Table of Contents

Incidents of Ownership: What it Means, How it Works

By

澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Julia Kagan

Updated January 09, 2023

Reviewed by

Thomas J. Catalano

Fact checked by

Suzanne Kvilhaug

Definition

Incidents of ownership are the rights of a life insurance policyholder to change beneficiaries, borrow from the policy’s cash value, or modify the policy.

What Are Incidents of Ownership?

A person (including a trustee) has incidents of ownership if they have the right to change beneficiaries on a life insurance policy, to borrow from the cash value, or to change or modify the policy in any manner. This occurs even if the person chooses not to act on it and even if they don't borrow from the policy. Simply the ability to do so gives the insured person incidents of ownership.

Key Takeaways

The term "incidents of ownership" refers to the rights of a person or trustee to change the beneficiaries on a life insurance policy, borrow from the cash component, or alter the policy in some way.
The question of incidents of ownership comes up in terms of tax responsibility when a person gifts a life insurance policy to another person or entity.
When such a transference is made, the person making the gift must give up all legal rights to the policy and not pay any premiums.
Different kinds of life insurance policies have specific requirements regarding incidents of ownership.

Understanding Incidents of Ownership

At times, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will look for any incidents of ownership by a person who gifts a life insurance policy to another person or entity. When transferring a policy, the original owner must forfeit al🅺l legal rights and must not pay the premiums to keep the policy in force.

Also, upon completion of the transfer, if the insured or transferor dies within three years of the date from which the policy was transferred, the life insurance proceeds will be included in the gross value of the original owner's estate (called the three-year rule).

Incidents of Owne📖rsh꧒ip and a Primer on Life Insurance Policies

Stepping back, 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:life insurance policies are numerous, and all have a range of unique features, such as incidents of ownership. Major types of life insurance policies incl🎃ude whole life, term life, universal life, and variable universal life (VUL) policies.

澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Whole life, one of the most common types of life insurance, guarantees coverage for the insured's entire life and includes a death benefit and savings component where cash value may accumulate. 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Term life only guarantees payment of a death benefit during a specified term. A policyholder may have several options when the term ex🅘pires, including renewing for another term, converting to permanent coverage, or letting the policy terminate complete꧂ly.

澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:Universal life (UL) is a typ൲e of permanent life insurance that adds a savings element that grows o✱ver time, combined with flexible premiums.

Finally, 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:variable universal life (VUL) has a built-in savings component that allows for the investment of the cash value into sub-accounts. Similar to 澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果体彩网:mutual funds, these sub-accounts enable plan participants to select options with varying m𝓡arket and risk exposure. While VULs can generate significant returns, as with any investment, they can also result in substantial losses.

Incidents of Ownership and Gift Taxes

Gift tax regulations can be complex and change regularly. It is always best to check with your respective tax authorities if you have given anyone a gift, including a life insurance policy valued at more than $17,000.

When Is It Important to Know About Incidents of Ownership?

The issue is relevant when someone gifts a life insurance policy and tax responsibility must be decided. When such a transference is made, the person making the gift must give up all legal rights to the policy and not pay any premiums.

What Are the Key Points Regarding Different Insurers and Incidents of Ownership?

Different kinds of life insurance policies have specific requirements regarding incidents of ownership. Remember, the term refers to the rights of a person or trustee to change the beneficiaries on a life insurance policy, borrow from the cash component, or alter the policy somehow.

What Rights Describe Incidents of Ownership?

Often associated with insurance policies, incidents of ow♋nership describes the rights of the policy owner to change the named bene🍒ficiaries on the policy. It also grants certain other rights, such as the right to pledge the policy for a loan, assign it to a new owner, or surrender the policy to receive any cash value it may contain.

Article Sources

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Cornell Law School. "."
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