Taxable Life Insurance Dividends

May 18, 2008 7 Replies

A letter from a major life insurance company begins with (their words) "Good news", and goes on to explain that a very old whole life policy has reached the point where the total dividends received have equaled all of the premiums paid.



The "good news" continues with the explanation that the above means that $600+ of this year's $1100+ dividend will be taxable income. (The tax can be deferred by purchasing additional paid up insurance, which I choose to not do.)



The question is: Is this Line 21 Other Income? If not, where is it entered on Form 1040?



Thank you.



Bill


It just occurred to my tired brain that, as it is a DIVIDEND, Schedule B might be a another possibility. I suppose it would be too much to expect that it would be a "qualified" dividend.

What say thee?

William Brenner wrote in news:MWNXj.35707$ snipped-for-privacy@bignews1.bellsouth.net:

Wait or ask for a 1099?

I was just about to respond with that very same opinion, except I wasn't sure of the "qualified" issue -- and would suggest you either contact the company, or perhaps await the formal 1099-DIV, which will undoubtedly be coming.

Bill

"William Brenner" wrote

snip

Pub. 17 (2007), page 64 and the 1040 instructions for Line

21 say Line 21.

Line 21. Despite what the insurance company calls the payment it is not a dividend for federal tax purposes.

Why isn't it considered a refund?

Stu

Because it's in excess of the total paid.

If you buy something from a store for $20, with a $10 discount (so you pay $10) and a $15 mail-in rebate, you have to report the $5 net you receive as taxable income.

Seth

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