GROUP TERM LIFE INSURANCE

GROUP TERM LIFE INSURANCE IMPUTED INCOME 

 

Employer-Paid

Internal Revenue Code Section 79 permits an employee to receive up to $50,000 of group term basic life insurance on a tax-free basis. The value amount over $50,000 must be added to the individual’s taxable income (certain exceptions apply in the case of a discriminatory life plan or if life insurance is provided through a cafeteria plan).

 

In addition, the cost of employer-paid group term life insurance on an employee’s spouse and/or dependents is not taxable to the employee if the face amount of the coverage does not exceed $2,000. If the $2,000 limit is exceeded, all dependent life insurance, including the first $2,000 of coverage, is taxable. The Uniform Premium Table (Table 1) rates below—using the dependent’s age to select the applicable rate—must be used in calculating the amount to impute to the employee’s gross income. 

 

Employee-Paid

Imputed income rules also may apply to voluntary or optional life insurance if the employee-paid rates “straddle” the Table 1 rates. If all rate tiers are neither completely over nor completely under Table 1, then you must impute income for the value of the coverage for rate tiers that fall below Table 1. Your organization will need to review your voluntary life age bands to determine whether you need to calculate imputed income for certain employees.

 

All Plans

Plan sponsors should determine the amount of imputed income for group term life plan participants and report this information to the payroll administrator to ensure that the imputed income amount is reported on employees’ W-2 forms which are due by January 31. Plan sponsors may wish to include the imputed income in the employees’ last paycheck(s) of the year as the imputed income is also subject to Social Security taxes. 

 

The government’s Table 1 (see table below) is used to determine the tax reportable cost of the extra protection. Reg.Sec.1.79-3(d)(2). 


Print Friendly and PDF

Other related content...


Group Term Life Insurance Imputed Income

Internal Revenue Code Section 79 permits an employee to receive up to $50,000 of group term basic life insurance on a tax-free basis. The value amount over $50,000 must be added to the individual’s taxable income.

 Read More
Medicare Prescription Drug Act

Group health plans must provide notice to Medicare-eligible participants advising whether prescription drug coverage provided under the plan is “creditable” or “non-creditable”.

 Read More
Disability Benefit Taxation

Employees who receive disability benefits (long-term or short-term) may be taxed on these benefits based on how the premiums are paid.

 Read More
Cafeteria Plan Nondiscrimination Requirements

Cafeteria plans must meet certain nondiscrimination requirements to ensure highly compensated key employees do not receive a disproportionate amount of tax-advantaged benefit.

 Read More
Annual Reporting Requirements

Welfare benefit plans that have 100 or more participants enrolled on the first day of the plan year are required to file a Form 5500s (and attachments) each year.

 Read More