Description: In February 2015, the Internal Revenue Service Chief Counsel appointed Alexis MacIvor as the chief of Branch 4 of the Office of the Associate Chief Counsel (Financial Institutions & Products). That branch (sometimes referred to by our readers as the “Insurance Branch”) has seven attorneys who work exclusively on issues concerning the taxation of insurance companies and the products those companies issue. Because of the importance of that branch’s work product to the issues that life actuaries must address every day, the Taxing Times Editorial Board and the Taxation Section Council thought our readers would appreciate the opportunity to meet Alexis and welcome her to the insurance tax actuarial community. Mark Smith of our editorial board recently met with Ms. MacIvor to talk about her background and her new role.

Description: To most observers, the value of a life insurance contract is the cash surrender value. However, when it comes to life insurance and the Internal Revenue Code, things are seldom as simple as they appear on the surface.

Description: The column summarizes tax and retirement matters that ACLI and its member companies have been actively addressing. These include IRS 2015-2016 priority guidance items, the Department of Labor proposed fiduciary rule, proposed IRS hedge fund reinsurance rules, and new IRS notional principal contract rules.

Description: The American Council of Life Insurers provides an update on recent tax-related ACLI activity. Topics in this issue include (1) the NAIC's Principle-Based Reserves (PBR) Review Working Group and its exposed revisions to the Annual Statement Blanks; (2) ongoing communications with the Internal Revenue Service and Treasury to seek published guidance on PBR; (3) an update on tax reform activity in Congress; (4) the framework for change issued by the NAIC's Variable Annuities Issues (E) Working Group; and (5) the ERISA Advisory Council's development of model notices and disclosures for pension risk transfers.

Description: This article discusses the temporary waiver and how it provides only limited relief from the section 401a9 minimum distribution requirements.

Description: A discussion of new IRS rulings with respect to the taxation of life settlement transactions.

Description: A memorial for a great tax actuary and colleague, Ed Robbins

Description: Changes to AG 43 and what that might mean for tax purposes. Also, summary of IRS Notice 2016-63 (provides safe harbor tax guidance on use of 2017 CSO tables).

Description: This update column from ACLI addresses the 2020 year-end spending and relief package with specific emphasis on its effect on the life insurance industry

Description: The interaction of section 7702 cash value accumulation test [CVAT] and state nonforfeiture laws [SNFL] create a dual limitation on traditional life insurance contratcs. CVAT limiting the maximum permissible cash value and SNFL requiring a minimum cash surrender value. This article examines these dual limitations.