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Test your knowledge - DFSIN - SFL

Test your knowledge

You have a $100,000 life insurance policy for which you pay $400 in annual premiums. You modify it to designate a charitable organization as the beneficiary, but you remain the policy owner. How much will you be able to claim as a tax credit? 

April 03, 2025

Answer: $0 

You can only receive a tax credit for transferring a policy or paying the premiums if the charitable organization becomes the policy’s owner and irrevocable beneficiary. Here, since you remain the owner and the beneficiary designation is revocable, a charitable tax receipt will only be issued upon payment of the death benefit. Your estate will be able to use the receipt to claim a tax credit at that time. 

Read this article to learn more about donating life insurance. 

The following sources were used to prepare this article: 

Centraide, “Gifts of Life Insurance  , You will be redirected to an external website..” 

Chaire de recherche en fiscalité et en finances publiques de l’École de gestion de l’Université de Sherbrooke, “Crédit d’impôt pour dons  , You will be redirected to an external website..” 

Canadian Red Cross, “Gift of Life Insurance  , You will be redirected to an external website..” 

HEC Montréal, “Gifts of Life Insurance  , You will be redirected to an external website..” 

SFL, “Donations after death: an important tool for charitable organizations… and for you.”