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 September 30, 2004, as
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the
"Report"), Mark E. Schwarzmann, as Chief Executive Officer of IDS Life, and
Arthur H. Berman as Chief Financial Officer of IDS Life, 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 IDS Life.


    /s/  Mark E. Schwarzmann
         -------------------
Name:    Mark E. Schwarzmann
Title:   Chief Executive Officer
Date:    November 10, 2004

    /s/  Arthur H. Berman
         ----------------
Name:    Arthur H. Berman
Title:   Chief Financial Officer
Date:    November 10, 2004




The foregoing certification is being furnished solely pursuant to 18 U.S.C.
Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the 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 IDS Life and will be retained by IDS Life and furnished to the
Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.