Description: This article provides a basic introduction to the taxation of qualified annuities held in qualified retirement plans and IRAs. The article has been updated for the SECURE Act and the SECURE 2.0 Act. The article describes the basic types of employer-based plans, provides of overview of the taxation of contributions and benefits when annuities are held in connection with plans and IRAs, explains the required minimum distribution rules, and offers a brief introduction to recent legislation impacting qualified annuities.

Description: The article introduces two previously published articles.

Description: This article discusses final Treasury Regulations published in October 2019 under Internal Revenue Code sections 101 and 6050Y. The regulations cover new tax reporting requirements for transfers and sales of life insurance contracts, as well as changes to the transfer-for-value rules related to reportable policy sales

Description: A summary and analysis of REG-103163-18, the proposed regulations providing guidance for property-casualty loss reserve discounting (LRD) under IRC Section 846.

Description: This article provides an overview of the Regs and highlights important open issues regarding determination of a U.S. shareholder’s GILTI amounts.

Description: This article, another in the popular series devoted to tax basics, provides an overview of how the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA), the law governing employment-based retirement and health plans, impacts the use of annuities in pension and 401(k) plans. The article explains which types of plans are subject to ERISA, and which are not; why the concept of "plan assets" is critical; what duties an insurance company or distributor might take on when an annuity is placed with a retirement plan; and finally what disclosures may be required. The article also includes a brief introduction to terminal funding annuities. This article is intended for those with no prior experience in ERISA. Because the vast majority of retirement assets are saved originally in employment based plans like pension and 401(k) plans, understanding the basics of ERISA is important for anyone who will have a career in annuities and life insurance.

Description: This article is a discussion about the life settlement industry and the tax considerations for life insurance bought and sold in the secondary market.

Description: On March 25, 2010, the Treasury and IRS issued Notice 2010-29. The new Notice follows-up Notice 2008-18, in which the Treasury Department Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service IRS identified concerns regarding proposed Actuarial Guideline VACARVM and suggested approaches that might be taken to address those issues. Actuarial Guideline VACARVM was effective, as AG43, beginning on Dec. 31, 2009. This discussion is the fourth in a continuing series of interdisciplinary dialogues in TAXING TIMES on selected tax issues related to proposals regarding principle-based reserves.

Description: This article provides a high-level description of how the One Big Beautiful Bill passed enacted on July 4, 2025 specifically affects life insurers. Primarily in this article, ACLI reflects on its 18-year collaboration with the Society of Actuaries through the Taxing Times publication, highlighting key tax legislation impacts and ongoing advocacy for the life insurance industry. This final column acknowledges past achievements and emphasizes continued commitment to industry representation amid evolving challenges.

Description: This article discusses the Section 338h10 election on the disposition of an insurance company.