Do Beneficiaries Pay Taxes on Life Insurance?Email FacebookTwitterMenu burgerClose thinDo Beneficiaries Pay Taxes on Life Insurance?Written by Ashley Kilroy | Edited by Jeff White, CEPF®Edited by Patrick Villanova, CEPF®Updated on February 25, 2025, 7:47pm ETSmartAsset maintains strict . It doesn’t provide legal, tax, accounting or financial advice and isn’t a financial planner, broker, lawyer or tax adviser. Consult with your own advisers for guidance. Opinions, analyses, reviews or recommendations expressed in this post are only the author’s and for informational purposes. This post may contain links from advertisers, and we may receive compensation for marketing their products or services or if users purchase products or services. | Marketing DisclosureShareWhen receive a payout from a life insurance policy, they typically don’t have to pay taxes on the money. However, there are a few situations where a portion of the life insurance benefit is taxable to the beneficiary. So, whether you have a life insurance policy or are the beneficiary of one, here’s what you need to know about the payout and taxation. A can help you figure out how life insurance fits into your financial plan. What Is a Death Benefit?A death benefit is a crucial component of life insurance policies, providing financial security to beneficiaries upon the policyholder’s passing. This payout is typically a lump sum, designed to help cover expenses such as funeral costs, outstanding debts or even future financial needs like college tuition for children. The death benefit ensures that loved ones are not left in financial distress during an already challenging time.When folks take out , they name a beneficiary who will benefit from the policy’s proceeds. As a policyholder, you can name spouses, children, friends or almost anyone as a beneficiary. Then, when the life insurance policyholder passes away, the policy’s beneficiary receives a payout known as the death benefit. The death benefit amount depends on the type of policy and the insurer. Beneficiaries could receive anywhere from a few thousand dollars to over $1 million.When Is Life Insurance Taxable?The primary advantage of buying a is that upon death, your heirs or beneficiaries can receive a substantial lump sum payment . Although death benefits are usually tax-free, there are a couple of situations where the beneficiary of a life insurance policy may have to pay taxes on the lump sum payout.1. Earned InterestWhen you earn income from interest, it’s typically taxable. In other words, if the beneficiary decides to delay the payout instead of receiving it right away, the death benefit may continue to accumulate interest. So, while the death benefit will not be taxed, the beneficiary will typically pay taxes on the additional .For example, let’s say the lump sum payout was $100,000, and the beneficiary was selected to wait two years before taking the death benefits. During the two years, the death benefit earned 10% interest. Therefore, the beneficiary would owe taxes on the additional $10,000 accumulation.2. Estate and Inheritance TaxesIf a life insurance policyholder decides to as the death benefit beneficiary, the estate could be subject to taxation. When you forgo naming an individual your beneficiary, the proceeds from the life insurance policy are subject to . This code states that if the gross estate incorporates proceeds of a life insurance policy, the value of a life insurance policy must be payable to the estate directly or indirectly or to named beneficiaries (if you had any “incidents of ownership” throughout the policy term). Remember, most estates won’t be subject to federal taxation since the exclusion amount is (up from $13.61 million in 2024), with a 40% tax rate cap.3. No Contingent Beneficiaries NamedThe proceeds of a may also pass to the estate if the beneficiary dies and there are no contingent beneficiaries. In this case, if you have a will in place, the proceeds will be paid out according to the terms of the will. On the other hand, if there is no will in place, the determines how to distribute your assets. Remember, probate is a time-consuming and expensive process that can minimize the size of your .4. Three Individuals Are Named on the PolicyUsually, the person insured on a life insurance policy and the policyholder are the same. Then, the policyholder designates a beneficiary. However, a may apply if the insured, the policyholder and the beneficiary are three different parties. This situation creates what’s known as the Goodman triangle. Because the IRS assumes that the death benefit was a gift from the policyholder to the beneficiary, you might have to pay gift taxes on the death benefit.For example, let’s say your spouse buys a life insurance policy for you, naming your adult children the beneficiaries. In this case, three people are named in the policy, your spouse (the owner, you (the insured), and your adult children (the beneficiaries). Therefore, if you pass away, the IRS considers the death benefits a gift from your spouse to you and your children, thus creating a taxable event. Furthermore, you would have to file a gift tax return for your children on the proceeds of the life insurance policy.Keep in mind that the is $19,000 in 2025 (up from $18,000 in 2024). That means gifts that exceed this threshold count against a person’s lifetime gift and estate tax exemption. For example, a $25,000 gift made in 2025 would lower the giver’s lifetime exemption by $6,000. How to Avoid Taxes on Life Insurance Benefits?Many life insurance policies, particularly whole life and universal life, accumulate cash value over time. This cash value can be accessed through loans or withdrawals, offering a tax-advantaged way to tap into your policy’s value. There are ways to avoid the tax entirely, though. To help your beneficiaries on death benefits, here are three common steps you can take:, Are the life insurance proceeds I received taxable? This interview will help you determine if the life insurance proceeds received are taxable or nontaxable. The tool is designed for taxpayers who were U.S. citizens or resident aliens for the entire tax year for which they're inquiring., Typically, beneficiaries won’t have to pay taxes on life insurance proceeds. However, some situations can result in a taxable event. Making sure beneficiary designations are clearly outlined in the policy is one of the best ways to avoid taxation..