In Key Employee Life insurance policies, why does the IRS seek to avoid double taxation?

In the context of Key Employee Life insurance policies, the focus on avoiding double taxation is closely tied to the tax implications of premiums and benefits associated with those policies. When a business takes out a life insurance policy on a key employee, it pays premiums to maintain that policy. If the key employee passes away, the business receives the death benefit, which is typically not subject to income tax.

The IRS's avoidance of double taxation in this scenario means that the premiums paid are not deductible as business expenses, preventing the loss that could come from taxing both the premium payments and the eventual tax-free benefits received. Essentially, the IRS’s tax structure aims to ensure that businesses can benefit from insurance coverage without facing an excessive tax burden that could deter investment in such financial protections.

This careful balance helps to promote the use of life insurance as a business strategy while simplifying tax implications for businesses, allowing them to manage their financial planning more effectively without the fear of being taxed twice on a single financial transaction.