We know the holidays are a busy time for everyone and this year is no exception. To better support you and your clients, we have established the following telephone hours and year-end processing deadlines:

Phone hours

The Contact Center will close early on the following days:

• Thursday, December 24, 2020 – all lines closed, except Variable annuity will be open 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. Central time.
• Thursday, December 31, 2020 – closing at 5 p.m. Central time.

The Contact Center and sales teams will be closed on the following days:

• Friday, December 25, 2020
• Friday, January 1, 2021

New business

To ensure the contract is issued by close of business for 2020:

• Life insurance new business final delivery requirements must be received in good order before Monday, December 28, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. Central time.
• Fixed index annuity new business applications and final requirements must be received in good order before Monday, December 28, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. Central time.
• Variable annuity new business applications and final requirements must be received in good order before Thursday, December 31, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. Central time.

If any request is intended to be recorded for the 2021 tax year, please submit the request after January 1, 2021. Please note that scheduled premium payments processed in January are recorded for the 2021 tax year.

In-force business

Please note the following deadlines to ensure requests are processed and recorded for the 2020 tax year:

• Premium payments must be received in good order by Thursday, December 31, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. Central time.
• Policy financial transactions for variable annuity business, e.g., Roth conversions, transfers, must be received in good order by Thursday, December 31, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. Central time.
• Policy financial transactions for fixed annuity and life business, e.g., surrenders, must be received in good order by Friday, December 18, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. Central time.
• Roth conversions for fixed annuity business must be received in good order by Friday, December 18, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. Central time.
• Policy administration, e.g., ownership, beneficiary, allocation changes, illustrations, must be received in good order by Monday, December 21, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. Central time.
• All Claims transactions (including requests to pay RMDs on a pending claim) must be received in good order by Friday, December 11, 2020, at 3:00 p.m. Central time.
• Any payment processed in 2020, even if not physically received in 2020, will be taxed for 2020. This includes disbursements processed on Thursday, December 31, 2020, that will not be sent until Monday, January 4, 2021, due to the New Year’s holiday.
• Do not submit 2021 transactions in 2020, hold until 2021.

Commissions

Any policies put in force by December 31, 2020, will be considered 2020 earnings and tax reported as such, even if the commission payment isn’t received until 2021. In order for a policy to be put in force, all missing requirements must be submitted and processed prior to year-end. If you want commissions to be paid and reported for tax year 2021, do not submit the business until 2021.

As a reminder, Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America and Allianz Life Insurance Company of New York will be closed Friday, December 25, 2020, and Friday, January 1, 2021.