706 Sch. D

Insurance on the Decedent's Life

Agency
IRS
Revision
August 2025
Fillable fields
233
Pages
2
Official source
IRS form page
Checked
October 21, 2026
Fill 706 Sch. D online
Page 1 of form 706 Sch. D

Schedule D (Form 706): Insurance on the Decedent's Life

Schedule D (Form 706), Insurance on the Decedent's Life, is a two-page schedule attached to Form 706, the United States Estate (and Generation-Skipping Transfer) Tax Return. The IRS About page says that if there was any insurance on the decedent's life, whether or not included in the gross estate, this schedule is used to report every insurance policy.

The executor of a decedent's estate files Form 706. The schedule says all policies on the life of the decedent are listed and a Form 712 is attached for each policy. The instructions say Form 712, Life Insurance Statement, is requested from the company that issued the policy.

The line 4 total is entered on Form 706, Part V, item 4. You can fill out Schedule D free in your browser on this page and download it without an account.

What's on Schedule D (Form 706)

Decedent's name and SSN

The decedent's name as it appears on Form 706 and the decedent's Social Security number.

Notes at the top

The schedule says to list all policies on the decedent's life with a Form 712 for each, to use Schedule W (Form 706) for more space, and gives a note for estates filing only to elect portability.

Line 1: the policy table

Five columns: (i) item number, (ii) description, (iii) alternate valuation date, (iv) alternate value and (v) value at date of death. The table continues on page 2.

Line 2: column total

The sum of all amounts in column (iv) or column (v), as applicable.

Lines 3 and 4: totals

Line 3 is the total from Schedule(s) W (Form 706) or additional statements. Line 4 adds lines 2 and 3 and goes to Form 706, Part V, item 4.

How to fill out Schedule D (Form 706)

  1. 1

    Header

    Enter the decedent's name as it appears on Form 706 and the decedent's Social Security number.

  2. 2

    Column (ii): each policy

    The instructions say every policy on the decedent's life is listed, whether or not it is in the gross estate, with the name of the insurance company and the policy number.

  3. 3

    Get Form 712

    Request a Form 712 from the company that issued each policy and attach it. If the company will not provide one, the instructions list other evidence, such as a rider, assignment or copy of the proceeds check.

  4. 4

    Value of the proceeds

    If proceeds are paid in one sum, enter the net proceeds from Form 712, line 24 in column (v), and in column (iv) for the alternate value. If not paid in one sum, enter the date of death value from Form 712, line 25.

  5. 5

    Explain exclusions

    If part or all of a policy's proceeds are not included in the gross estate, the instructions say to explain why they were not included.

  6. 6

    Totals

    Add column (iv) or (v) on line 2, enter any Schedule W (Form 706) total on line 3, and carry the line 4 total to Form 706, Part V, item 4.

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Where it goes, timing and attachments

Attach to Form 706

Schedule D is not filed alone. The schedule says "Attach to Form 706," with a Form 712 for each policy listed.

Where Form 706 goes

The Form 706 instructions give the address Department of the Treasury, Internal Revenue Service, Kansas City, MO 64999. The About page also points to the IRS page on filing estate and gift tax returns for the latest address.

When Form 706 is due

The instructions say Form 706 is filed within 9 months after the date of the decedent's death, and Form 4768 applies for an automatic 6-month extension of time to file.

Missing attachments

The instructions name Form 712 among the supplemental documents and say that if these documents are not filed with the return, processing of the return will be delayed.

Insurance on someone else's life

The Schedule F (Form 706) instructions list insurance on the life of another, with Form 712 for each policy. Transfers of a policy within 3 years of death go on Schedule G (Form 706).

Related forms

Who fills out Schedule D (Form 706)?

  • Executors filing Form 706

    The schedule says "Attach to Form 706." The Form 706 instructions say the term executor includes the executor, personal representative or administrator of the estate.

  • Insurance payable to the estate

    The instructions say to include the full amount of proceeds receivable by the executor or payable to or for the benefit of the estate, including insurance used to pay the estate tax.

  • Policies paid to other beneficiaries

    The instructions say these proceeds are included if the decedent held incidents of ownership at death, such as the power to change the beneficiary or to surrender, cancel, assign or pledge the policy.

  • Policies not in the gross estate

    The schedule still lists them. The instructions say a Yes answer on Form 706, Part IV, line 9a or 9b calls for Schedule D, Form 712 and an explanation of why the policy is not includible.

  • Insurance companies

    The instructions say to request Form 712 from the company that issued each policy. The executor attaches it to Schedule D.

The executor completes Schedule D as part of the estate's Form 706. The instructions say it is completed and filed with the return when Form 706 is required and there was any insurance on the decedent's life.

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Questions about Form 706 Sch. D

Does every policy go on Schedule D, even if it is not in the gross estate?

The schedule says to enter all insurance on the decedent's life, whether or not it is included in the gross estate.

What is Form 712?

Form 712 is the Life Insurance Statement. The instructions say to request it from the company that issued each policy and attach it to Schedule D.

What if the insurer will not provide Form 712?

The instructions say to attach evidence that verifies the amount, including but not limited to an attachment, rider, assignment, copy of the insurance proceeds check and other relevant material.

What counts as insurance here?

The instructions say life insurance of every description, including death benefits paid by fraternal beneficiary societies operating under the lodge system and certain no-fault automobile insurance death benefits.

What are incidents of ownership?

The instructions list rights such as the economic benefits of the policy, the power to change the beneficiary, to surrender, cancel, assign or pledge the policy, and certain reversionary interests over 5% of the policy's value.

Where does insurance on another person's life go?

The instructions list it on Schedule F (Form 706), with a Form 712 for each policy.