Schedule D (Form 706), Insurance on the Decedent's Life, is the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) schedule on which you list all insurance on the life of the decedent and total its value for Form 706. It is attached to Form 706 and asks for each policy whether or not it is included in the decedent's gross estate. On this page you can fill out the schedule online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the IRS publishes the form and its instructions at www.irs.gov/Form706.
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What is Schedule D (Form 706)?
Schedule D (Form 706), Insurance on the Decedent's Life, is the IRS schedule attached to Form 706 on which you enter every insurance policy on the decedent's life, with its value, and carry the total to Form 706.
The schedule is built around a single table on line 1. Each policy gets an item number (column (i)) and a description (column (ii)). Column (iii) holds the alternate valuation date, column (iv) the alternate value and column (v) the value at date of death. Line 2 adds the amounts in column (iv) or column (v), as applicable. Line 3 brings in the total from any Schedule(s) W (Form 706) or additional statements attached because the table ran out of room. Line 4 adds lines 2 and 3, and that total goes on Form 706, Part V, item 4.
The form states two rules that define it. You must list all policies on the life of the decedent, and you must attach a Form 712 for each policy. Line 1 covers all insurance on the decedent's life, whether or not it is included in the decedent's gross estate.
The schedule carries OMB No. 1545-0015 and is dated August 2025. It is not filed on its own: the form says to attach it to Form 706. The IRS gives instructions and the latest information at www.irs.gov/Form706.
Who needs to file Schedule D (Form 706)?
Schedule D (Form 706) is completed by whoever prepares Form 706 for a decedent's estate and reports insurance on the decedent's life. The form says to attach it to Form 706, and it opens with the decedent's name as it appears on Form 706 and the decedent's social security number.
What you report depends on the policies, not on who owns them. Line 1 asks for all insurance on the decedent's life, whether or not it is included in the decedent's gross estate, and the form says you must list all policies.
A special note applies when the value of the gross estate, together with the amount of adjusted taxable gifts, is less than the basic exclusion amount and Form 706 is being filed solely to elect portability of the DSUE amount. In that case, consider whether you are required to report the value of assets eligible for the marital or charitable deduction on this schedule; the IRS instructions explain this. If you are not required to report the value of an asset, identify the property but make no entries in the last three columns, (iii), (iv) and (v).
The form does not describe who may sign or act for the estate; see the IRS instructions for Form 706 for questions about authority.
When to file Schedule D (Form 706)
Schedule D (Form 706) is completed when you prepare Form 706, because the form says to attach it to Form 706. It has no separate due date printed on it, so it is submitted whenever Form 706 is submitted.
Before you start, gather the policies on the decedent's life and a Form 712 for each one, since the form requires one Form 712 per policy. If the table on line 1 is too small, prepare Schedule(s) W (Form 706) or additional statements at the same time. For any deadline that applies to Form 706 itself, check the IRS instructions at www.irs.gov/Form706.
Documents you need
- Form 712 for each policy on the life of the decedent; the form says you must list all policies and attach a Form 712 for each one.
- Schedule(s) W (Form 706) or additional statements, only if more space is needed than the line 1 table provides.
- Form 706, to which this schedule is attached; the line 4 total is carried to Form 706, Part V, item 4.
How to fill out Schedule D (Form 706)
Enter the decedent's name and SSN
At the top, enter the decedent's name exactly as it appears on Form 706 and the decedent's social security number.
Read the portability note
If Form 706 is filed solely to elect portability of the DSUE amount and the gross estate plus adjusted taxable gifts is less than the basic exclusion amount, check the IRS instructions on whether you must report assets eligible for the marital or charitable deduction.
Number each policy on line 1
Under line 1, enter an item number in column (i) for each policy on the decedent's life, whether or not it is included in the gross estate.
Describe each policy
In column (ii), enter the description of each policy. Attach a Form 712 for each policy listed.
Enter the alternate valuation columns
Where they apply, enter the alternate valuation date in column (iii) and the alternate value in column (iv). Follow the IRS instructions for when these columns are used.
Enter the value at date of death
In column (v), enter the value at date of death for each policy. For an asset you are not required to report, identify it and make no entries in columns (iii) through (v).
Add the column totals on line 2
On line 2, add all amounts in column (iv) or column (v), as applicable.
Enter attached totals on line 3
If you needed more space, enter on line 3 the total from the Schedule(s) W (Form 706) or additional statements attached to this schedule.
Total lines 2 and 3 on line 4
Add lines 2 and 3 and enter the result on line 4. Enter this amount on Form 706, Part V, item 4.
Review and download the PDF
Check that every policy is listed, a Form 712 is ready for each, and the totals agree. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and attach it to Form 706.
How to submit Schedule D (Form 706)
Schedule D (Form 706) is submitted as an attachment to Form 706; the form prints no separate address, portal or appointment rule of its own.
- With Form 706: attach the completed schedule to Form 706 and send the package through the channel that applies to Form 706.
- With its own attachments: include a Form 712 for each policy listed, plus any Schedule(s) W (Form 706) or additional statements you used for extra space.
- Instructions: the form directs you to www.irs.gov/Form706 for instructions and the latest information, including where Form 706 is filed.
Carry the line 4 total to Form 706, Part V, item 4 before you assemble the package. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the IRS channels that apply to Form 706.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Listing only some policies; the form says you must list all policies on the life of the decedent.
- Attaching no Form 712, or one Form 712 for several policies, when the form requires a Form 712 for each policy.
- Leaving out policies that are not included in the decedent's gross estate; line 1 covers all insurance on the decedent's life whether or not it is included.
- Running out of room on line 1 and squeezing entries in, instead of attaching Schedule(s) W (Form 706) or additional statements.
- Forgetting to enter on line 3 the total from the attached Schedule(s) W (Form 706) or statements, so line 4 understates the total.
- Not carrying the line 4 total to Form 706, Part V, item 4.
- In a portability-only filing, entering values in the last three columns for an asset you are not required to report; identify the property and leave them blank.
- Filing the schedule on its own; the form says to attach it to Form 706.
Frequently asked questions
What is Schedule D (Form 706)?
Schedule D (Form 706), Insurance on the Decedent's Life, is the IRS schedule you attach to Form 706 to list all insurance on the decedent's life and total its value. The total on line 4 goes on Form 706, Part V, item 4.
Is Schedule D (Form 706) the same as the other Schedule D?
No. This page covers only Schedule D (Form 706), the schedule attached to Form 706 for insurance on the decedent's life. Always use the complete identifier, Schedule D (Form 706), so you get this form and not a schedule of another return.
Do I have to list policies that are not in the gross estate?
Yes. Line 1 says to enter all insurance on the decedent's life, whether or not it is included in the decedent's gross estate, and the form states you must list all policies on the life of the decedent.
What must I attach to Schedule D (Form 706)?
Attach a Form 712 for each policy you list. If you need more space than line 1 provides, also attach Schedule(s) W (Form 706) or additional statements, and enter their total on line 3.
Where does the line 4 total go?
Enter the line 4 total on Form 706, Part V, item 4. Line 4 is the sum of line 2 (column (iv) or (v) amounts, as applicable) and line 3 (the total from Schedule(s) W or additional statements).
When is Schedule D (Form 706) due?
It has no separate due date printed on it. The form says to attach it to Form 706, so it is submitted with Form 706. Check the IRS instructions at www.irs.gov/Form706 for the deadline that applies to Form 706.
What if Form 706 is filed only to elect portability?
If the gross estate plus adjusted taxable gifts is less than the basic exclusion amount and Form 706 is filed solely to elect portability of the DSUE amount, you may not have to report values of assets eligible for the marital or charitable deduction. Identify the property and leave the last three columns blank.
Can I fill out Schedule D (Form 706) online?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the schedule with the IRS; you submit it attached to Form 706 through the IRS channels.
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