I like being well read, well researched, and well-documented when it comes to the strategies I like to promote. I will admit... to being a bit lazy about memorizing certain tax codes. To me, these areas are obvious, but it is good to know what is in the tax code and referencing official government sources when it comes to the strategies I promote. Here we go: We are going to be referencing the following tax codes:
Please forgive me for any formatting errors as I am copying directly from the US Tax Code website. I will try to mirror the formatting as best as I can, but this blog interface will be a bit different. Of course, I will reference the actual website where I had copy/pasted for official reference.
Let's have some fun. Please note that yes, the tax code CAN change, so for record keeping and accuracy purposes, this is as of today, March 14th, 2023. IRC Section 101(a) reads as follows (from govinfo.gov):
(a) Proceeds of life insurance contracts payable by reason of death
(1) General rule
Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (2), subsection (d), subsection (f), and subsection (j), gross income does not include amounts received (whether in a single sum or otherwise) under a life insurance contract, if such amounts are paid by reason of the death of the insured.
(2) Transfer for valuable consideration
In the case of a transfer for a valuable consideration, by assignment or otherwise, of a life insurance contract or any interest therein, the amount excluded from gross income by paragraph (1) shall not exceed an amount equal to the sum of the actual value of such consideration and the premiums and other amounts subsequently paid by the transferee. The preceding sentence shall not apply in the case of such a transfer—
(A) if such contract or interest therein has a basis for determining gain or loss in the hands of a transferee determined in whole or in part by reference to such basis of such contract or interest therein in the hands of the transferor, or
(B) if such transfer is to the insured, to a partner of the insured, to a partnership in which the insured is a partner, or to a corporation in which the insured is a shareholder or officer.
The term “other amounts” in the first sentence of this paragraph includes interest paid or accrued by the transferee on indebtedness with respect to such contract or any interest therein if such interest paid or accrued is not allowable as a deduction by reason of section 264(a)(4).
IRC Section 101(g) reads as follows (from govinfo.gov):
(g) Treatment of certain accelerated death benefits [scroll down to letter (g)]
(1) In general
For purposes of this section, the following amounts shall be treated as an amount paid by reason of the death of an insured:
(A) Any amount received under a life insurance contract on the life of an insured who is a terminally ill individual.
(B) Any amount received under a life insurance contract on the life of an insured who is a chronically ill individual.
(2) Treatment of viatical settlements
(A) In general
If any portion of the death benefit under a life insurance contract on the life of an insured described in paragraph (1) is sold or assigned to a viatical settlement provider, the amount paid for the sale or assignment of such portion shall be treated as an amount paid under the life insurance contract by reason of the death of such insured.
(B) Viatical settlement provider
(i) In general
The term “viatical settlement provider” means any person regularly engaged in the trade or business of purchasing, or taking assignments of, life insurance contracts on the lives of insureds described in paragraph (1) if—
(I) such person is licensed for such purposes (with respect to insureds described in the same subparagraph of paragraph (1) as the insured) in the State in which the insured resides, or
(II) in the case of an insured who resides in a State not requiring the licensing of such persons for such purposes with respect to such insured, such person meets the requirements of clause (ii) or (iii), whichever applies to such insured.
(ii) Terminally ill insureds
A person meets the requirements of this clause with respect to an insured who is a terminally ill individual if such person—
(I) meets the requirements of sections 8 and 9 of the Viatical Settlements Model Act of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and
(II) meets the requirements of the Model Regulations of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (relating to standards for evaluation of reasonable payments) in determining amounts paid by such person in connection with such purchases or assignments.
(iii) Chronically ill insureds
A person meets the requirements of this clause with respect to an insured who is a chronically ill individual if such person—
(I) meets requirements similar to the requirements referred to in clause (ii)(I), and
(II) meets the standards (if any) of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners for evaluating the reasonableness of amounts paid by such person in connection with such purchases or assignments with respect to chronically ill individuals.
72(e) reads as follows:
(e) Amounts not received as annuities [scroll down to letter (e)]
(1) Application of subsection
(A) In general
This subsection shall apply to any amount which—
(i) is received under an annuity, endowment, or life insurance contract, and
(ii) is not received as an annuity,
if no provision of this subtitle (other than this subsection) applies with respect to such amount.
(B) Dividends
For purposes of this section, any amount received which is in the nature of a dividend or similar distribution shall be treated as an amount not received as an annuity.
(2) General rule
Any amount to which this subsection applies—
(A) if received on or after the annuity starting date, shall be included in gross income, or
(B) if received before the annuity starting date—
(i) shall be included in gross income to the extent allocable to income on the contract, and
(ii) shall not be included in gross income to the extent allocable to the investment in the contract.
(3) Allocation of amounts to income and investment
For purposes of paragraph (2)(B)—
(A) Allocation to income
Any amount to which this subsection applies shall be treated as allocable to income on the contract to the extent that such amount does not exceed the excess (if any) of—
(i) the cash value of the contract (determined without regard to any surrender charge) immediately before the amount is received, over
(ii) the investment in the contract at such time.
(B) Allocation to investment
Any amount to which this subsection applies shall be treated as allocable to investment in the contract to the extent that such amount is not allocated to income under subparagraph (A).
(4) Special rules for application of paragraph (2)(B)
For purposes of paragraph (2)(B)—
(A) Loans treated as distributions
If, during any taxable year, an individual—
(i) receives (directly or indirectly) any amount as a loan under any contract to which this subsection applies, or
(ii) assigns or pledges (or agrees to assign or pledge) any portion of the value of any such contract,
such amount or portion shall be treated as received under the contract as an amount not received as an annuity. The preceding sentence shall not apply for purposes of determining investment in the contract, except that the investment in the contract shall be increased by any amount included in gross income by reason of the amount treated as received under the preceding sentence.
(B) Treatment of policyholder dividends
Any amount described in paragraph (1)(B) shall not be included in gross income under paragraph (2)(B)(i) to the extent such amount is retained by the insurer as a premium or other consideration paid for the contract.
(C) Treatment of transfers without adequate consideration
(i) In general
If an individual who holds an annuity contract transfers it without full and adequate consideration, such individual shall be treated as receiving an amount equal to the excess of—
(I) the cash surrender value of such contract at the time of transfer, over
(II) the investment in such contract at such time,
under the contract as an amount not received as an annuity.
(ii) Exception for certain transfers between spouses or former spouses
Clause (i) shall not apply to any transfer to which section 1041(a) (relating to transfers of property between spouses or incident to divorce) applies.
(iii) Adjustment to investment in contract of transferee
If under clause (i) an amount is included in the gross income of the transferor of an annuity contract, the investment in the contract of the transferee in such contract shall be increased by the amount so included.
72(e)5 Retention of existing rules in certain cases [scroll down to (5)]
(5) Retention of existing rules in certain cases
(A) In general
In any case to which this paragraph applies—
(i) paragraphs (2)(B) and (4)(A) shall not apply, and
(ii) if paragraph (2)(A) does not apply,
the amount shall be included in gross income, but only to the extent it exceeds the investment in the contract.
(B) Existing contracts
This paragraph shall apply to contracts entered into before August 14, 1982. Any amount allocable to investment in the contract after August 13, 1982, shall be treated as from a contract entered into after such date.
(C) Certain life insurance and endowment contracts
Except as provided in paragraph (10) and except to the extent prescribed by the Secretary by regulations, this paragraph shall apply to any amount not received as an annuity which is received under a life insurance or endowment contract.
(D) Contracts under qualified plans
Except as provided in paragraph (8), this paragraph shall apply to any amount received—
(i) from a trust described in section 401(a) which is exempt from tax under section 501(a),
(ii) from a contract—
(I) purchased by a trust described in clause (i),
(II) purchased as part of a plan described in section 403(a),
(III) described in section 403(b), or
(IV) provided for employees of a life insurance company under a plan described in section 818(a)(3), or
(iii) from an individual retirement account or an individual retirement annuity.
Any dividend described in section 404(k) which is received by a participant or beneficiary shall, for purposes of this subparagraph, be treated as paid under a separate contract to which clause (ii)(I) applies.
(E) Full refunds, surrenders, redemptions, and maturities
This paragraph shall apply to—
(i) any amount received, whether in a single sum or otherwise, under a contract in full discharge of the obligation under the contract which is in the nature of a refund of the consideration paid for the contract, and
(ii) any amount received under a contract on its complete surrender, redemption, or maturity.
In the case of any amount to which the preceding sentence applies, the rule of paragraph (2)(A) shall not apply.
(6) Investment in the contract
For purposes of this subsection, the investment in the contract as of any date is—
(A) the aggregate amount of premiums or other consideration paid for the contract before such date, minus
(B) the aggregate amount received under the contract before such date, to the extent that such amount was excludable from gross income under this subtitle or prior income tax laws.
[(7) Repealed. Pub. L. 100–647, title I, §1011A(b)(9)(A), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3474]
(8) Extension of paragraph (2)(b) 1 to qualified plans
(A) In general
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, in the case of any amount received before the annuity starting date from a trust or contract described in paragraph (5)(D), paragraph (2)(B) shall apply to such amounts.
(B) Allocation of amount received
For purposes of paragraph (2)(B), the amount allocated to the investment in the contract shall be the portion of the amount described in subparagraph (A) which bears the same ratio to such amount as the investment in the contract bears to the account balance. The determination under the preceding sentence shall be made as of the time of the distribution or at such other time as the Secretary may prescribe.
(C) Treatment of forfeitable rights
If an employee does not have a nonforfeitable right to any amount under any trust or contract to which subparagraph (A) applies, such amount shall not be treated as part of the account balance.
(D) Investment in the contract before 1987
In the case of a plan which on May 5, 1986, permitted withdrawal of any employee contributions before separation from service, subparagraph (A) shall apply only to the extent that amounts received before the annuity starting date (when increased by amounts previously received under the contract after December 31, 1986) exceed the investment in the contract as of December 31, 1986.
(9) Extension of paragraph (2)(B) to qualified tuition programs and Coverdell education savings accounts
Notwithstanding any other provision of this subsection, paragraph (2)(B) shall apply to amounts received under a qualified tuition program (as defined in section 529(b)) or under a Coverdell education savings account (as defined in section 530(b)). The rule of paragraph (8)(B) shall apply for purposes of this paragraph.
(10) Treatment of modified endowment contracts
(A) In general
Notwithstanding paragraph (5)(C), in the case of any modified endowment contract (as defined in section 7702A)—
(i) paragraphs (2)(B) and (4)(A) shall apply, and
(ii) in applying paragraph (4)(A), “any person” shall be substituted for “an individual”.
(B) Treatment of certain burial contracts
Notwithstanding subparagraph (A), paragraph (4)(A) shall not apply to any assignment (or pledge) of a modified endowment contract if such assignment (or pledge) is solely to cover the payment of expenses referred to in section 7702(e)(2)(C)(iii) and if the maximum death benefit under such contract does not exceed $25,000.
(11) Special rules for certain combination contracts providing long-term care insurance
Notwithstanding paragraphs (2), (5)(C), and (10), in the case of any charge against the cash value of an annuity contract or the cash surrender value of a life insurance contract made as payment for coverage under a qualified long-term care insurance contract which is part of or a rider on such annuity or life insurance contract—
(A) the investment in the contract shall be reduced (but not below zero) by such charge, and
(B) such charge shall not be includible in gross income.
(12) Anti-abuse rules
(A) In general
For purposes of determining the amount includible in gross income under this subsection—
(i) all modified endowment contracts issued by the same company to the same policyholder during any calendar year shall be treated as 1 modified endowment contract, and
(ii) all annuity contracts issued by the same company to the same policyholder during any calendar year shall be treated as 1 annuity contract.
The preceding sentence shall not apply to any contract described in paragraph (5)(D).
(B) Regulatory authority
The Secretary may by regulations prescribe such additional rules as may be necessary or appropriate to prevent avoidance of the purposes of this subsection through serial purchases of contracts or otherwise.
(a) General rule
For purposes of this title, the term “life insurance contract” means any contract which is a life insurance contract under the applicable law, but only if such contract—
(1) meets the cash value accumulation test of subsection (b), or
(2)(A) meets the guideline premium requirements of subsection (c), and
(B) falls within the cash value corridor of subsection (d).
(b) Cash value accumulation test for subsection (a)(1)
(1) In general
A contract meets the cash value accumulation test of this subsection if, by the terms of the contract, the cash surrender value of such contract may not at any time exceed the net single premium which would have to be paid at such time to fund future benefits under the contract.
(2) Rules for applying paragraph (1)
Determinations under paragraph (1) shall be made—
(A) on the basis of interest at the greater of an annual effective rate of 4 percent or the rate or rates guaranteed on issuance of the contract,
(B) on the basis of the rules of subparagraph (B)(i) (and, in the case of qualified additional benefits, subparagraph (B)(ii)) of subsection (c)(3), and
(C) by taking into account under subparagraphs (A) and (D) of subsection (e)(1) only current and future death benefits and qualified additional benefits.
(c) Guideline premium requirements
For purposes of this section—
(1) In general
A contract meets the guideline premium requirements of this subsection if the sum of the premiums paid under such contract does not at any time exceed the guideline premium limitation as of such time.
(2) Guideline premium limitation
The term “guideline premium limitation” means, as of any date, the greater of—
(A) the guideline single premium, or
(B) the sum of the guideline level premiums to such date.
(3) Guideline single premium
(A) In general
The term “guideline single premium” means the premium at issue with respect to future benefits under the contract.
(B) Basis on which determination is made
The determination under subparagraph (A) shall be based on—
(i) reasonable mortality charges which meet the requirements (if any) prescribed in regulations and which (except as provided in regulations) do not exceed the mortality charges specified in the prevailing commissioners’ standard tables (as defined in section 807(d)(5)) as of the time the contract is issued,
(ii) any reasonable charges (other than mortality charges) which (on the basis of the company's experience, if any, with respect to similar contracts) are reasonably expected to be actually paid, and
(iii) interest at the greater of an annual effective rate of 6 percent or the rate or rates guaranteed on issuance of the contract.
(C) When determination made
Except as provided in subsection (f)(7), the determination under subparagraph (A) shall be made as of the time the contract is issued.
(D) Special rules for subparagraph (B)(ii)
(i) Charges not specified in the contract
If any charge is not specified in the contract, the amount taken into account under subparagraph (B)(ii) for such charge shall be zero.
(ii) New companies, etc.
If any company does not have adequate experience for purposes of the determination under subparagraph (B)(ii), to the extent provided in regulations, such determination shall be made on the basis of the industry-wide experience.
(4) Guideline level premium
The term “guideline level premium” means the level annual amount, payable over a period not ending before the insured attains age 95, computed on the same basis as the guideline single premium, except that paragraph (3)(B)(iii) shall be applied by substituting “4 percent” for “6 percent”.
(d) Cash value corridor for purposes of subsection (a)(2)(B)
For purposes of this section—
(1) In general
A contract falls within the cash value corridor of this subsection if the death benefit under the contract at any time is not less than the applicable percentage of the cash surrender value.
I'm going to stop here because there's a computational table and that won't copy/paste over well. If you're really that curious to read the table and continue, click the link above for 7702 in the U.S. Tax Code.