Term insurance policy. Tax and qualifying life insurance products - Money Advice Service

If you’ve used up your ISA allowance and you’re looking for other tax-efficient savings and investment options, life insurance is something you should look into. There are policy options that do more than just pay out when you die. You can use them as tax-efficient places to store and grow your money. Life assurance products.

Life insurance as an investment

Some life insurance products are designed to be an investment, as well as a form of protection.

These are called endowments or investment plans (if you pay regular premiums) or investment bonds or single premium bonds (if you pay in one or more lump sums).

Tax on life insurance investments

All types of life insurance have complex tax rules, but if you’re using one as an investment the most important question to ask is whether yours is a qualifying policy.

What is a qualifying life insurance policy?

The qualifying rules vary slightly according to the type of policy and are quite complex.

Further information on qualifying policy conditions can be found on the HMRC website opens in new window.

Life insurance through company

The tax advantages of a qualifying policy

Generally speaking, any gain on a qualifying policy is not taxable.

A gain on a non-qualifying policy could be subject to higher and additional rates of Income Tax.

The calculation of any gain is based on the surrender or maturity value of the policy.

So qualifying status is relevant for policies that can acquire a surrender or maturity value.

The use of qualifying status was primarily to take advantage of the tax benefits of the qualifying policy rules.

Business life insurance

But the introduction of the £3,600 premium limit for qualifying policies, effective from 6 April 2013, saw most providers withdraw them from the market.

Fees and costs

Like most investment packages, life insurance policy investments come with management fees, investment fees and other costs.

If fees and charges are too high they can outweigh any tax advantages, so always check what these are and shop around before you invest.

Non-qualifying life insurance policies

Non-qualifying life insurance policies can also have tax advantages.

In each year before the policy matures you can withdraw up to 5% of the amount you invested without triggering an immediate tax liability.

Variable life insurance

This permits interim tax-free enjoyment of any growth in the value of the policy.

This is because any Income Tax due only arises as and when the policy matures or is surrendered.

Tax on such withdrawals is only paid at the end of the policy.