Exhibit 32.1

                            Certification Pursuant to
                             18 U.S.C. Section 1350,
                             as Adopted Pursuant to
                  Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002

In connection with the Quarterly report on Form 10-Q of IDS Life Insurance
Company (the "Company") for the quarterly period ended March 31, 2004, as filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the "Report"),
Mark E. Schwarzmann, as Chief Executive Officer of the Company, and Arthur H.
Berman as Chief Financial Officer of the Company, each hereby certifies,
pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

     (1)  The Report fully  complies with the  requirements  of Section 13(a) or
          15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

     (2)  The  information  contained  in the  Report  fairly  presents,  in all
          material respects,  the financial  condition and results of operations
          of the Company.


    /s/  Mark E. Schwarzmann
    -------------------------
Name:    Mark E. Schwarzmann
Title:   Director, Chairman of the Board
         and Chief Executive Officer
Date:    May 10, 2004



    /s/  Arthur H. Berman
    -------------------------
Name:    Arthur H. Berman
Title:   Director and Executive Vice President- Finance
         and Chief Financial Officer
Date:    May 10, 2004

The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002,
and is not being "filed" as part of the Form 10-Q or as a separate disclosure
document for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), or otherwise subject to liability under that
section. This certification shall not be deemed to be incorporated by reference
into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Exchange
Act except to the extent that this Exhibit 32.1 is expressly and specifically
incorporated by reference in any such filing.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 has been
provided to the Company and will be retained by the Company and furnished to the
Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.