If the insured owed money to the IRS can the IRS go after the benefits left to a child to repay the deceased parent's debts?

That is one of the purposes of life insurance. The answer however is no, it would come out of the parents estate. If there is no estate than the gov could be SOL. BUT!!! It may behoove a child (depending on age) to settle the tab with all creditors and the IRS on behalf of the parent settling the estate with the insurance money rather than relying on a "fire sale" of the estate, and reaping the benefits of the estate at it's market value rather than a forced sale value....depending on the situation tho... 4lifeguild