(a) In general. (1) Section 79(b) provides exceptions for the cost of group-term life insurance provided under certain policies otherwise described in section 79(a). The policy or policies of group-term life insurance which are described in section 79(a) but which qualify for one of the exceptions set forth in section 79(b) are described in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section. Paragraph (b) of this section discusses the exception provided in section 79(b) (1); paragraph (c) of this section discusses the exception provided in section 79(b)(2); and paragraph (d) of this section discusses the exception provided in section 79(b)(3).

(2)(i) If a policy of group-term life insurance qualifies for an exception provided by section 79(b), then the amount equal to the cost of such insurance is excluded from the application of the provisions of section 79(a).

(ii) If a policy, or portion of a policy of group-term life insurance qualifies for an exception provided by section 79(b), the amount (if any) paid by the employee toward the purchase of such insurance is not to be taken into account as an amount referred to in section 79 (a)(2). In the case of a policy or policies of group-term life insurance which qualify for an exception provided by section 79(b) (1) or (3), the amount paid by the employee which is not to be taken into account as an amount referred to in section 79(a) (2) is the amount paid by the employee for the particular policy or policies of group-term life insurance which qualify for an exception provided under such section. If the exception provided in section 79(b)(2) is applicable only to a portion of the group-term life insurance on the employee's life, the amount considered to be paid by the employee toward the purchase of such portion is the amount equal to the excess of the cost of such portion of the insurance over the amount otherwise includible in the employee's gross income with respect to the group-term life insurance on his life carried directly or indirectly by such employer.

(iii) The rules of this subparagraph may be illustrated by the following example:

(b) Retired and disabled employees—(1) In general. Section 79(b)(1) provides an exception for the cost of group-term life insurance on the life of an individual which is provided under a policy or policies otherwise described in section 79(a) if the individual has terminated his employment (as defined in subparagraph (2) of this paragraph) with such employer and either has reached the retirement age with respect to such employer (as defined in subparagraph (3) of this paragraph), or has become disabled (as defined in subparagraph (4)(i) of this paragraph). If an individual who has terminated his employment attains retirement age or has become disabled during his taxable year, or if an employee who has attained retirement age or has become disabled terminates his employment during the taxable year, the exception provided by section 79(b)(1) applies only to the portion of the cost of group-term life insurance which is provided subsequent to the happening of the last event which qualifies the policy of insurance on the employee's life for the exception provided in such section.

(2) Termination of employment. For purposes of section 79(b)(1), an individual has terminated his employment with an employer providing such individual group-term life insurance when such individual no longer renders services to that employer as an employee of such employer.

(3) Retirement age. For purposes of section 79(b)(1) and this section, the meaning of the term “retirement age” is determined in accordance with the following rules—

(i)(a) If the employee is covered under a written pension or annuity plan of the employer providing such individual group-term life insurance on his life (whether or not such plan is qualified under section 401(a) or 403(a)), then his retirement age shall be considered to be the earlier of—

(1) The earliest age indicated by such plan at which an active employee has the right (or an inactive individual would have the right had he continued in employment) to retire without disability and without the consent of his employer and receive immediate retirement benefits computed at either the full rate or a rate proportionate to completed service as set forth in the normal retirement formula of the plan, i.e., without actuarial or similar reduction because of retirement before some later specified age, or

(2) The age at which it has been the practice of the employer to terminate, due to age, the services of the class of employees to which he last belonged.

(b) For purposes of (a) of this subdivision, if an employee is covered under more than one pension or annuity plan of the employer, his retirement age shall be determined with regard to that plan which covers that class of employees of the employer to which the employee last belonged. If the class of employees to which the employee last belonged is covered under more than one pension or annuity plan, then the employee's retirement age shall be determined with regard to that plan which covers the greatest number of the employer's employees.

(ii) In the absence of a written employee's pension or annuity plan described in subdivision (i) of this subparagraph, retirement age is the age, if any, at which it has been the practice of the employer to terminate, due to age, the services of the class of employees to which the particular employee last belonged, provided such age is reasonable in view of all the pertinent facts and circumstances.

(iii) If neither subdivision (i) or (ii) of this subparagraph applies, the retirement age is considered to be age 65.

(4) Disabled. (i) For taxable years beginning after December 31, 1966, an individual is considered disabled for purposes of section 79(b)(1) and subparagraph (1) of this paragraph if he is disabled within the meaning of section 72(m)(7) and paragraph (f) of § 1.72-17. For taxable years beginning before January 1, 1967, an individual is considered disabled for purposes of section 79(b)(1) and subparagraph (1) of this paragraph if he is disabled within the meaning of section 213(g)(3), relating to the meaning of disabled, but the determination of the individual's status shall be made without regard to the provisions of section 213(g)(4), relating to the determination of status.

(ii)(a) In any taxable year in which an individual seeks to apply the exception set forth in section 79(b)(1) by reason of his being disabled within the meaning of subdivision (i) of this subparagraph, and in which the aggregate amount of insurance on the individual's life subject to the rule of inclusion set forth in section 79(a), but determined without regard to the amount of any insurance subject to any exception set forth in section 79(b), is greater than $50,000 of such insurance, the substantiation required by (b) or (c) of this subdivision must be submitted with the individual's tax return.

(b) For the first taxable year for which the individual seeks to apply the exception set forth in section 79(b)(1) by reason of his being disabled within the meaning of subdivision (i) of this subparagraph, there must be submitted with his income tax return a doctor's statement as to his impairment. There must also be submitted with the return a statement by the individual with respect to the effect of the impairment upon his substantial gainful activity, and the date such impairment occurred. For subsequent taxable years, the taxpayer may, in lieu of such statements, submit a statement declaring the continued existence (without substantial diminution) of the impairment and its continued effect upon his substantial gainful activity.

(c) In lieu of the substantiation required to be submitted by (b) of this subdivision for the taxable year, the individual may submit a signed statement issued to him by the insurer to the effect that the individual is disabled within the meaning of subdivision (i) of this paragraph. Such statement must set forth the basis for the insurer's determination that the individual was so disabled, and, for the first taxable year in which the individual is so disabled, the date such disability occurred.

(c) Employer or charity a beneficiary—(1) General rule. Section 79(b)(2) provides an exception with respect to the amounts referred to in section 79 (a) for the cost of any portion of the group-term life insurance on the life of an employee provided during part or all of the taxable year of the employee under which the employer is directly or indirectly the beneficiary, or under which a person described in section 170(c) (relating to definition of charitable contributions) is the sole beneficiary, for the entire period during such taxable year for which the employee receives such insurance.

(2) Employer is a beneficiary. For purposes of section 79(b)(2) and subparagraph (1) of this paragraph, the determination of whether the employer is directly or indirectly the beneficiary under a policy or policies of group-term life insurance depends upon the facts and circumstances of the particular case. Such determination is not made solely with regard to whether the employer possesses all the incidents of ownership in the policy. Thus, for example, if the employer is the nominal beneficiary under a policy of group-term life insurance on the life of his employee but there is an arrangement whereby the employer is required to pay over all (or a portion) of the proceeds of such policy to the employee's estate or his beneficiary, the employer is not considered a beneficiary under such policy (or such portion of the policy).

(3) Charity a beneficiary. (i) For purposes of section 79(b)(2) and subparagraph (1) of this paragraph, a person described in section 170(c) is a beneficiary under a policy providing group-term life insurance if such person is designated the beneficiary under the policy by any assignment or designation of beneficiary under the policy which, under the law of the jurisdiction which is applicable to the policy, has the effect of making such person the beneficiary under such policy (whether or not such designation is revocable during the taxable year). Such a designation may be made by the employee with respect to any portion of the group-term life insurance on his life. However, no deduction is allowed under section 170, relating to charitable, etc., contributions and gifts, with respect to any such assignment or designation.

(ii) A person described in section 170(c) must be designated the sole beneficiary under the policy or portion of the policy. Such requirement is satisfied if the person described in section 170(c) is the beneficiary under such policy or portion of the policy, and there is no contingent or similar beneficiary under such policy or such portion other than a person described in section 170(c). A general “preference beneficiary clause” in a policy governing payment where there is no designated beneficiary in existence at the death of the employee will not of itself be considered to create a contingent or similar beneficiary. A person described in section 170(c) may be designated the beneficiary under a portion of the policy if such person is designated the sole beneficiary under a beneficiary designation which is expressed, for example, as a fraction of the amount of insurance on the insured's life.

(iii) If a person described in section 170(c) is designated, before May 1, 1964, the beneficiary under the policy (or portion thereof) and such person remains the beneficiary for the period beginning May 1, 1964, and ending with the close of the first taxable year of the employee ending after April 30, 1964, such person shall be treated as the beneficiary under the policy (or the portion thereof) for the period beginning January 1, 1964, and ending April 30, 1964.

(d) Insurance contracts purchased under qualified employee plans. (1) Section 79(b)(3) provides an exception with respect to the cost of any group-term life insurance which is provided under a life insurance contract purchased as a part of a plan described in section 403(a), or purchased by a trust described in section 401(a) which is exempt from tax under section 501(a) if the proceeds of such contract are payable directly or indirectly to a participant in such trust or to a beneficiary of such participant. The provisions of section 72(m)(3) and § 1.72-16 apply to the cost of such group-term life insurance, and, therefore, no part of such cost is excluded from the gross income of the employee by reason of the provisions of section 79.

(2) Whether the life insurance protection on an employee's life is provided under a qualified employee plan referred to in subparagraph (1) of this paragraph depends upon the provisions of such plan. In determining whether a pension, profit-sharing, stock bonus, or annuity plan satisfies the requirements for qualification set forth in sections 401(a) or 403(a), only group-term life insurance which is provided under such plan is taken into account.