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.

Description: The actuarial committee that authored this report developed a model to estimate the revenue the tax would generate. The results point out key considerations for an excise tax on high cost health plans, including the wide range of results generated by sensitivity to certain assumptions.

Description: Overview of latest developments on IRC Section 7702, IRC Section 848, market value adjusted contracts, companies in rehabilitation and Canadian issues including: • Part I income tax • Part IV capital tax

Description: On May 24, 2005, the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service published a notice of proposed rulemaking the “Notice” proposing regulations under Internal Revenue Code §7702, the federal tax definition of a “life insurance contract.” Discussion of determining 'attained age' for joint or multiple life policies.

Description: This article reviews the definition of “cash surrender value” in section 7702f2A and in the regulations proposed under that provision but never finalized. The discussion then recaps the 2005 Rulings and describes the recently issued letter rulings.

Description: A discussion of the proposed safe harbor with respect to calculations for contracts where the insured reaches age 100.

Description: The Internal Revenue Service issued its seminal ruling interpreting Internal Revenal Code section 7702A[c][3][B][i], commonly referred to as the Necessary Premium Test [NPT]. The purpose of the NPT is to shelter certain death benefit increases from material change status, avoiding the 7 pay test's reapplication on their account.

Description: Many life insurance companies that issue participating policies follow business practices that they argue allow them a deduction for tax purposes for policyholder dividends in the year prior to actual payment. This article discusses several recent developments related to policyholder dividend accruals, including Revenue Ruling 2011-29 and the New York Life and MassMutual cases, and highlights the four arguments commonly made by the IRS in challenging companies' claimed tax treatment of such dividends.

Description: The author uses a reprint of an article from the very first edition of the “News from the Individual Life Insurance and Annuity Product Development Section” and assistance from the Taxation Section Council and Friends of that Council to decipher the changes between the life insurance tax environment back in the 1980s compared to today.

Description: Update on industry action on legislative and tax regulatory items affecting the life insurance industry.