Description: Read the June 2017 issue of Taxing Times published by the The Taxation Section. Newsletters provide practical information for the working actuary, articles on trends that impact sections and news about section activities.

Description: This article discusses the implications of a principle-based reserve PBR system with respect to federal income taxation of life insurance companies, particularly with respect to tax reserves and their deductibility for tax purposes. The article discusses potential problems with existing tax rules for reserve deduction, what courses of action the IRS could take, and suggestions for design features of a PBR approach that would make it more consistent with current tax rules. Life insurance product tax implications are also discussed.

Description: On June 26, 2013, the Supreme Court released its decision in the case of United States v. Windsor, Executor of the Estate of Spyer, et al. addressing the constitutionality of the federal Defense of Marriage Act (“DOMA”). This article explores the implications for life insurance and annuity contract spousal provisions that are governed by federal law.

Description: On April 24, 2015, Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published proposed regulations (REG-108214-15) that provide guidance regarding when a foreign insurance company’s income is excluded from the definition of passive income under Section 1297(b)(2)(B). The proposed regulations are directed at hedge funds that purport to establish a foreign reinsurance company in an effort to avoid treatment as a passive foreign investment company (PFIC), but could have unintended consequences for traditional insurance companies.

Description: The Chairperson of the Taxation Section discusses how the section will deal with changes to the US Tax Code.

Description: Notice 2004-611 is the latest in a series of administrative pronouncements from the Internal Revenue Service related to the appropriate mortality assumptions to be used in computing the definitional limitations under Internal Revenue Code Section 7702 and the seven-pay limitation under the Section 7702A modified endowment rules.

Description: One of the significant tax benefits of a life insurance contract is that, for purposes of determining the taxable amount of proceeds received under the contract on distributions or surrender,the investment in the contract includes the aggregate amount of premiums, unreduced by the cost of insurance provided IRC section 72c. IRS rules net surrender value reserves must be reduced by a YRT reserve credit.

Description: Legislation imposing new restrictions on a wide range of compensation arrangements was signed into law on October 22, 2004. The American Jobs Creation ActAJCA adds a new section 409A to the Internal Revenue Code, which imposes restrictions on funding, distributions, and elections to participate in nonqualified deferred compensation plans.

Description: This article describes Health Savings Accounts HSAs and the tax and other aspects of these funds.

Description: Articles on IRS private letter rulings on combination products, IRS treatment of reinsurance under section 845, and IRS waivers for failed contracts under section 7702.