When it comes to life insurance, there is a lot of confusion about what is and is not a tax deduction. In this guide, we will clear up the confusion and answer the question: is life insurance a tax deduction? We will go over what is allowed as a tax deduction for life insurance premiums and how you can claim them on your taxes.
Is Life Insurance Premium Tax Deductible?
Even though the answer is usually no, life insurance still has some tax benefits. The payout from a policy usually isn’t taxed, which can be a big help to your family during a tough time. In addition, depending on your situation, you may be able to work with a tax expert to take advantage of other tax breaks with your policy.
Tax Deductibility Exceptions Of Life Insurance Premiums
Usually, you can’t deduct your life insurance premiums from your taxes. The IRS considers this a personal expense. The government also does not require life insurance, so you can’t expect a tax break after buying a policy.
However, if you die while the policy is still active, your loved ones receive a tax-free cash payment to help them out. This payment can replace your income, pay bills or debts, save for the future, or buy whatever else you choose.
You typically can’t deduct premiums for life insurance, but a few exceptions exist. For example, you may be able to deduct some or all of your life insurance premiums if you:
- Small businesses with a specific type of business structure (LLC, S-Corp, sole proprietors) can deduct the premiums they are paying for employees, typically through group life insurance. The most you can deduct is $50,000 per year. You also cannot benefit from the policy in any way.
- The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act permanently changed the tax code for people who get divorced starting in 2019. If you are getting divorced, the judge may ask you to buy life insurance as part of your alimony agreement. This is because starting in 2019; no alimony payments will be considered tax-deductible. This also applies to life insurance payments. However, if you bought a policy before getting divorced and your ex-spouse is the beneficiary, you won’t be able to deduct the premiums from your taxes.
- You can usually get a tax break when you transfer the ownership of your life insurance policy. If you give your life insurance policy to a charity that you like or name the charity as your beneficiary, you can get a tax deduction. The premium payments you have made, or the cash value of the policy, whichever is less, will be considered when figuring out how much tax you need to pay.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is life insurance a tax deduction?
Usually, tax life insurance is not a tax deduction. However, small businesses with a specific type of business structure can deduct the premiums paid to employees through group life insurance. Another way to get a tax break when it comes to life insurance is to transfer the ownership of your life insurance policy. For example, if you give your life insurance policy to a charity you like or name the charity as your beneficiary, you can get a tax deduction.
Are term life insurance premiums tax deductible?
The premiums may be tax deductible if the policy is used for business purposes such as providing your employee’s group life insurance.