Source credit, amendments & notes
(Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 26; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–866, title I, §23(d), 72 Stat. 1622; Oct. 10, 1962, Pub. L. 87–792, §7(c), 76 Stat. 829; Mar. 8, 1966, Pub. L. 89–365, §1(c), 80 Stat. 32; Dec. 30, 1969, Pub. L. 91–172, title I, §101(j)(l), 83 Stat. 526; Sept. 2, 1974, Pub. L. 93–406, title II, §§2005(c)(15), 2007(b)(3), 88 Stat. 992, 994; Oct. 4, 1976, Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §§1901(a)(16), 1906(b)(13)(A), 90 Stat. 1765, 1834; Sept. 3, 1982, Pub. L. 97–248, title II, §§239, 266(a), (b), 96 Stat. 514, 547, 550; July 18, 1984, Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title II, §221(b)(2), title IV, §421(b)(2), title VII, §713(e), 98 Stat. 772, 794, 958; Oct. 22, 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, title X, §1001(a)–(c), 100 Stat. 2387.)
Amendments
1986—Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 99–514, §1001(a), amended second sentence generally, which prior to amendment read as follows: “There shall be excluded from the gross income of such beneficiary in the taxable year received—
“(A) any amount determined by such proration, and
“(B) in the case of the surviving spouse of the insured, that portion of the excess of the amounts received under one or more agreements specified in paragraph (2)(A) (whether or not payment of any part of such amounts is guaranteed by the insurer) over the amount determined in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph which is not greater than $1,000 with respect to any insured.”
Subsec. (d)(2)(B). Pub. L. 99–514, §1001(c)(2), substituted “equal” for “is equal” in introductory provisions.
Subsec. (d)(2)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 99–514, §1001(b), amended cl. (ii) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (ii) read as follows: “as discounted on the basis of the interest rate and mortality tables used by the insurer in calculating payments under the agreement.”
Subsec. (d)(3), (4). Pub. L. 99–514, §1001(c)(1), redesignated par. (4) as (3), and struck out former par. (3), “Surviving spouse”, which read as follows: “For purposes of this subsection, the term ‘surviving spouse’ means the spouse of the insured as of the date of death, including a spouse legally separated but not under a decree of absolute divorce.”
1984—Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 98–369, §713(e), amended subpar. (B) generally, substituting “certain distributions” for “certain lump sum distributions” in heading, substituting “amount paid or distributed” for “lump sum distribution described in the second sentence of paragraph (2)(B)” in introductory text and adding cls. (i) and (ii).
Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 98–369, §421(b)(2), repealed subsec. (e) relating to payments of alimony or of income of an estate or trust in case of divorce, etc.
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 98–369, §221(b)(2)(B), inserted “issued before January 1, 1985” in heading.
Subsec. (f)(1). Pub. L. 98–369, §221(b)(2)(A), inserted “issued before January 1, 1985” in introductory text.
1982—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 97–248, §266(b), substituted “, subsection (d), and subsection (f)” for “and in subsection (d)”.
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 97–248, §239, amended par. (3) generally, substituting “Treatment of self-employed individuals” for “Self-employed individual not considered an employee” in heading, designating existing provisions as subparagraph (A) and, as so designated, adding heading and exception for subpar. (B), and adding subparagraph (B).
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 97–248, §266(a), added subsec. (f).
1976—Subsec. (d)(1). Pub. L. 94–455, §1906(b)(13)(A), struck out “or his delegate” after “Secretary”.
Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 94–455, §1901(a)(16), struck out subsec. (f) relating to effective date of section.
1974—Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 93–406, §2005(c)(15), substituted “a lump sum distribution (as defined in section 402(e)(4)” for “total distributions payable (as defined in section 402(a)(3)) which are paid to a distributee within one taxable year of the distributee by reason of the employee's death”.
Subsec. (b)(2)(D). Pub. L. 93–406, §2007(b)(3), substituted “if the member or former member of the uniformed services by reason of whose death such annuity is payable” for “if the individual who made the election under such chapter”.
1969—Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 91–172 substituted references to section 170(b)(1)(A) (ii) and (vi), and to religious organizations, for references to section 503(b)(1), (2), or (3).
1966—Subsec. (b)(2)(D). Pub. L. 89–365 provided that par. (1) shall not apply in the case of an annuity under chapter 73 of title 10 if the individual who made the election under that chapter died after attaining retirement age.
1962—Subsec. (b)(2)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 87–792, §7(c)(1), substituted “described in section 403(a)” for “which meets the requirements of paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6) of section 401(a)”.
Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 87–792, §7(c)(2), added par. (3).
1958—Subsec. (b)(2)(B). Pub. L. 85–866 substituted “This subparagraph shall not apply to total distributions payable (as defined in section 402(a)(3) which are paid to a distributee within one taxable year of the distributee by reason of the employee's death—” for “(other than total distributions payable, as defined in section 402(a)(3), which are paid to distributee, by a stock bonus, pension, or profit-sharing trust described in section 401(a) which is exempt from tax under section 501(a), or under an annuity contract under a plan which meets the requirements of paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6) of section 401(a), within one taxable year of the distributee by reason of the employee's death)”, and added cls. (i), (ii), and (iii).
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Section 1001(d) of Pub. L. 99–514 provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to amounts received with respect to deaths occurring after the date of the enactment of this section [Oct. 22, 1986] in taxable years ending after such date.”
Effective Date of 1984 Amendment
Amendment by section 221(b)(2) of Pub. L. 98–369 effective Jan. 1, 1984, see section 221(d)(4) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as an Effective Date note under section 7702 of this title.
Amendment by section 421(b)(2) of Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to transfers after July 18, 1984, in taxable years ending after such date, subject to election to have repeal apply to transfers after 1983 or to transfers pursuant to existing decrees, see section 421(d) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as an Effective Date note under section 1041 of this title.
Amendment by section 713 of Pub. L. 98–369 effective as if included in the provision of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982, Pub. L. 97–248, to which such amendment relates, see section 715 of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 31 of this title.
Effective Date of 1982 Amendments
Section 266(c)(1) of Pub. L. 97–248, as amended by Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title II, §221(b)(1), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 772, provided that: “The amendments made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to contracts entered into before January 1, 1985.”
Amendment by section 239 of Pub. L. 97–248 applicable to decedents dying after Dec. 31, 1983, see section 241(b) of Pub. L. 97–248, set out as an Effective Date note under section 416 of this title. Such amendment is applicable, in the case of amounts received under the plan of an S corporation, with respect to decedents dying after Dec. 31, 1982, notwithstanding section 241(b) of Pub. L. 97–248, see section 6(b)(2) of Pub. L. 97–354, Oct. 19, 1982, 96 Stat. 1697, set out as a note under section 1361 of this title.
Effective Date of 1976 Amendment
Amendment by section 1901(a)(16) of Pub. L. 94–455 applicable with respect to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1976, see section 1901(d) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 2 of this title.
Amendment by section 1906(b)(13)(A) of Pub. L. 94–455 effective Feb. 1, 1977, see section 1906(d)(1) of Pub. L. 94–455, set out as a note under section 6013 of this title.
Effective Date of 1974 Amendment
Amendment by section 2005(c)(15) of Pub. L. 93–406 applicable only with respect to distributions and payments made after Dec. 31, 1973, in taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1973, see section 2005(d) of Pub. L. 93–406, set out as a note under section 402 of this title.
Amendment by section 2007(b)(3) of Pub. L. 93–406 applicable to taxable years ending on or after Sept. 21, 1972, with respect to individuals dying on or after Sept. 21, 1972, see section 2007(c) of Pub. L. 93–406, set out as a note under section 122 of this title.
Effective Date of 1969 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 91–172 effective Jan. 1, 1970, see section 101(k)(1) of Pub. L. 91–172, set out as an Effective Date note under section 4940 of this title.
Effective Date of 1966 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 89–365 applicable with respect to individuals making an election under chapter 73 of Title 10 who died after Dec. 31, 1965, see section 1(d) of Pub. L. 89–365, set out as an Effective Date note under section 122 of this title.
Effective Date of 1962 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 87–792 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1962, see section 8 of Pub. L. 87–792, set out as a note under section 22 of this title.
Effective Date of 1958 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 85–866 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1957, see section 23(g) of Pub. L. 85–866, set out as a note under section 403 of this title.
Flexible Premium Contracts Issued During 1984 Which Meet Requirements of Section 7702 Treated as Meeting Requirements of Section 101(f)
Flexible premium contracts issued during 1984 which meet requirements of section 7702 of this title treated as meeting requirements of subsec. (f) of this section, see section 221(b)(3) of Pub. L. 98–369, as added by Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 7702 of this title.
Special Rules for Contracts Entered Into Before January 1, 1983
Section 266(c)(2), (3) of Pub. L. 97–248, as amended by Pub. L. 97–448, title III, §306(a)(13), Jan. 12, 1983, 96 Stat. 2405; Pub. L. 99–514, §2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that:
“(2) Special rule for contracts entered into before january 1, 1983.—Any contract entered into before January 1, 1983, which meets the requirements of section 101(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] on the date which is 1 year after the date of the enactment of this Act [Sept. 3, 1982] shall be treated as meeting the requirements of such section for any period before the date on which such contract meets such requirements. Any death benefits paid under a flexible premium life insurance contract (within the meaning of section 101(f)(3)(A) of such Code) before the date which is 1 year after such date of enactment [Sept. 3, 1982] shall be excluded from gross income.
“(3) Special rule for certain contracts.—Any contract entered into before January 1, 1983, shall be treated as meeting the requirements of subparagraph (A) of section 101(f)(1) of such Code if such contract would meet such requirements if section 101(f)(2)(C) of such Code were applied by substituting ‘3 percent’ for ‘4 percent’.”
Cross References
Basis rules of general application, see section 1011 et seq. of this title.
Credit for the elderly, prohibition against reduction for exclusion from gross income of life insurance proceeds, see section 22 of this title.
Employee defined, see section 7701 of this title.
Rules and regulations, see section 7805 of this title.
I.R.C. § 101 — Certain death benefits · USC 1994 ed., current through 1995-01-04 · https://pensionresource.website/EAMain?content=EAMain.Law&id=irc-101&asof=1973-06-26 · printed Oct 16, 2026