ESTATE TAX

Rev. Rul. 2002–39, page 33. Accidental death benefits. This ruling concludes that the accidental death benefits payable pursuant to New York City and New York State pension laws to specified beneficiaries of a deceased New York City firefighter or police officer who died in the line of duty are not includible in either one’s gross estate, except to the extent the benefits represent a return of the decedent’s contributions to the pension fund. The ruling will clarify that the portion of the death benefit not attributable to employee contributions is not includible in the gross estate, thus alleviating the necessity, in most cases, for filing an estate tax return.