Are benefits from life insurance taxable income and do they have to be reported?
Generally, if you receive the proceeds because of the death of the insured person the benefits are not taxable income and do not have to be reported. Any interest you receive would be taxable and would need to be reported just like any other interest received.
However, if the policy was turned over to you for a price, the proceeds are taxable.
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I am receiving long term disability. Is it considered taxable?
Generally, you must report as income any amount you receive for your disability through an accident or health insurance plan paid for by your employer.
If both you and your employer have paid for the premiums of the plan, only the amount you receive for your disability that is due to your employer's payments is reported as income. If you pay the entire cost of a health or accident insurance plan, do not include any amounts you receive for your disability as income on your tax return. If you pay the premiums of a health or accident insurance plan through a cafeteria plan, and the amount of the premium was not included as taxable income to you; the premiums are considered paid by your employer, and the disability benefits are fully taxable.
Refer to Publication 525, Taxable and Nontaxable Income, for more details. If the amounts are taxable, you can submit a Form W-4S, Request for Federal Income Tax Withholding, to the insurance company, or make estimated tax payments by filing Form 1040-ES, Estimated Tax for Individuals.
Amounts you receive from your employer while you are sick or injured are part of your salary or wages. Report the amount you receive on line 7, Form 1040; line 7, Form 1040A; or line 1, Form 1040EZ. You must include in your income sick pay from any of the following:
- A welfare fund.
- A state sickness or disability fund.
- An association of employers or employees.
- An insurance company, if your employer paid for the plan.
Payments you receive from qualified long-term care insurance contracts are generally excluded from income as reimbursement of medical expenses received for personal injury or sickness under an accident and health insurance contract. Also, certain payments received under a life insurance contract on the life of a terminally or chronically ill individual (accelerated death benefits) can be excluded from income.
You may be able to deduct your out of pocket expenses for medical care above any reimbursements, if you are eligible to itemize your deductions. You will need to review Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses.
For more information, refer to Publication 907, Tax Highlights for Persons with Disabilities.
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