Decrease treated as gross income
Increase treated as deduction
Items taken into account
Method of computing reserves for purposes of determining income
Determination of reserve
In general
Variable contracts
Statutory cap
In no event shall the reserves determined under subparagraphs (A) or (B) for any contract as of any time exceed the amount which would be taken into account with respect to such contract as of such time in determining statutory reserves (as defined in paragraph (4)).
No double counting
In no event shall any amount or item be taken into account more than once in determining any reserve under this subchapter.
Amount of reserve
The amount of the reserve determined under this paragraph with respect to any contract shall be determined by using the tax reserve method applicable to such contract.
Tax reserve method
In general
Life insurance contracts
The CRVM in the case of a contract covered by the CRVM.
Annuity contracts
The CARVM in the case of a contract covered by the CARVM.
Noncancellable accident and health insurance contracts
In the case of any noncancellable accident and health insurance contract, the reserve method prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners which covers such contract as of the date the reserve is determined.
Other contracts
Definition of CRVM and CARVM
CRVM
The term “CRVM” means the Commissioners’ Reserve Valuation Method prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners which is applicable to the contract and in effect as of the date the reserve is determined.
CARVM
The term “CARVM” means the Commissioners’ Annuities Reserve Valuation Method prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners which is applicable to the contract and in effect as of the date the reserve is determined.
No additional reserve deduction allowed for deficiency reserves
Nothing in any reserve method described under this paragraph shall permit any increase in the reserve because the net premium (computed on the basis of assumptions required under this subsection) exceeds the actual premiums or other consideration charged for the benefit.
Statutory reserves
The term “statutory reserves” means the aggregate amount set forth in the annual statement with respect to items described in section 807(c). Such term shall not include any reserve attributable to a deferred and uncollected premium if the establishment of such reserve is not permitted under section 811(c).
Special rules for computing reserves
Net surrender value
In general
Special rule for pension plan contracts
In the case of a pension plan contract, the balance in the policyholder’s fund shall be treated as the net surrender value of such contract. For purposes of the preceding sentence, such balance shall be determined with regard to any penalty or forfeiture which would be imposed on surrender but without regard to any market value adjustment.
Qualified supplemental benefits
Qualified supplemental benefits treated separately
For purposes of this part, the amount of the life insurance reserve for any qualified supplemental benefit shall be computed separately as though such benefit were under a separate contract.
Qualified supplemental benefit
Supplemental benefits
Certain contracts issued by foreign branches of domestic life insurance companies
In general
In the case of any qualified foreign contract, the amount of the reserve shall be not less than the minimum reserve required by the laws, regulations, or administrative guidance of the regulatory authority of the foreign country referred to in subparagraph (B) (but not to exceed the net level reserves for such contract).
Qualified foreign contract
Special rules for contracts issued before , under existing plans of insurance, with term insurance or annuity benefits
In general
In the case of a life insurance contract issued before , under an existing plan of insurance, the life insurance reserve for any benefit to which this paragraph applies shall be computed separately under subsection (d)(1) from any other reserve under the contract.
Benefits to which this paragraph applies
This paragraph applies to any term insurance or annuity benefit with respect to which the requirements of clauses (i) and (ii) of paragraph (3)(C) are met.
Existing plan of insurance
For purposes of this paragraph, the term “existing plan of insurance” means, with respect to any contract, any plan of insurance which was filed by the company using such contract in one or more States before , and is on file in the appropriate State for such contract.
Special rules for treatment of certain nonlife reserves
In general
Description of items
For purposes of this paragraph, the items referred to in this subparagraph are the items described in subsection (c) which consist of unearned premiums and premiums received in advance under insurance contracts not described in section 816(b)(1)(B).
Reporting rules
The Secretary shall require reporting (at such time and in such manner as the Secretary shall prescribe) with respect to the opening balance and closing balance of reserves and with respect to the method of computing reserves for purposes of determining income.
Adjustment for change in computing reserves
Treatment as change in method of accounting
Termination as life insurance company
Except as provided in section 381(c)(22) (relating to carryovers in certain corporate readjustments), if for any taxable year the taxpayer is not a life insurance company, the balance of any adjustments under this subsection shall be taken into account for the preceding taxable year.
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title II, § 211(a)98 Stat. 726Pub. L. 99–514, title X, § 1023(b)100 Stat. 2399Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10241(a)101 Stat. 1330–419Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11302(a)104 Stat. 1388–449Pub. L. 104–188, title I, § 1704(t)(61)110 Stat. 1890Pub. L. 104–191, title III, § 321(b)110 Stat. 2058Pub. L. 105–34, title X, § 1084(b)(2)111 Stat. 954Pub. L. 108–218, title II, § 205(b)(1)118 Stat. 610Pub. L. 113–295, div. A, title II, § 221(a)(68)128 Stat. 4048Pub. L. 115–97, title I131 Stat. 2143–2145Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(a)(141)132 Stat. 1191(Added , , ; amended , title XVIII, § 1821(a), (s), , , 2837, 2843; –(b)(2)(A), , , 1330–420; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , (2), , ; , , ; , §§ 13513(a), 13517(a)(1)–(3), , ; , , .)
Editorial Notes
Codification
section 1084(b) of Pub. L. 105–34Another amended sections 101 and 264 of this title.
Prior Provisions
act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 73668A Stat. 259act Mar. 13, 1956, ch. 83, § 270 Stat. 36A prior section 807, , , related to adjustment for certain reserves, prior to the general revision of this part by , .
Amendments
Pub. L. 115–1412018—Subsec. (e)(5)(A)(i). substituted “subparagraph (B)” for “subparagraph (C)”.
Pub. L. 115–97, § 13517(a)(1)2017—Subsec. (c). , directed the general amendment of the second sentence of subsec. (c), which was executed by substituting “For purposes of paragraph (3), the appropriate rate of interest is the highest rate or rates permitted to be used to discount the obligations by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners as of the date the reserve is determined.” for “For purposes of paragraph (3), the appropriate rate of interest for any obligation is whichever of the following rates is the highest as of the time such obligation first did not involve life, accident, or health contingencies: the applicable Federal interest rate under subsection (d)(2)(B)(i), the prevailing State assumed interest rate under subsection (d)(2)(B)(ii), or the rate of interest assumed by the company in determining the guaranteed benefit.” in concluding provisions.
Pub. L. 115–97, § 13517(a)(2)(A)Subsec. (d)(1), (2). , (C), added pars. (1) and (2) and struck out former pars. (1) and (2) which read as follows:
In general“(1) .—For purposes of this part (other than section 816), the amount of the life insurance reserves for any contract shall be the greater of—
“(A) the net surrender value of such contract, or
“(B) the reserve determined under paragraph (2).
In no event shall the reserve determined under the preceding sentence for any contract as of any time exceed the amount which would be taken into account with respect to such contract as of such time in determining statutory reserves (as defined in paragraph (6)).
Amount of reserve“(2) .—The amount of the reserve determined under this paragraph with respect to any contract shall be determined by using—
“(A) the tax reserve method applicable to such contract,
“(B) the greater of—
“(i) the applicable Federal interest rate, or
“(ii) the prevailing State assumed interest rate, and
“(C) the prevailing commissioners’ standard tables for mortality and morbidity adjusted as appropriate to reflect the risks (such as substandard risks) incurred under the contract which are not otherwise taken into account.”
Pub. L. 115–97, § 13517(a)(2)(D)Subsec. (d)(3)(A)(iii). , substituted “, the reserve method prescribed by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners which covers such contract as of the date the reserve is determined” for “(other than a qualified long-term care insurance contract, as defined in section 7702B(b)), a 2-year full preliminary term method”.
Pub. L. 115–97, § 13517(a)(2)(E)Subsec. (d)(3)(A)(iv)(I). , substituted “(as of the date the reserve is determined)” for “(as of the date of issuance)”.
Pub. L. 115–97, § 13517(a)(2)(F)Subsec. (d)(3)(A)(iv)(II). , substituted “as of the date the reserve is determined for” for “as of the date of the issuance of”.
Pub. L. 115–97, § 13517(a)(2)(G)Subsec. (d)(3)(B). , (H), substituted “applicable to the contract and in effect as of the date the reserve is determined” for “in effect on the date of the issuance of the contract” in cls. (i) and (ii).
Pub. L. 115–97, § 13517(a)(2)(A)Subsec. (d)(4) to (6). , (B), redesignated par. (6) as (4) and struck out former pars. (4) and (5) which related to applicable Federal and prevailing State assumed interest rates and prevailing commissioners’ standard tables, respectively.
Pub. L. 115–97, § 13517(a)(3)(C)Subsec. (e)(2). , amended par. (2) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (2) related to supplemental benefits.
Pub. L. 115–97, § 13517(a)(3)(A), (B), redesignated par. (3) as (2) and struck out former par. (2) which related to issuance date in case of group contracts.
Pub. L. 115–97, § 13517(a)(3)(B)Subsec. (e)(3), (4). , redesignated pars. (4) and (6) as (3) and (4), respectively. Former par. (3) redesignated (2).
Pub. L. 115–97, § 13517(a)(3)(A)Subsec. (e)(5). , (B), redesignated par. (7) as (5) and struck out former par. (5) which related to treatment of substandard risks.
Pub. L. 115–97, § 13517(a)(3)(D)Subsec. (e)(6). , added par. (6). Former par. (6) redesignated (4).
Pub. L. 115–97, § 13517(a)(3)(B)Subsec. (e)(7). , redesignated par. (7) as (5).
Pub. L. 115–97, § 13513(a)Subsec. (f)(1). , amended par. (1) generally. Prior to amendment, par. (1) related to 10-year spread method of computation.
Pub. L. 113–2952014—Subsec. (e)(7)(B), (C). redesignated subpar. (C) as (B) and struck out former subpar. (B) which related to transitional rule.
Pub. L. 108–218, § 205(b)(1)2004—Subsecs. (a)(2)(B), (b)(1)(B). , struck out “the sum of (i)” before “the amount” and struck out “plus (ii) any excess described in section 809(a)(2) for the taxable year,” after “to which section 264(f) applies,”.
Pub. L. 108–218, § 205(b)(2)(A)Subsec. (d)(1). , substituted “paragraph (6)” for “section 809(b)(4)(B)” in concluding provisions.
Pub. L. 108–218, § 205(b)(2)(B)Subsec. (d)(6). , added par. (6).
Pub. L. 105–34, § 1084(b)(2)(A)1997—Subsec. (a)(2)(B). , substituted “interest and the amount of the policyholder’s share of the increase for the taxable year in policy cash values (within the meaning of section 805(a)(4)(F)) of life insurance policies and annuity and endowment contracts to which section 264(f) applies,” for “interest,”.
Pub. L. 105–34, § 1084(b)(2)(B)Subsec. (b)(1)(B). , substituted “interest and the amount of the policyholder’s share of the increase for the taxable year in policy cash values (within the meaning of section 805(a)(4)(F)) of life insurance policies and annuity and endowment contracts to which section 264(f) applies,” for “interest,”.
Pub. L. 104–1911996—Subsec. (d)(3)(A)(iii). inserted “(other than a qualified long-term care insurance contract, as defined in section 7702B(b))” after “insurance contract”.
Pub. L. 104–188Subsec. (d)(3)(B)(ii). substituted “Commissioners’ Annuities” for “Commissoners’ Annuities”.
Pub. L. 101–5081990—Subsec. (e)(7). added par. (7).
Pub. L. 100–203, § 10241(b)(2)(A)1987—Subsec. (c). , substituted “whichever of the following rates is the highest as of the time such obligation first did not involve life, accident, or health contingencies: the applicable Federal interest rate under subsection (d)(2)(B)(i), the prevailing State assumed interest rate under subsection (d)(2)(B)(ii), or the rate of interest assumed by the company in determining the guaranteed benefit.” for “the higher of the prevailing State assumed interest rate as of the time such obligation first did not involve life, accident, or health contingencies or the rate of interest assumed by the company (as of such time) in determining the guaranteed benefit.” in third to last sentence.
Pub. L. 100–203, § 10241(a)Subsec. (d)(2)(B). , amended subpar. (B) generally. Prior to amendment, subpar. (B) read as follows: “the prevailing State assumed interest rate, and”.
Pub. L. 100–203, § 10241(b)(1)Subsec. (d)(4). , substituted “Applicable Federal interest rate; prevailing State assumed interest rate” for “Prevailing State assumed interest rate” in heading and amended text generally, revising and restating as subpars. (A) and (B) provisions of former subpars. (A) to (D).
Pub. L. 99–514, § 1023(b)1986—Subsec. (c). , inserted at end “For purposes of paragraph (2) and section 805(a)(1), the amount of the unpaid losses (other than losses on life insurance contracts) shall be the amount of the discounted unpaid losses as defined in section 846.”
Pub. L. 99–514, § 1821(a), inserted at end “In no case shall the amount determined under paragraph (3) for any contract be less than the net surrender value of such contract.”
Pub. L. 99–514, § 1821(s)Subsec. (d)(5)(C). , inserted at end “When the Secretary by regulation changes the table applicable to a type of contract, the new table shall be treated (for purposes of subparagraph (B) and for purposes of determining the issue dates of contracts for which it shall be used) as if it were a new prevailing commissioner’s standard table adopted by the twenty-sixth State as of a date (no earlier than the date the regulation is issued) specified by the Secretary.”
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date of 2017 Amendment
Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 13513(b)131 Stat. 2143
Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 13517(c)131 Stat. 2147
In general .—
Transition rule .—
Transition relief.—
In general .—
Method .—
Effective Date of 2014 Amendment
Pub. L. 113–295section 221(b) of Pub. L. 113–295section 1 of this titleAmendment by effective , subject to a savings provision, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 2004 Amendment
Pub. L. 108–218, title II, § 205(c)118 Stat. 610
Effective Date of 1997 Amendment
Pub. L. 105–34section 1084(d) of Pub. L. 105–34section 101 of this titleAmendment by applicable to contracts issued after , in taxable years ending after such date, with special provisions relating to changes in contracts to be treated as new contracts, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date of 1996 Amendment
Pub. L. 104–191section 321(f) of Pub. L. 104–191section 7702B of this titleAmendment by applicable to contracts issued after , see , set out as an Effective Date note under .
Effective Date of 1990 Amendment
Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11302(b)104 Stat. 1388–450
Effective Date of 1987 Amendment
Pub. L. 100–203, title X, § 10241(c)101 Stat. 1330–420
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
section 1023(b) of Pub. L. 99–514section 1023(e) of Pub. L. 99–514section 846 of this titleAmendment by applicable to taxable years beginning after , except as otherwise provided, see , set out as an Effective Date note under .
Pub. L. 99–514Pub. L. 98–369, div. Asection 1881 of Pub. L. 99–514section 48 of this titleAmendment by section 1821(a), (s) of effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provisions of the Tax Reform Act of 1984, , to which such amendment relates, see , set out as a note under .
Effective Date
section 215 of Pub. L. 98–369section 801 of this titleSection applicable to taxable years beginning after , see , set out as a note under .
Plan Amendments Not Required Until January 1, 1989
Pub. L. 99–514section 1140 of Pub. L. 99–514section 401 of this titleFor provisions directing that if any amendments made by subtitle A or subtitle C of title XI [§§ 1101–1147 and 1171–1177] or title XVIII [§§ 1800–1899A] of require an amendment to any plan, such plan amendment shall not be required to be made before the first plan year beginning on or after , see , as amended, set out as a note under .
Treatment of Certain Assessment Life Insurance Companies
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title II, § 217(f)98 Stat. 763Pub. L. 99–514, § 2100 Stat. 2095
Mortality and morbidity tables .—
Treatment of certain mutual assessment life insurance companies .—
Statutory reserves .—
Special Rule for Companies Using Net Level Reserve Method for Noncancellable Accident and Health Insurance Contracts
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title II, § 217(n)98 Stat. 766Pub. L. 99–514, § 2100 Stat. 2095