Annuity Formula | Calculation of Annuity Payment (with Examples)

Annuity Formula

Updated on April 22, 2024
Article byWallstreetmojo Team
Reviewed byDheeraj Vaidya, CFA, FRM

What Is Annuity Formula?

The term “annuity” refers to the series of periodic payments to be received either at the beginning of each period or at the end of the period in the future. The formula for annuity payment and annuity due is calculated based on PV of an annuity due, effective interest rate and a number of periods.

Formula Of Annuity

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The annuity payment is one of the applications of the time value of moneyTime Value Of MoneyThe Time Value of Money (TVM) principle states that money received in the present is of higher worth than money received in the future because money received now can be invested and used to generate cash flows to the enterprise in the future in the form of interest or from future investment appreciation and reinvestment.read more, which is further indicated by the difference between annuity payments based on ordinary annuity and annuity due. The lower annuity payment for an annuity is that the money is received at the start of each period. It is believed that the funds will be invested in the market, and interest will be earned during that period.

Key Takeaways

  • The annuity formula calculates an annuity’s periodic payment amount or present/future value, a series of regular cash flows received or paid at equal intervals over a specific period.
  • The annuity formula considers factors such as the interest rate, the number of periods, and the initial investment or payment amount to determine the desired output
  • The annuity formula is a mathematical equation that simplifies the calculation process and helps individuals and businesses determine the appropriate payment amounts or evaluate the value of an annuity.
  • There are different variations of the annuity formula depending on whether the payments are made at the beginning or end of each period and whether the interest is compounded annually, semi-annually, quarterly, or continuously.

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Annuity Formula Explained

The ordinary annuity formula is useful in calculating the amount of payment that is to be made periodically or calculating the present value of a series of equal cash flows that will occur at regular intervals of time.

The formula will depend on what is to be calculated, the present value or the future value. The future value will determine the amount of a series of cash flows that will happen at a future date, and the present value calculates the current amount of the future cash flows.

Whatever calculation is made, it is important to be sure of the fact that the rate of interest and the number of periods are expressed in the same units. In other words, if the calculation is made annually, then the interest rate and the number of periods should be also taken on an annual basis.

This particular ordinary annuity formula is used in various types of financial calculations. This includes finding out how much amount should be kept aside for retirement income, loan payments, or any other situations in which investment is made with a fixed cash outflow.  

Annuity Formula Video Explanation

 

Formula

Let us find out how the formula is used for calculation in different financial scenarios.

The formula based on an ordinary annuity is calculated based on PV of an ordinary annuityPV Of An Ordinary AnnuityThe present value of the annuity is the current value of future cash flows adjusted to the time value of money considering all the relevant factors like discounting rate. Thus, it helps investors understand the money they will receive overtime in today’s dollar’s terms and make informed investment decisions.read more, effective interest rateEffective Interest RateEffective Interest Rate, also called Annual Equivalent Rate, is the actual rate of interest that a person pays or earns on a financial instrument by considering the compounding interest over a given period.read more, and several periods.

Annuity = r * PVA Ordinary / [1 – (1 + r)-n]

where,

  • PVA Ordinary = Present value of an ordinary annuity
  • r = Effective interest rate
  • n = Number of periods

Mathematically, the equation for annuity due is represented as,

Annuity = r * PVA Due / [{1 – (1 + r)-n} * (1 + r)]

where,

  • PVA Due = Present value of an annuity due
  • r = Effective interest rate
  • n = number of periods

From the above details, we get an idea about the formula and at the meaning of each element in the formula.

How To Calculate?

Now let us go through the steps used in simple annuity formula.

The calculation of annuity payment can be derived by using the PV of ordinary annuity in the following steps:

  1. Firstly, determine the PV of the annuity and confirm that the payment will be made at the end of each period. It is denoted by PVA Ordinary.

  2. Next, determine the interest rate based on the current market return. Then, the effective rate of interest is computed by dividing the annualized interest rate by the number of periodic payments in a year, and it is denoted by r. r = Annualized interest rate / Number regular payments in a year

  3. Next, determine the number of periods by multiplying the number of periodic payments in a year and the number of years, and it is denoted by n. n = number of regular payments in a year * Number of years

  4. Finally, the annuity payment based on PV of an ordinary annuity is calculated based on PV of an ordinary annuity (step 1), effective interest rate (step 2), and some periods (step 3), as shown above.


    The calculation of annuity payment can also be derived by using the PV of an annuity due in the following steps:

    Step 1: Firstly, determine the PV of the annuity and confirm that the payment will be made at the beginning of each period. It is denoted by PVA Due.

    Step 2: Next, determine the interest rate based on the current market return. Then, the effective rate of interest is computed by dividing the annualized interest rate by the number of periodic payments in a year, and it is denoted by r. r = Annualized interest rate / Number regular payments in a year

    Step 3: Next, determine the number of periods by multiplying the number of periodic payments in a year and the number of years, and it is denoted by n. n = number of regular payments in a year * Number of years

    Step 4: Finally, the annuity payment based on PV of an annuity due is calculated based on PV of an annuity due (step 1), effective interest rate (step 2), and several periods (step 3), as shown above.

Examples

You can download this Annuity Formula Excel Template here – Annuity Formula Excel Template

Example #1

Let us take the example of David, who won a lottery worth $10,000,000. He has opted for an annuity payment at the end of each year for the next 20 years as a payout option. Determine the amount that David will be paid as annuity payment if the constant rate of interest in the market is 5%.

Given below is the data used in the  simple annuity formula.

annuity formula example 1.1

PVA Ordinary = $10,000,000 (since the annuity to be paid at the end of each year)

Therefore, the calculation of annuity payment can be done as follows –

annuity formula example 1.2
  • Annuity = 5% * $10,000,000 / [1 – (1 + 5%)-20]

Calculation of Annuity Payment will be –

annuity formula example 1.3
  • Annuity = $802,425.87 ~ $802,426

Therefore, David will pay annuity payments of $802,426 for the next 20 years in case of ordinary annuityOrdinary AnnuityAn ordinary annuity refers to recurring payments of equal value made at regular intervals for a fixed period. The frequency of these consecutive payments can be weekly, monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly.read more.

Example #2

Let us take the above example of David and determine the annuity payment if paid at the beginning of each year with all other conditions the same.

We will use the same data using annuity formula in excel as the above example for the calculation of Annuity payments.

example 2.1

Therefore, the calculation of annuity payment can be done as follows –

example 2.2
  • Annuity = r * PVA Due / [{1 – (1 + r)-n} * (1 + r)]
  • Annuity = 5% * $10,000,000 / [{1 – (1 + 5%)-20} * (1 + 5%)]

Calculation of annuity formula in excel will be –

example 2.3
  • Annuity = $764,215.12 ~ $764,215

Therefore, David will pay annuity payments of $764,215 for the next 20 years in case of an annuity due.

Annuity Calculator

You can use the following Annuity CalculatorAnnuity CalculatorAnnuity calculator can be used to calculate the series of regular payments which are to be received in future either at the end of the period or at the beginning of the period. The one which is to be received at the beginning of the period is called an annuity due and the one which is received at the end of the period is known as ordinary period.read more.

PVA Ordinary
r
n
Annuity Formula =
 

Annuity Formula = r *
PVA Ordinary
[1 -(1 + r)-n]
0 *
0
= 0
[1 -(1 + 0)0]

Advantages

The formula has some advantages as given below:

  • The annuity formula calculation a useful method that calculates the payment amount in situations where the cash flow is fixed and regular. If captures the annuity pattern very well such as payment for loans, lease, of retirement fund accumulation. This gives an idea about the periodic financial obligation that an individual of entity needs to follow and keep track.
  • It can be used in various scenarios and different time periods like annual, monthly or quarterly. It is flexible and can chage as per the time period adopted. It can even be used in financial calculators.
  • It accounts for the time value of money, recognizing the fact that the value of money changes with time due to the effect of inflation. It discounts the future cash flows to get the present value.
  • It is very useful in making financial investment decisions where a certain portion of income or revenue is set aside for some future obligation or accumulate a particular amount to meet some future goal. It is useful for companies who can calculate the viability of a project based on the current value of the future cash flows.

Disadvantages

Apart from the advantages, there are also some disadvantages to the method, as follows:

  • The annuity formula calculation only depend on the cash flows but does not consider other financial factors like taxes, external economic conditions, etc that influence the financial decisions.
  • It is not suitable for complex financial scenarios where the cash flows are not regular or equal. There may be multiple interest payments or payment interval may vary. In such situations sophisticated and advanced model and calculation are required.
  • It takes an interest rate that will be constant. There is no inflation adjustment in the rate. This affects the value of the future cash flows by reducing the purchasing power.
  • It assumes a fixed cash flow through out the period. However, in the reak world, the cash flow amount may change and in such cases, this formula is not suitable.

Therefore, it is necessary to consider both pros and cons before using the formula for and financial context.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q What is the annuity formula used for?

The annuity formula determines an annuity’s payment amount, present or future value. It is commonly used in financial planning, retirement savings, loan amortization, and investment analysis to calculate regular payments or assess the value of a grant.

What are the components of the annuity formula?

The annuity formula typically includes the interest rate, the number of periods, and the payment or investment amount. The formula combines these components to calculate the desired output, such as the annuity’s periodic payment, present value, or future value.

Can the annuity formula account for varying interest rates or payment amounts?

The basic annuity formula assumes a constant interest rate and fixed payment amounts throughout the annuity period. However, advanced procedure variations, such as the growing or variable annuity formula, can accommodate changing interest rates or payment amounts.

How do I calculate the present value of an annuity using the annuity formula?

To calculate the present value of an annuity using the annuity formula, you multiply the periodic payment by the current value factor, which is derived from the interest rate and the number of periods.

This article has been a guide to Annuity Formula. Here we learn how to calculate Annuity Payments for Ordinary and due annuity along with practical examples and a downloadable excel template. You can know more about financial analysis from the following articles –

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