Life insurance policies I cashed in

[patany]

I cashed in 3 life insurance policies that I had paid for 34 years. The insurance company sent me a 1099-R form indicating that the code wasD-7(annuity). They said the money I received was fully taxable. I have tried to contact them and they have not returned my calls. I feel that I should be able to deduct the premiums I paid for 34 years from the proceeds I received . Is there a form I can fill out showing the premiums I paid and the money I received and subtract that amount from the proceeds?

Thanks for any help you can give me. Also how can i prove that the insurance company made a mistake on the 1099-R form when they won't call me back.

[RobertB4444 · Accepted solution]

WHen you cash in a life insurance policy the amount of premiums that you paid in are not taxable.  The insurance company will often put the full amount as taxable in box 2 of the 1099-R but then check the "taxable amount not determined" box because they don't want to do the math.  

So you should document the premiums that you paid for the policies and add them up.  When you enter the 1099-R in TurboTax enter the Box 1 and Box 2 amounts exactly as they are on the form.  Check the 'taxable amount not determined' box even if they didn't.  

When you're going through the steps after entering the form you will tell the system that 'a different amount is taxable.'  Since this is likely a non-qualified plan you will use the General rule to figure out what portion is taxable.  That just means adding up the premiums that you paid, deducting it from the total that you received and entering the amount that remains as the taxable gain on the policy.

Then you need to save your records.  Be sure that if the IRS has any questions that you are prepared to prove that you paid those premiums and owned that policy.

@patany 

[patany]

What form do I use to report money received from cashed in life insurance policy? I need to subtract the amount of premiums I paid from the amount the insurance company reported to IRS. Do I also subtract the premiums paid on schedule a of my taxes?

Thanks 

[SusanY1]

You should receive a 1099-R (or other tax document) from the life insurance company that will show your taxable and non-taxable portions of the cash surrender.  

If you have not received this document, reach out to the insurance company to request it.  

Once you have it, enter it into the area of TurboTax that corresponds with the form you receive.