ALLIANZ LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY OF NORTH AMERICA
ALLIANZ LIFE VARIABLE ACCOUNT B
Supplement Dated January 20, 1998 to
Prospectus Dated May 1, 1997
The following is added to the discussion on page 29 under "Individual Retirement
Annuities":
Roth IRAs
Beginning in 1998, individuals may purchase a new type of non-deductible IRA,
known as a Roth IRA. Purchase payments for a Roth IRA are limited to $2,000 per
year. This limitation is phased out for adjusted gross income between $95,000
and $110,000 in the case of single taxpayers, between $150,000 and $160,000 in
the case of married taxpayers filing joint returns, and between $0 and $15,000
in the case of married taxpayers filing separately. An overall $2,000 annual
limitation continues to apply to all of a taxpayer's IRA contributions,
including Roth IRA and non-Roth IRAs.
Qualified distributions from Roth IRAs are entirely tax free. A qualified
distribution requires that an individual has held the Roth IRA for at least five
years and, in addition, that the distribution is made either after the
individual reaches age 59 1/2, on the individual's death or disability, or as a
qualified first-time home purchase, subject to a $10,000 lifetime maximum, for
the individual, a spouse, child, grandchild, or ancestor. Any distribution which
is not a qualified distribution is taxable to the extent of earnings in the
distribution. Distributions are treated as made from contributions first and
therefore no distributions are taxable until distributions exceed the amount of
contributions to the Roth IRA. The 10% penalty tax and the regular IRA
exceptions to the 10% penalty tax apply to taxable distributions from a Roth
IRA.
Amounts may be rolled over from one Roth IRA to another Roth IRA. Furthermore,
an individual may make a rollover contribution from a non-Roth IRA to a Roth
IRA, unless the individual has adjusted gross income over $100,000 or the
individual is a married taxpayer filing a separate return. The individual must
pay tax on any portion of the IRA being rolled over that represents income or a
previously deductible IRA contribution. However, for rollovers in 1998, the
individual may pay that tax ratably over the four taxable year period beginning
with tax year 1998.
Purchasers of Contracts to be qualified as a Roth IRA should obtain competent
tax advice as to the tax treatment and suitability of such an investment.
