Life insurance death proceeds paid to a named beneficiary are generally excluded from the beneficiary’s gross income for federal income-tax purposes. This favorable treatment is one reason life insurance is widely used for family income protection, estate liquidity, business continuation, and debt protection. However, the producer should use the word “generally” because exceptions and special circumstances can affect taxation.
For example, interest paid by the insurer because it retains proceeds under an interest option is generally taxable as interest income. Transfers of a policy for valuable consideration can create a transfer-for-value issue. Business-owned life insurance can involve additional notice, consent, and tax rules. Estate-tax treatment is also separate from income-tax treatment; incidents of ownership or other estate-planning facts may cause proceeds to be included in the insured’s taxable estate even though the beneficiary does not owe income tax on the benefit.
Premiums paid for personally owned life insurance are generally not deductible. The producer should not provide individualized tax or legal advice. The proper explanation is that life insurance provides a generally income-tax-favored death benefit, while policy ownership, beneficiary designation, business arrangements, and estate planning should be reviewed with qualified advisers.
References/topics from the Study Guide: Life Insurance Taxation; Death Proceeds; Transfer-for-Value Rule; Estate Tax Concepts; Business-Owned Life Insurance.
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