Tax Equity And Financial Responsibility Acts Of 1982 And 1983 (TEFRA)
Legislation that redefined life insurance and raised taxes on life insurance companies. Among the provisions were new rules for some life insurance products, including a definition of flexible premium life insurance, and an increase in life insurance company taxes. Congress was concerned that a policyholder could take a substantial amount, say $1 million, and, after putting a few dollars toward a life insurance premium, put the remainder into a tax-free investment vehicle. One of two tests had to be satisfied for a policy to qualify as life insurance: the cash surrender value policy could not exceed a net single premium, and the death benefit had to represent a certain percentage of the cash value, which declined as the policy-holder got older. For example, at age 40, the death benefit must be 140% of cash value. The second rule closed a loophole on tax-free withdrawals from annuities. Prior to 1982 annuity holders could withdraw their initial premium tax free at any time. The 1982 code decreed that any money withdrawn from an annuity would be considered income first and would therefore be taxable. The older 1959 tax code devised a shorthand formula for determining taxes paid by insurers. The formula worked when interest rates were low, but as they soared, insurers found ways to reduce the increased tax bite. The 1982 code introduced a stopgap measure designed to raise taxes on life insurers by $3 billion.
Popular Insurance Terms
Trust whereby asset management is provided until a child reaches the age of majority. Upon reaching majority, the child has full use and control over the assets. The grantor of the trust ...
Benefit in disability income insurance whereby an injured or ill wage earner receives a monthly income payment to replace a percentage of his or her lost earnings. ...
Shortened report showing pertinent insurance policy information, copies of which are distributed in the insurance company's home office and branch offices, as well as to agents and brokers. ...
Stipulation that no claim will be paid until a loss exceeds a flat dollar amount or a given percentage of the amount of insurance in force. After the loss exceeds this dollar amount or ...
Amount charged to an insured that reflects expectation of loss for a covered risk; and insurance company expenses and profit. ...
Form showing notification that an insurance policy has been renewed with the same provisions, clauses, and benefits of the previous policy. ...
Trust established under the Internal Revenue Service code that is used to provide accident and sickness benefits to member employees. ...
Provision that the equity of an insured in a life insurance policy cannot be forfeited. There are four benefits a policyholder can select under the option: cash surrender value, extended ...
Same as term Binder: temporary insurance contract providing coverage until a permanent policy is issued. In property and casualty insurance, some agents have authority to bind the insurance ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.