 | Age 70 | Age 75 | Age 80 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Life | A++ | $602/mo | $634/mo | $658/mo | $724/mo | $839/mo | $986/mo |
| Nationwide | A+ | $553/mo | $584/mo | $632/mo | $697/mo | $804/mo | $962/mo |
| Western & Southern | A+ | $581/mo | $618/mo | $644/mo | $706/mo | $810/mo | $966/mo |
| Athene | A+ | $564/mo | $605/mo | $648/mo | $705/mo | $800/mo | $956/mo |
| Penn Mutual | A+ | $563/mo | $595/mo | $631/mo | $698/mo | $794/mo | $914/mo |
| Pacific Life | A+ | $529/mo | $568/mo | $600/mo | $671/mo | $784/mo | $946/mo |
| Mutual of Omaha | A+ | $515/mo | $530/mo | $570/mo | $636/mo | $743/mo | $883/mo |
| Lincoln Financial | A | $472/mo | $493/mo | $541/mo | $607/mo | $709/mo | $856/mo |
Source: LifeAnnuities.us quote surveys run for real clients. 54 base survey runs received and 52 used for pricing (July 14 to September 14, 2026), checked against 7 new survey runs (September 18 to 29, 2026): 1 of 8 published carriers repriced, 7 held. Joint figures at ages 65 and 70 are calibrated to a direct same-age joint quote. Single life or joint (100% to survivor), 5-year period certain, per $100,000. How we build these figures.
How this table was built. All women's figures: derived from each carrier's own ratio to its men's quote at surveyed ages, then repriced. Your exact figure depends on your age, state, premium and payout option: request a personalized quote.
Joint SPIA Rates in California
Monthly income for couples with 100% survivor benefit. The lower monthly amount covers both spouses for life.
Joint (Couple) Monthly Income Rates
Updated| Carrier | Rating | Age 55 | Age 60 | Age 65 | Age 70 | Age 75 | Age 80 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Life | A++ | $572/mo | $585/mo | $608/mo | $659/mo | $731/mo | $829/mo |
| Nationwide | A+ | $521/mo | $538/mo | $578/mo | $634/mo | $719/mo | $836/mo |
| Western & Southern | A+ | $551/mo | $574/mo | $594/mo | $647/mo | $730/mo | $847/mo |
| Athene | A+ | $533/mo | $561/mo | $595/mo | $645/mo | $718/mo | $835/mo |
| Penn Mutual | A+ | $520/mo | $543/mo | $581/mo | $645/mo | $722/mo | $815/mo |
| Pacific Life | A+ | $494/mo | $516/mo | $543/mo | $601/mo | $680/mo | $795/mo |
| Mutual of Omaha | A+ | $472/mo | $476/mo | $516/mo | $573/mo | $648/mo | $750/mo |
| Lincoln Financial | A | $435/mo | $448/mo | $492/mo | $553/mo | $640/mo | $760/mo |
Source: LifeAnnuities.us quote surveys run for real clients. 54 base survey runs received and 52 used for pricing (July 14 to September 14, 2026), checked against 7 new survey runs (September 18 to 29, 2026): 1 of 8 published carriers repriced, 7 held. Joint figures at ages 65 and 70 are calibrated to a direct same-age joint quote. Single life or joint (100% to survivor), 5-year period certain, per $100,000. How we build these figures.
How this table was built. Ages 55, 60, 75 and 80: derived from each carrier's own ratio to its men's quote at surveyed ages, then repriced. Ages 65 and 70: derived by ratio, then calibrated to a direct same-age joint quote (both spouses 66) from the latest round. Your exact figure depends on your age, state, premium and payout option: request a personalized quote.
Popular Retirement Cities in California
Annuity buyers in California are concentrated in the state's largest metro areas:
- Los Angeles, CA
- San Diego, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- San Jose, CA
- Sacramento, CA
No matter where you live in California, you can compare rates from national carriers. Annuity rates are determined by the insurance company, not your location — but your state's tax treatment affects how much you keep.
Get Your California SPIA Quote
See what a $100,000+ SPIA would pay you monthly, with California's tax treatment factored in. Free, no-obligation quote in 2 minutes.
Get My Free California SPIA Quote