Tax Treatment of Life Insurance Proceeds discusses the income tax treatment of death benefits and living proceeds from life insurance contracts. It considers the statutory definition of life insurance contained in Internal Revenue Code §7702 and the tax consequences of a life insurance contract’s failure to meet the definition. It also addresses the general rules governing the taxation of life insurance policy death benefit proceeds and examines the consequences of: a transfer for value; inclusion of a policy in a qualified plan; corporate-owned life insurance; and the payment of death benefits under a settlement option. The course also discusses the tax treatment of proceeds received under viatical settlements and accelerated death benefits. 

In addition, it considers the modified endowment contract (MEC) rules, the tax consequences of a life insurance policy’s MEC status, the tax treatment of policy loans, withdrawals and surrenders and the tax treatment of proceeds received under life settlements.

Learning Objectives:

• Identify the gain to be recognized as a result of various life insurance policy transactions, including withdrawals, loans, surrenders, and payment of death benefits


• List the changes to the customary tax treatment of life insurance policy living proceeds resulting from the policy being deemed a modified endowment contract (MEC)


• Evaluate the reportable gain upon receipt of life insurance policy death benefits when the life insurance policy has been transferred for valuable consideration, or was included in a qualified plan


• Summarize the types of life insurance exchanges that are tax-free under IRC §1035


• Describe the terms “terminally ill” and “chronically ill” as used in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act