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 The 1982 code decreed that any money withdrawn from an annuity would be considered income first and would therefore be taxable.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
Individual receiving medical treatment who is not required to be hospitalized overnight. ...
One who purchases insurance, usually property and liability and not life or annuities, by utilizing his or her own employee purchaser or licensed broker/agent at a minimum annual premium of ...
In property insurance, when the insurance policy contains this clause, coinsurance defines the amount of each loss that the company pays according to the following relationship:Amount of ...
Employee benefit plan that includes benefits to be received from Social Security when determining the allowable benefit amount to be received by that employee or beneficiary. ...
Same as term Chartered Life Underwriter: professional designation conferred by the American College. In addition to professional business experience in insurance planning and related ...
Location that is different from an insured's home or place of business. Under the standard homeowners insurance policy, the property of the insured is covered off premises; for example, if ...
Same as term Contract Holder: in insurance, individual with rightful possession of an insurance policy, usually the policyowner. ...
One who submits a claim for an incurred loss. ...
A historical mortality table used to calculate premium rates for deferred annuities and optional modes of settlement for life insurance policies. This table was subsequently replaced by the ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.