COLI/BOLI - Death Benefit Receipt (Tax-Free Insurance Proceeds)
Recording the receipt of COLI/BOLI death benefit proceeds upon an insured employee's death, recognizing the gain over carrying value (CSV) as tax-exempt income under IRC Section 101(a).
| Account Name | Type | Debit ($) | Credit ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cash & Cash Equivalents (Death Benefit Received) | Asset (+) | 2,500,000.00 | - |
| COLI - Cash Surrender Value (Policy Removed) | Asset (-) | - | 1,850,000.00 |
| Gain on COLI Death Benefit (Non-Taxable - IRC 101(a)) | Income (+) | - | 650,000.00 |
💡 Accountant's Note
Upon an insured employee's death, the corporation receives the death benefit tax-free (IRC Section 101(a) — assuming 101(j) notice/consent was obtained). The gain is the death benefit minus the policy's CSV at date of death. The gain is permanent (not subject to deferred tax) — it creates a favorable book/tax difference (tax-exempt income). Some companies use COLI proceeds to fund the payment of the insured's NQDC or SERP benefit — the timing match makes COLI an effective hedge for these obligations. The proceeds are unrestricted — the corporation is under no legal obligation to pay them to the executive's family.
Practitioner & Systems Framework
💻 ERP Architecture
The COLI gain is a permanent difference for tax purposes — no deferred tax liability is recognized on the gain. For effective tax rate (ETR) analysis, COLI death benefits reduce the ETR and are disclosed as a reconciling item in the income tax footnote. Companies with large insured populations have regular annual COLI income from mortality experience. The CSV is removed from the balance sheet and the gain is recognized in the period the claim is paid.
⚠️ Audit Flags
Auditors verify the death benefit amount from the insurance carrier's claim payment documentation. IRC Section 101(j) compliance is tested — if consent was not obtained, the death benefit above the premiums paid is taxable. The ETR reconciliation must include COLI death benefits as a permanent difference reducing the effective rate.
📄 Required Documentation
Death certificate, insurance claim payment confirmation, policy CSV at death date, gain calculation (benefit received − CSV), IRC Section 101(a) tax-exempt income analysis, IRC Section 101(j) compliance documentation for the specific insured, ETR reconciliation update.
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