How is return of premium taxed?

Asked by: Keith Simonis V  |  Last update: September 11, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (13 votes)

Return of premium (ROP) is a type of term life insurance that is about 30% more expensive than a term life policy, but it comes with a feature that some people bet on: If you outlive your term, all the premiums paid throughout the life of the policy are refunded to you, tax-free.

Is a return of premium taxable?

The payout from a return of premium rider is tax-free because it is considered a return of principal.

What are the disadvantages of return of premium?

Cons
  • Higher premiums: You'll pay a decent amount more than with traditional term coverage. ...
  • No refund for riders or extras: The fine print matters here. ...
  • No refunds for term life cancelations: If you cancel your policy or miss payments, that refund guarantee is gone.

Are health insurance premium refunds taxable?

For individual market consumers who purchased their coverage with after‐tax dollars, a rebate is not taxable income. However, if an individual deducted the prior year's premium payments on their Form 1040 Schedule A, then their MLR rebate is subject to federal income tax.

Is return of premium long term care taxable?

Return of Premium

The refund is included in the beneficiary's gross income and is taxable, to the extent it was either excluded from the owner's income or deducted by the owner. It must be included as income in the year it is received.

How to Make Your Health Insurance Premiums Tax Deductible

45 related questions found

What does return of premium mean in long-term care insurance?

Return of premium life insurance is a type of term life insurance that allows you to collect your premium payments if you outlive your selected term. 1. To make this possible, this insurance plan can be more expensive.

Is the return of premium disability insurance taxable?

You typically have to report disability benefit income on your tax return, but if the premiums were paid for with after-tax dollars, then you should not owe federal tax on that money. If premiums were paid by your employer, then your benefit income will be taxable.

Is a return premium a refund?

Return premium, a term commonly used in the insurance industry, refers to the amount of money refunded to a policyholder when certain conditions result in the policyholder overpaying for insurance coverage.

How can I avoid paying back my premium tax credit?

Report any changes in your income during the year to the Marketplace, so your credit can be adjusted and you can avoid any significant repayments at the end of the year.

How do health insurance premiums affect taxes?

If you enroll in a medical plan that requires you to pay a premium, you'll be automatically enrolled for pretax deduction of your premium costs from your paycheck. This reduces your taxable income and increases your take-home pay.

How do insurance companies make money on return of premium?

The insurance company underwrites a policy, stipulating the covered risks and conditions for paying for an insurance claim. In return, the insurer earns revenue by charging an annual or monthly premium to the individual or business. Many insurance companies invest the premiums in interest-generating assets.

Can you borrow against return of premium life insurance?

Return of premium insurance builds cash value, which you can borrow against during the level premium period. You can continue your coverage beyond the level premium period on an annually renewable basis to age 95.

Do you get money back if you outlive term life insurance?

Can you get your money back after your term life policy expires? Once your policy ends, you can't get back the premiums you paid unless you have a return of premium rider. This optional add-on lets you receive a refund of premiums if you outlive your policy term.

Are returns of premium policies worth it?

Bottom line. A return of premium policy mitigates the risk of life insurance by returning your payments if you outlive the term. In most cases, however, you'd be better off putting the extra money you'd spend in a savings or investment vehicle, where it could grow over the term of the policy.

Do insurance refunds count as income?

Share: Your insurance claim income is probably not taxable. If there's nothing to indicate what the payment is for, it's likely that it's meant to cover medical expenses and “pain and suffering.” If this is the case, you don't have to include the amount in your income.

Do insurance companies report claims to the IRS?

Generally, insurance companies will only be required to file Form 8300, Report of Cash Payments Over $10,000 Received in a Trade or Business, to report cash received as payment for insurance products if the cash received is in the form of currency (U.S. and foreign coin and paper money) in excess of $10,000.

What happens if I don't report my 1095-A?

You can use Form 1095-A to reconcile any advance premium tax credits you received during the year with the amount of credits you were eligible to receive. If you fail to file a tax return reconciling those payments, you will not be eligible for premium tax subsidies in the next year.

What happens if I overestimate my income for marketplace insurance?

If you overestimate your income and end up claiming less help than you are entitled to, the difference will be refunded to you when you file your income taxes the following year.

How does the premium tax credit affect my tax return?

Claiming a net PTC will lower the amount of tax you owe or increase your refund to the extent it is more than the amount of tax you owe. See the Coronavirus tax relief section on this page for information specific to tax year 2020.

How does return of premium work?

A return of premium rider refunds all base policy paid premiums if you outlive your term policy. It adds an extra cost to your premium but is a form of savings or investment. Eligibility for a return of premium rider depends on factors such as age, health, lifestyle, and policy terms.

How do you calculate return premium?

The return premium is calculated by calculating the unearned premium and then subtracting any unpaid premium and penalty for early cancelation. Short rate (old short rate) and short rate (90% pro rata) are penalty methods of calculating the return premium.

What does due a return premium mean?

Return premium is the amount due the insured if the actual cost of a policy is less than what the insured has previously paid.

How is disability back pay taxed?

If you only receive SSI, your back pay is not taxable. If you receive SSDI, your back pay is taxable. This means a large lump sum back payment can cause concern for tax liability. Fortunately, the IRS allows you to assign back pay benefits to the year they should have been received.

Is insurance premium reimbursement taxable income?

When an HRA complies with federal rules, employers can reimburse medical expenses, such as health insurance premiums, with money free of payroll taxes for both the employer and employee. An HRA is also free of income tax for the employee.

Is cashing in an insurance policy taxable?

Cashing out your policy

You're able to withdraw up to the amount of the total premiums you've paid into the policy without paying taxes. But if you withdraw on any gains, such as dividends, you can expect them to be taxed as ordinary income.