• An immediate annuity is an annuity purchased with a lump-sum premium that begins to be paid to the annuity recipient at the end of the first set payment period. If, for example, the payments are monthly, then the first payment will be made 1 month after the purchase of the annuity. If the income period starts at the beginning of the first income period, the annuity is an “annuity due”. Immediate annuities are most commonly purchased as a settlement option on a life insurance policy.