Description: The article provides an overview of the federal tax treatment of long-term care insurance contracts, including a brief history of the tax treatment of long-term care insurance, the requirements that must be satisfied in order to be treated as qualified long-term care insurance under the Internal Revenue Code, and a brief discussion of qualified long-term care combination products and chronic and terminal illness accelerated death benefits offered under life insurance contracts.

Description: T3: TAXING TIMES TIDBITS

Description: The article discusses the recent final and proposed regulations published by the IRS and Treasury on the required minimum distribution rules for qualified plans, which implement changes made by SECURE 1.0 and SECURE 2.0. The article is intended to identify the important rules in the final regulations, provide a framework for determining how the rules apply to beneficiaries of qualified plans and IRAs, describe the key differences between the earlier 2022 proposed regulations and the final regulations, and it summarizes the SECURE 2.0 provisions contained in the new proposed regulations.

Description: The traditional defined-benefit (DB) plan is a type of plan structured to provide the greatest degree of retirement income security, designed to pay out a guaranteed retirement income for the life of the retiree (and, when applicable, a beneficiary). However, over the last several decades, the number of private-sector employees covered under these traditional plans has decreased dramatically and been replaced by defined contribution (DC) plans. In contrast, public-sector retirement plans, which are exempt from ERISA, have seen a much smaller decline in DB plans. There are many differences in the private and public sector that likely contributed to this phenomenon, but ERISA and the many amendments to it has been a major factor.

Description: This article summarizes IRS guidance on what constitutes a change in basis for computing life insurance reserves under the Internal Revenue Code.

Description: SECURE 2.0 included provisions that improve the ability of insurers to serve those who own qualified annuities. Several previously disallowed distribution methods are now allowed. These changes should increase the availability and desirability by contract owners to choose a payout annuity compared to required minimum distributions. An insurer considering enhancing qualified annuitization offerings might follow the approach outlined to potentially increase qualified annuitization sales and assist contract owners in protecting their principal more directly than previously.

Description: Summary of Administration's FY 2023 Tax Proposals of Interest to Life Insurers

Description: The article discusses the impact of changes made to Internal Revenue Code Section 7702 by the ConsolidatedAppropriations Act, 2021. The Consolidated Appropriations Act made changes to the interest rates used calculatethe Section 7702 premium and cash value funding limitations for life insurance contracts

Description: Frist Quarter 2022 updates on tax issues involving: IRS publication of 7702 60-month avg. applicable federal interest rates, OECD Global Minimum Tax, final Foreign Tax Credit regulations issued by Treasury and IRS, Final Regulations on Tax Issues Associated with LIBOR Transition issued by Treasury and IRS, and the Multistate Tax Commission Partnership Project focusing on insurer investment partnerships.

Description: The article describes recently proposed regulations on the deduction of partially-worthless debts under section 166. It also provides background on the comments submitted by the insurance industry in response to the proposed regulations and additional guidance issued by Treasury and the IRS following the publication of the proposed regulations.