Tax Equity And Financial Responsibility Acts Of 1982 And 1983 (TEFRA)

Definition of "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 The 1982 code decreed that any money withdrawn from an annuity would be considered income first and would therefore be taxable.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.

image of a real estate dictionary page

Have a question or comment?

We're here to help.

*** Your email address will remain confidential.
 

 

Popular Insurance Terms

Agent with the authority from an insurance company to prepare and to place into business an insurance policy. ...

credit reflected on a ceding company's annual statement, showing reinsurance premiums ceded and losses recoverable from the reinsurer. ...

Coverage under the Homeowners Form-4 (HO-4) for the insured's personal property and loss of use against fire and/or lightning; vandalism and/or malicious mischief; windstorm and/or hail; ...

Addition to a business property insurance policy to cover loss of earnings, subject to a monthly limit, in the event that property of an insured is destroyed and a business cannot continue. ...

Coverage for a mortgagee where real or personal property, used as security for a loan, is damaged or destroyed. For example, a bank (mortgagee) lends money to an individual (mortgagor) who ...

Reinstatement of an insurance policy or bond to its original face amount (face of policy) after the payment by the insurer of a loss. The purpose of this type of coverage is to indemnify ...

Same as term Cargo Insurance: shipper's policies covering one cargo exposure or all cargo exposures by sea on all risks basis. Exclusions include war, nuclear disaster, wear and tear, ...

Coverage on cargo in overseas ships for war-caused liability excluded under standard ocean marine insurance. Not covered is cargo awaiting shipment on a wharf, or on ships after 15 days of ...

Accounting method used to reduce income taxes on distributions from qualified pension or retirement plans. Ten-year averaging was repealed by the tax reform act of 1986 but is still ...

Popular Insurance Questions