How to Get Money Out of an Annuity Without Penalty This video explains how to get money out of an annuity with little or no penalty and what options you actually have built into most contracts. The core question we answer is: how do you access cash when you need it without tripping surrender charges, tax penalties, or accidentally hurting your long-term income? You’ll learn how free-withdrawal limits work, how surrender schedules are structured, and which exceptions can let you tap funds early,