Life insurance

[meczcan]

I was requested to file a tax return for 2016.  I did complete a return.  However I have a statement from a life insurance co.  I don't know where to put the information.  Are benefits from life insurance taxable?  If they are where do I report the amount of income?

[macuser_22]

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@meczcan wrote:

 Are benefits from life insurance taxable?  If they are where do I report the amount of income?

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They can be.  If so, it would be reported to you on a 1099-R.Enter a 1099-R here:

Federal Taxes,
Wages & Income
(I'll choose what I work on - if that screen comes up)
Retirement Plans & Social Security,
IRA, 401(k), Pension Plan Withdrawals (1099-R).

OR  Use the "Tools" menu (if online version left side) and then "Search Topics" for "1099-R" which will take you to the same place.

Be sure to choose which spouse the 1099-R is for if this is a joint tax return.
Be sure to pick the correct 1099-R type: Standard 1099-R, CSA-1099-R, CSF-1099-R, RRB-1099-R.

[NOTE: When you get to the "Your 1099-R Entries" screen where you can add another 1099-R, use "continue" to keep going as there are additional interview questions after that screen in most cases. You can always return as shown above.]

[Carl]

I was requested to file a tax return for 2016.

Just curious here. Who or what entity "requested" you to file a tax return for 2016?

I did complete a return.

When did you complete it? In 2017 before the Apr 15 2017 filing deadline for 2016 taxes? When you completed it, did you also file it before that filing deadline?

However I have a statement from a life insurance co. I don't know where to put the information.

What are you calling a statement? When did you get this statement? I ask, because it makes no sense for a "anyone" to send you "any" type of tax reporting document, three years after that tax year's filing deadline has passed. Did you receive something like an IRS Form 1099-R or some other type of official tax reporting document? It is possible you have something that indicates it's "in lieu of" an actual tax reporting document? Does the document clearly and specifically identify what tax year it pertains to?

Are benefits from life insurance taxable?

It depends on quite a number of factors. Did you have a type of life insurance policy commonly referred to as a "whole life" policy, that you were the owner of that policy? If so, did you "cash in" that policy? If so, in what tax year did you "actually" cash it in and receive the cash for it?

I'm asking all these questions because something just doesn't quite sound right here. For starters, it makes no sense (when it comes to life insurance) that you would be bringing this up now, three years later. It makes me wonder if you're getting scammed maybe.