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Updated on Apr 08, 2025 6 min read
What are the Life Insurance Tax Benefits?
The premiums paid for life insurance policies are eligible for tax deductions and tax exemptions under Section 80 (C), 80 (D), and 10 (10D) Income Tax Act, 1961. Investing in a life insurance policy is the first step towards financial freedom. Life insurance policies offer dual benefits of financial security to your loved ones and tax benefits on the premiums paid by the policyholder.
In this article, we will look at how much tax benefits are offered on life insurance policies in detail.
What are the Tax Benefits Under Life Insurance Policies?
You can save the income tax on the life insurance policies under various life insurance tax benefits section:
Tax Deductions Under Section 80 (C)
Under Section 80 (C) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 the premiums paid for your life insurance policies are eligible for tax deductions. You can claim a maximum deduction of Rs 1.5 lakhs per year for the premiums paid for life insurance. The benefits are applicable if you pay premiums for yourself, your spouse, or your children. The deductions are also applicable for the premiums paid for term insurance plans. If you want to avail of tax benefits under Section 80 (C) you must hold the policy for at least 2 years otherwise no benefits will be offered.
Tax Deductions Under Section 80 (D)
Some life insurance policies offer health benefit riders. In case you have opted for any such rider, the premiums paid for that rider are eligible for tax deduction under Section 80 (D) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The premium paid for critical illness rider is also eligible for tax deductions under this section.
Tax Exemptions Under Section 10 (10D)
Under Section 10 (10D) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 the death benefits or maturity benefits received from life insurance policies are tax-free. Although there are some terms and conditions that you have to follow.
Tax Exemptions Under Section 80 CCC
This section provides tax exemptions on the premiums paid towards a pension or a retirement plan. The maximum tax deduction you can avail of in a particular year is Rs 1.5 lakhs.
New Income Tax Slabs
Under Union Budget 2025, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has announced new income tax slab rates for FY 2025-26.
Income (in Rs)
Tax Rate (in %)
Rs 0 to 4 lakhs
0
Rs 4 lakhs to Rs 8 lakhs
5
Rs 8 lakhs to Rs 12 lakhs
10
Rs 12 to Rs 16 lakhs
15
Rs 16 to Rs 20 lakhs
20
Rs 20 lakhs to Rs 24 lakhs
25
Rs 24 lakhs and above
30
Individuals earning up to Rs 12 lakhs are exempted from paying income tax. You can claim tax benefits on the premiums paid for your life insurance policy.
How to Get Tax Benefits Under Life Insurance Policies?
You can avail tax benefits under life insurance policies at various stages. Let’s understand how tax benefits apply to life insurance policies.
Buying Stage
You can avail tax deductions for premium payment under Section 80 (C) for life insurance, Section 80 (D) for riders, and Section 10 (10D) for pension plans.
Earning Stage
Your investment in life insurance policies will provide you income over time which is tax-free.
Switching Stage
You may want to switch across debt, equity, or any other instrument that is completely tax-free as of now.
Exit Stage
When you take exit from your life insurance policy, the benefits paid are tax-free under Section 10 (10D). Moreover, death benefits paid to the nominee in case of the policyholder’s death during the policy tenure are also tax-free.
pert Insights
In Union Budget 2025, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that ULIPs with annual premiums greater than Rs 2.5 lakhs are treated as capital assets and subjected to capital gains. The tax exemption for ULIPs with annual premiums less than Rs 2.5 lakhs is applicable under Section 10 (10D) of the Income Tax Act, 1961.
What are the Tax Benefits Applicable to Life Insurance Riders?
You can choose add-ons or additional riders with your life insurance policy to enhance your policy coverage. These riders offer benefits in specific conditions. There are various rider options available to choose from including accidental death benefit rider, waiver of premium rider, critical illness rider, accidental disability rider, etc. Every rider costs you a certain premium amount.
Here are the applicable tax benefits on rider premium payments:
If you buy a health-related rider like a critical illness rider, you can avail of tax benefits under Section 80 (D). The maximum deduction you can avail is Rs 25,000 per year and for a senior citizen, it is Rs 50,000.
If you buy non-health related riders like accidental death benefit rider or waiver of premium rider, you can avail of tax deductions under Section 80 (C) of the Income Tax Act, 1961. The maximum total deduction you can avail of is Rs 1.5 lakhs.
What is the TDS Rate on Life Insurance Payout?
Earlier there was a 5% TDS on the life insurance payout greater than Rs 1 lakh. If you have bought a life insurance policy with annual premiums of Rs 50,000 for 10 years. The maturity amount received is Rs 10 lakhs.
As per Union Budget 2024, announced by FM Nirmala Sitharaman the TDS received from life insurance policies has been reduced from 5% to 2%. The policyholder will now receive a higher payout. For the above policy:
Life insurance tax benefits can be claimed by individual taxpayers, members of Hindu Undivided Family (HUF), and NRIs.
You can claim tax benefits under life insurance policies if you pay premiums for yourself, spouse, parents, dependent child, etc.
If you have purchased the term life insurance policy on or after April 1, 2012, the total premium amount paid should not increase above 10% of the sum assured.
Conclusion
Life insurance is an ideal way to secure your family’s financial future. The government offers various tax benefits to promote the sale of life insurance policies. The tax benefits are applicable under Section 80 (C), Section 80 (D), Section 10 (10D), and Section 80 CCC of the Income Tax Act, 1961. Before buying a life insurance plan you should compare them on various parameters including CSR, solvency ratio, market reputation of the insurer, etc on the PolicyX.com premium calculator. If you are still confused about which life insurance policy is best then you can contact us at PolicyX.com. We offer No Spam, No Gimmicks, and Only Expert Insurance Advice.
Life Insurance Companies
Compare and buy the most suitable Life Insurance Plan from the below-mentioned IRDAI-approved Life Insurance companies.
Himanshu is a seasoned content writer specializing in keeping readers engaged with the insurance industry, term and life insurance developments, etc. With an experience of 2 years in insurance and HR tech, Himanshu simplifies the insurance information and it is completely visible in his content pieces. He believes in making the content understandable to any common man.
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