Under Virginia licensing standards and federal tax principles taught for the life insurance exam, life insurance death proceeds are generally exempt from federal income tax when paid to a beneficiary due to the insured’s death. This long-standing rule is a fundamental advantage of life insurance and is frequently tested.

The transfer-for-value rule applies only in limited situations when a life insurance policy is sold or transferred for consideration, which is not the general rule for death benefits. The cost recovery rule and interest-first rule apply to annuities, not life insurance death proceeds. Therefore, options B, C, and D are incorrect.

This tax-free treatment allows beneficiaries to receive the full face amount without reduction for income taxes, making life insurance an effective financial protection and estate planning tool. While estate taxes may apply in certain high-value estates, income tax treatment remains favorable in most cases.