You have worked hard to build up your retirement savings. You and your family live in a beautiful home. Yet, you still worry at least a little about whether you have enough money to really enjoy yourself, and to pay the bills for the rest of your life, including the late-in-retirement expenses for long-term care or a health crisis.

Perhaps that’s because other than Social Security , we rely largely on ourselves for building savings and the plans to access those savings to the best effect when we retire. The IRS, however, has spent some time on this issue, too, and that may prove helpful. IRS rules encourage lifetime income protection through annuities The IRS actually offers tax incentives that can help you provide lifetime income on a tax-advantaged basis.

Subscribe to Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Be a smarter, better informed investor. Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail. Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.

Tax rules encourage investors to take care of their retirement plans through the purchase of different forms of lifetime annuities . Now, it’s OK to be skeptical about supposed government largesse, but please read the following information before making up your mind. At the same time that you’re saving money on taxes, these annuities are generating more income, and a larger portion.