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 The 1982 code decreed that any money withdrawn from an annuity would be considered income first and would therefore be taxable.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
Dishonest statement to induce an insurance company to write coverage on an applicant. If the company knew the truth, it would not accept the applicant. Fraudulent misrepresentation gives a ...
Section describing coverages under a policy. Elsewhere in the policy other sections may restrict or exclude coverages. ...
Means of distribution that uses general agents rather than branch offices to sell life and health insurance. ...
Contract that gives the insurance company the right, not the obligation, to buy a stipulated stock or bond at a specified price (strike price) at or before the date of expiration of the ...
Coverage for routine personal legal expenses, including probate, criminal defense, and divorce. ...
Use of a home, and the land and buildings surrounding that home, free from the claim of creditors. This right gives rise to an insurable interest. ...
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Disability in which a wage earner is forever prevented from working at full physical capability because of injury or illness. ...
Protection required under the Motor Carrier Act of 1935. The policy covers the motor truck carrier if it is legally liable for the damage, destruction, or other loss of the customer's ...
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