US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

26 U.S.C. § 818

Other definitions and special rules

(a)

Pension plan contracts

For purposes of this part, the term “pension plan contract” means any contract—
(1)
entered into with trusts which (as of the time the contracts were entered into) were deemed to be trusts described in section 401(a) and exempt from tax under section 501(a) (or trusts exempt from tax under section 165 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939 or the corresponding provisions of prior revenue laws);
(2)
entered into under plans which (as of the time the contracts were entered into) were deemed to be plans described in section 403(a), or plans meeting the requirements of paragraphs (3), (4), (5), and (6) of section 165(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939;
(3)
provided for employees of the life insurance company under a plan which, for the taxable year, meets the requirements of paragraphs (3), (4), (5), (6), (7), (8), (11), (12), (13), (14), (15), (16), (17), (19), (20), (22), (26), and (27) of section 401(a);
(4)
purchased to provide retirement annuities for its employees by an organization which (as of the time the contracts were purchased) was an organization described in section 501(c)(3) which was exempt from tax under section 501(a) (or was an organization exempt from tax under section 101(6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939 or the corresponding provisions of prior revenue laws), or purchased to provide retirement annuities for employees described in section 403(b)(1)(A)(ii) by an employer which is a State, a political subdivision of a State, or an agency or instrumentality of any one or more of the foregoing;
(5)
entered into with trusts which (at the time the contracts were entered into) were individual retirement accounts described in section 408(a) or under contracts entered into with individual retirement annuities described in section 408(b); or
(6)
purchased by—
(A)
a governmental plan (within the meaning of section 414(d)) or an eligible deferred compensation plan (within the meaning of section 457(b)), or
(B)
the Government of the United States, the government of any State or political subdivision thereof, or by any agency or instrumentality of the foregoing, or any organization (other than a governmental unit) exempt from tax under this subtitle, for use in satisfying an obligation of such government, political subdivision, agency or instrumentality, or organization to provide a benefit under a plan described in subparagraph (A).
(b)

Treatment of capital gains and losses, etc.

In the case of a life insurance company—
(1)
in applying section 1231(a), the term “property used in the trade or business” shall be treated as including only—
(A)
property used in carrying on an insurance business, of a character which is subject to the allowance for depreciation provided in section 167, held for more than 1 year, and real property used in carrying on an insurance business, held for more than 1 year, which is not described in section 1231(b)(1)(A), (B), or (C), and
(B)
property described in section 1231(b)(2), and
(2)
in applying section 1221(a)(2), the reference to property used in trade or business shall be treated as including only property used in carrying on an insurance business.
(c)

Gain on property held on and certain substituted property acquired after 1958

(1)

Property held on

In the case of property held by the taxpayer on , if—
(A)
the fair market value of such property on such date exceeds the adjusted basis for determining gain as of such date, and
(B)
the taxpayer has been a life insurance company at all times on and after ,
the gain on the sale or other disposition of such property shall be treated as an amount (not less than zero) equal to the amount by which the gain (determined without regard to this subsection) exceeds the difference between the fair market value on , and the adjusted basis for determining gain as of such date.
(2)

Certain property acquired after

In the case of property acquired after , and having a substituted basis (within the meaning of section 1016(b))—
(A)
for purposes of paragraph (1), such property shall be deemed held continuously by the taxpayer since the beginning of the holding period thereof, determined with reference to section 1223,
(B)
the fair market value and adjusted basis referred to in paragraph (1) shall be that of that property for which the holding period taken into account includes ,
(C)
paragraph (1) shall apply only if the property or properties the holding periods of which are taken into account were held only by life insurance companies after , during the holding periods so taken into account,
(D)
the difference between the fair market value and adjusted basis referred to in paragraph (1) shall be reduced (to not less than zero) by the excess of (i) the gain that would have been recognized but for this subsection on all prior sales or dispositions after , of properties referred to in subparagraph (C), over (ii) the gain which was recognized on such sales or other dispositions, and
(E)
the basis of such property shall be determined as if the gain which would have been recognized but for this subsection were recognized gain.
(3)

Property defined

For purposes of paragraphs (1) and (2), the term “property” does not include insurance and annuity contracts and property described in paragraph (1) of section 1221(a).

(d)

Insurance or annuity contract includes contracts supplementary thereto

For purposes of this part, the term “insurance or annuity contract” includes any contract supplementary thereto.

(e)

Special rules for consolidated returns

(1)

Items of companies other than life insurance companies

If an election under section 1504(c)(2) is in effect with respect to an affiliated group for the taxable year, all items of the members of such group which are not life insurance companies shall not be taken into account in determining the amount of the tentative LICTI of members of such group which are life insurance companies.

(2)

Dividends within group

In the case of a life insurance company filing or required to file a consolidated return under section 1501 with respect to any affiliated group for any taxable year, any determination under this part with respect to any dividend paid by one member of such group to another member of such group shall be made as if such group was not filing a consolidated return.

(f)

Allocation of certain items for purposes of foreign tax credit, etc.

(1)

In general

Under regulations, in applying sections 861, 862, and 863 to a life insurance company, the deduction for policyholder dividends (determined under section 808(c)), reserve adjustments under subsections (a) and (b) of section 807, and death benefits and other amounts described in section 805(a)(1) shall be treated as items which cannot definitely be allocated to an item or class of gross income.

(2)

Election of alternative allocation

(A)

In general

On or before , any life insurance company may elect to treat items described in paragraph (1) as properly apportioned or allocated among items of gross income to the extent (and in the manner) prescribed in regulations.

(B)

Election irrevocable

Any election under subparagraph (A), once made, may be revoked only with the consent of the Secretary.

(3)

Items described in section 807(c) treated as not interest for source rules, etc.

For purposes of part I of subchapter N, items described in any paragraph of section 807(c) shall be treated as amounts which are not interest.

(g)

Qualified accelerated death benefit riders treated as life insurance

For purposes of this part—
(1)

In general

Any reference to a life insurance contract shall be treated as including a reference to a qualified accelerated death benefit rider on such contract.

(2)

Qualified accelerated death benefit riders

For purposes of this subsection, the term “qualified accelerated death benefit rider” means any rider on a life insurance contract if the only payments under the rider are payments meeting the requirements of section 101(g).

(3)

Exception for long-term care riders

Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any rider which is treated as a long-term care insurance contract under section 7702B.

Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title II, § 211(a)98 Stat. 752Pub. L. 99–514, title XIo100 Stat. 2424Pub. L. 100–647, title I102 Stat. 3456Pub. L. 104–191, title III, § 332(a)110 Stat. 2069Pub. L. 106–170, title V, § 532(c)(1)(D)113 Stat. 1930(Added and amended , title X, § 1001(b)(10), (e), , , 1011, 1012; , §§ 1106(d)(3)(C), 1112(d)(4), 1136(b), title XVIII, § 1821(n), (), , , 2445, 2486, 2842; , §§ 1010(k), 1011(e)(5)(A), , , 3461; , , ; , (3), , , 1931.)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

section 7851(a)(1)(A) of this titlesection 1 of this titlesection 7851(e) of this titleSection 165 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939, referred to in subsec. (a)(1), (2), was classified to section 165 of former Title 26, Internal Revenue Code. Section 101 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1939, referred to in subsec. (a)(4) was classified to section 101 of former Title 26, Internal Revenue Code. Sections 101 and 165 were repealed by . For table of comparisons of the 1939 Code to the 1986 Code, see Table I preceding . See, also, for provision that references in the 1986 Code to a provision of the 1939 Code, not then applicable, shall be deemed a reference to the corresponding provision of the 1986 Code, which is then applicable.

Prior Provisions

Pub. L. 86–69, § 2(a)73 Stat. 133Pub. L. 88–272, title II, § 228(b)(1)78 Stat. 98Pub. L. 91–688, § 1(a)84 Stat. 2072Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX90 Stat. 1781Pub. L. 97–248, title II96 Stat. 538–540Pub. L. 98–369, § 211(a)A prior section 818, added , , ; amended , , ; , , ; , §§ 1901(a)(101), 1906(b)(13)(A), , , 1834; , §§ 258(a), 260(a), 262, 267(a), , , 550, related to accounting provisions generally, prior to the general revision of this part by .

act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, § 818Mar. 13, 1956, ch. 83, § 270 Stat. 46Pub. L. 86–69, § 2(a)Another prior section 818, , as added , , related to certain new insurance companies, prior to the general revision of this part by .

Pub. L. 86–69, § 2(a)73 Stat. 136Pub. L. 89–809, title I, § 104(i)(3)80 Stat. 1561Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX90 Stat. 1781Pub. L. 98–369, § 211(a)section 813 of this titleA prior section 819, added , , ; amended , , ; , §§ 1901(a)(102), 1906(b)(13)(A), , , 1834, related to foreign life insurance companies, prior to the general revision of this part by . See .

Pub. L. 94–455, title X, § 1043(a)90 Stat. 1639Pub. L. 98–369, § 211(a)section 814 of this titleA prior section 819A, added , , , related to contiguous country branches of domestic life insurance companies, prior to the general revision of this part by . See .

Pub. L. 86–69, § 2(a)73 Stat. 137Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX90 Stat. 1782Pub. L. 97–248, title II, § 255(a)96 Stat. 533A prior section 820, added , , ; amended , §§ 1901(a)(103), 1906(b)(13)(A), , , 1834, related to optional treatment of policies reinsured under modified coinsurance contracts, prior to repeal by , (c), , , 534, applicable to taxable years beginning after , with exception.

Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 73668A Stat. 260Mar. 30, 1955, ch. 18, § 269 Stat. 14Mar. 13, 1956, ch. 83, § 3(a)(1)70 Stat. 47Mar. 29, 1956, ch. 115, § 270 Stat. 66Pub. L. 85–12, § 271 Stat. 9Pub. L. 85–475, § 272 Stat. 259Pub. L. 86–75, § 273 Stat. 157Pub. L. 86–564, title II, § 20174 Stat. 290Pub. L. 87–72, § 275 Stat. 193Pub. L. 87–508, § 276 Stat. 114Pub. L. 87–834, § 8(a)76 Stat. 989Pub. L. 88–52, § 277 Stat. 72Pub. L. 88–272, title I, § 123(a)78 Stat. 29Pub. L. 89–809, title I, § 104(i)(4)80 Stat. 1562Pub. L. 94–455, title IX, § 901(b)90 Stat. 1607Pub. L. 95–30, title II, § 201(3)91 Stat. 141Pub. L. 95–600, title III, § 301(b)(9)92 Stat. 2821Pub. L. 97–34, title II, § 231(b)(1)95 Stat. 249Pub. L. 99–514, title X, § 1024(a)(1)100 Stat. 2405A prior section 821, acts , ; , ; , (2), ; , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , ; , , ; , , ; , , title XV, § 1507(b)(1), title XIX, §§ 1901(a)(104), 1906(b)(13)(A), , 1739, 1782, 1834; , , (4), ; , , ; , , (2), , related to tax on mutual insurance companies to which former part II applied, prior to repeal by , , , effective for taxable years beginning after .

section 834 of this titlePub. L. 99–514, title X, § 1024(a)(3)100 Stat. 2405A prior section 822 was renumbered by , , .

Pub. L. 87–834, § 8(c)76 Stat. 992Pub. L. 91–172, title IX, § 907(c)(2)(B)83 Stat. 717Pub. L. 99–514, title X, § 1024(a)(1)100 Stat. 2405A prior section 823, added , , ; amended , , , related to determination of statutory underwriting income or loss, prior to repeal by , , , effective for taxable years beginning after .

act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 73668A Stat. 263section 822(f) of this titlesection 8(b)(4) of Pub. L. 87–834Another prior section 823, , , which defined “net premiums” and “dividends to policyholders”, was redesignated by .

Pub. L. 87–834, § 8(c)76 Stat. 993Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, § 1906(b)(13)(A)90 Stat. 1834Pub. L. 99–514, title X, § 1024(a)(1)100 Stat. 2405A prior section 824, added , , ; amended , , , related to adjustments to provide protection against losses, prior to repeal by , , , effective for taxable years beginning after .

Pub. L. 87–834, § 8(c)76 Stat. 995Pub. L. 91–17283 Stat. 717Pub. L. 94–455, title VIII, § 806(d)(2)90 Stat. 1599Pub. L. 97–34, title II, § 207(b)95 Stat. 225Pub. L. 99–514, title X, § 1024(a)(1)100 Stat. 2405A prior section 825, added , , ; amended title IX, § 907(c)(2)(C), (D), , ; , title XIX, § 1901(a)(106), , , 1782; , , , related to unused loss deduction, prior to repeal by , , , effective for taxable years beginning after .

section 835 of this titlePub. L. 99–514, title X, § 1024(a)(3)100 Stat. 2405A prior section 826 was renumbered by , , .

Amendments

Pub. L. 106–170, § 532(c)(3)1999—Subsec. (b)(2). , substituted “section 1221(a)(2)” for “section 1221(2)”.

Pub. L. 106–170, § 532(c)(1)(D)Subsec. (c)(3). , substituted “section 1221(a)” for “section 1221”.

Pub. L. 104–1911996—Subsec. (g). added subsec. (g).

Pub. L. 100–647, § 1011(e)(5)(A)1988—Subsec. (a)(6). , in subpar. (A) substituted “eligible deferred compensation plan” for “eligible State deferred compensation plan”, and in subpar. (B), inserted “or any organization (other than a governmental unit) exempt from tax under this subtitle,” after “foregoing,” and substituted “agency or instrumentality, or organization” for “or agency or instrumentality”.

Pub. L. 100–647, § 1010(k)Subsec. (f)(3). , added par. (3).

Pub. L. 99–514, § 1136(b)1986—Subsec. (a)(3). , substituted “(26), and (27)” for “and (26)”.

Pub. L. 99–514, § 1112(d)(4), substituted “(22), and (26)” for “and (22)”.

Pub. L. 99–514, § 1106(d)(3)(C), inserted “(17),” after “(16),”.

Pub. L. 99–514, § 1821(n)Subsec. (a)(6)(A). , in amending subpar. (A) generally, inserted “an eligible State deferred compensation plan (within the meaning of section 457(b)), or”.

Pub. L. 99–514, § 1821oSubsec. (e). (), amended subsec. (e) generally. Prior to amendment, subsec. (e) read as follows: “If an election under section 1504(c)(2) is in effect with respect to an affiliated group for the taxable year, all items of the members of such group which are not life insurance companies shall not be taken into account in determining the amount of the tentative LICTI of members of such group which are life insurance companies.”

Pub. L. 98–369, § 1001(b)(10)1984—Subsec. (b)(1)(A). , (e), substituted “6 months” for “1 year” in two places, applicable to property acquired after , and before . See Effective Date of 1984 Amendment note below.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 1999 Amendment

Pub. L. 106–170section 532(d) of Pub. L. 106–170section 170 of this titleAmendment by applicable to any instrument held, acquired, or entered into, any transaction entered into, and supplies held or acquired on or after , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1996 Amendment

Pub. L. 104–191, title III, § 332(b)110 Stat. 2069

“(1)

In general .—

The amendment made by this section [amending this section] shall take effect on .
“(2)

Issuance of rider not treated as material change .—

For purposes of applying sections 101(f), 7702, and 7702A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to any contract—
“(A)
the issuance of a qualified accelerated death benefit rider (as defined in section 818(g) of such Code (as added by this Act)), and
“(B)
the addition of any provision required to conform an accelerated death benefit rider to the requirements of such section 818(g),
shall not be treated as a modification or material change of such contract.”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Pub. L. 100–647, title I, § 1011(e)(5)(B)102 Stat. 3461

“The amendments made by this paragraph [amending this section] shall apply to contracts issued after .”
, , , provided that:

section 1010(k) of Pub. L. 100–647Pub. L. 99–514section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647section 1 of this titleAmendment by effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, , to which such amendment relates, see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

section 1106(d)(3)(C) of Pub. L. 99–514section 1106(i)(5) of Pub. L. 99–514section 415 of this titleAmendment by applicable to benefits accruing in years beginning after , except as otherwise provided, see set out as a note under .

section 1112(d)(4) of Pub. L. 99–514section 1112(e) of Pub. L. 99–514section 401 of this titleAmendment by applicable to plan years beginning after , with special rule regarding collective bargaining agreements ratified before , and with provision for waiver of the excise tax on reversions, see , set out as a note under .

oPub. L. 99–514Pub. L. 98–369, div. Asection 1881 of Pub. L. 99–514section 48 of this titleAmendment by section 1821(n), () 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 of 1984 Amendment

Pub. L. 98–369section 1001(e) of Pub. L. 98–369section 166 of this titleAmendment by applicable to property acquired after , and before , see , set out as a note under .

Regulations

section 1112 of Pub. L. 99–514section 1141 of Pub. L. 99–514section 401 of this titleSecretary of the Treasury or his delegate to issue before , final regulations to carry out amendments made by , 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 .