(a) Tax imposed
A tax is hereby imposed for each taxable year on the life insurance company taxable income of every life insurance company. Such tax shall consist of a tax computed as provided in section 11 as though the life insurance company taxable income were the taxable income referred to in section 11.
(b) Life insurance company taxable income
For purposes of this part, the term "life insurance company taxable income" means—
(1) life insurance gross income, reduced by
(2) life insurance deductions.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 801, added Pub. L. 86–69, §2(a), June 25, 1959, 73 Stat. 112; amended Pub. L. 87–858, §3(a), Oct. 23, 1962, 76 Stat. 1134; Pub. L. 91–172, title I, §121(b)(5)(B), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 541; Pub. L. 93–406, title II, §2002(g)(11), Sept. 2, 1974, 88 Stat. 970; Pub. L. 94–455, title XV, §1505(a), title XIX, §§1901(c)(6), 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1738, 1803, 1834; Pub. L. 95–600, title VII, §703(j)(4), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2941, defined "life insurance company" and related terms, prior to the general revision of this part by Pub. L. 98–369, §211(a). See section 816 of this title.
Another prior section 801, acts Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 255; Mar. 13, 1956, ch. 83, §2, 70 Stat. 36, contained provisions similar to this section, prior to the the general revision of this part by Pub. L. 86–69, §2(a).
A prior section 802, added Pub. L. 86–69, §2(a), June 25, 1959, 73 Stat. 115; amended Pub. L. 87–858, §3(b)(1), Oct. 23, 1962, 76 Stat. 1136; Pub. L. 88–272, title II, §235(c)(1), Feb. 26, 1964, 78 Stat. 126; Pub. L. 91–172, title V, §511(c)(1), Dec. 30, 1969, 83 Stat. 637; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1901(a)(95), (b)(33)(E), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1780, 1801; Pub. L. 95–600, title III, §301(b)(8), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2821, contained provisions similar to this section, prior to the general revision of this part by Pub. L. 98–369, §211(a).
Another prior section 802, acts Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 255; Mar. 13, 1956, ch. 83, §2, 70 Stat. 38; July 24, 1956, ch. 696, §§1, 2(b), 70 Stat. 633; Mar. 17, 1958, Pub. L. 85–345, §§1, 2(a), 72 Stat. 36, contained provision similar to this section, prior to the general revision of this part by Pub. L. 86–69, §2(a).
Amendments
2017—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 115–97, §13001(b)(2)(G), struck out par. (1) designation and heading "In general" and struck out par. (2) which related to alternative tax in case of capital gains.
Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 115–97, §13512(b)(3), which directed striking out subpar. (C) of par. (2), could not be executed because of the prior amendment by section 13001(b)(2)(G) of Pub. L. 115–97, which struck out par. (2). See above.
Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 115–97, §13514(b), struck out subsec. (c) which referred to section 815 of this title for taxation of distributions from pre-1984 policyholders surplus account.
1986—Subsec. (a)(2)(C). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted "the amount allowable as a deduction under paragraph (2)" for "the amounts allowable as deductions under paragraphs (2) and (3)" in text and struck from heading "special life insurance company deduction and" before "small".
Effective Date of 2017 Amendment
Amendment by section 13001(b)(2)(G) of Pub. L. 115–97 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, see section 13001(c)(1) of Pub. L. 115–97, set out as a note under section 11 of this title.
Amendment by section 13512(b)(3) of Pub. L. 115–97 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, see section 13512(c) of Pub. L. 115–97, set out as a note under section 453B of this title.
Pub. L. 115–97, title I, §13514(c), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2144, provided that: "The amendments made by this section [amending this section and repealing section 815 of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017."
Effective Date of 1986 Amendment
Amendment by Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1986, see section 1011(c)(1) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 453B of this title.
Effective Date
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title II, §215, July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 758, provided that: "The amendments made by this subtitle [subtitle A (§§211–219) of title II of div. A of Pub. L. 98–369, amending this part, enacting section 845 of this title, amending sections 72, 80, 243, 381, 401, 453B, 542, 594, 832, 841, 844, 891, 953, 1016, 1035, 1201, 1232A, 1351, 1503, 1504, 1561, 1563, 4371, 6501, 6511, 6601, and 6611 of this title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under this section and sections 453B, 806, 807, 809, 814, 816, 845, and 6655 of this title] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1983."
Phased Inclusion of Remaining Balance of Policyholders Surplus Accounts
Pub. L. 115–97, title I, §13514(d), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2144, provided that: "In the case of any stock life insurance company which has a balance (determined as of the close of such company's last taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018) in an existing policyholders surplus account (as defined in section 815 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as in effect before its repeal), the tax imposed by section 801 of such Code for the first 8 taxable years beginning after December 31, 2017, shall be the amount which would be imposed by such section for such year on the sum of—
"(1) life insurance company taxable income for such year (within the meaning of such section 801 but not less than zero), plus
"(2) 1/8 of such balance."
Treatment of Certain Workers' Compensation Funds
Pub. L. 100–647, title VI, §6076, Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3706, provided that:
"(a)
"(b)
"(1) the group has received a certificate of approval from, and is subject to regulation by, the State board or agency that is responsible for administering the State workers' disability compensation laws,
"(2) each employer who is a member of the group, by written agreement, is jointly and severally bound to assume and discharge, by payment, any lawful judgment or award entered by a court of competent jurisdiction or by the State agency responsible for administering the State workers' disability compensation laws against a member of the group,
"(3) the group is prohibited by State law or regulation from using the monies collected for a purpose other than to pay, or to reserve against, claims under the State workers' disability compensation laws and expenses,
"(4) the group is prohibited by State law or regulation from taking projected investment income into account in determining members' premiums,
"(5) the group is required by State law or regulation to submit to the State board or agency that is responsible for administering the State workers' disability compensation laws an audited financial statement,
"(6) the group's investments are limited by State law or regulation to bonds, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued, assumed or guaranteed by the United States of America, or by an agency or instrumentality thereof, certificates of deposit in a federally insured bank, shares or savings deposits in a federally insured savings and loan association or credit union, and certificates of deposit issued by a commercial bank duly chartered under State law, and other investments which are approved by the State board or agency that is responsible for administering the State workers' disability compensation laws, and
"(7) the group exclusively covers workers' compensation liability, is not a commercial insurance carrier or company licensed by the State board, agency, or commissioner responsible for regulating and licensing insurance carriers and companies; and is not subject to filing under the regulatory statements of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners."
Treatment of Certain Market Discount Bonds
Pub. L. 99–514, title X, §1011(d), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2390, as amended by Pub. L. 100–647, title I, §1010(a)(2), (3), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3450, 3451, provided that:
"(1)
"(2)
Waiver of Interest on Certain Underpayments of Tax
Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, §1829, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2851, provided that: "No interest shall be payable for any period before July 19, 1984, on any underpayment of a tax imposed by the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 [now 1986], to the extent such underpayment was created or increased by any provision of subtitle A of title II of the Tax Reform Act of 1984 [see Effective Date note above] (relating to taxation of life insurance companies)."
Scope of Section 255 of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982
Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, §1830, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2851, provided that: "In the case of any taxable year beginning before January 1, 1982, in applying the provisions of section 255(c)(2) of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 [section 255(c)(2) of Pub. L. 97–248, 96 Stat. 534, formerly set out as a note under section 809 of this title], the Internal Revenue Service shall give full and complete effect to the terms of any modified coinsurance contract. The terms to be given effect within the meaning of this provision shall include, but are not limited to, the effective date and investment income rate as stated in such contract."
Treatment of Certain Self-Insured Workers' Compensation Funds
Pub. L. 99–514, title XVIII, §1879(q), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2911, provided that:
"(1)
"(A) shall suspend any pending audit of any self-insured workers' compensation fund where the audit involves the issue of whether such fund is a mutual insurance company,
"(B) shall not initiate any audit of any such fund involving such issue, and
"(C) shall take no steps to collect from such fund any underpayment, interest, or penalty involving such issue.
"(2)
"(3)
"(4)
Reserves Computed on New Basis; Fresh Start
Pub. L. 98–369, title II, §216, July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 758, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, §2, title XVIII, §1822, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, 2844; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, §1018(i), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3583, provided that:
"(a)
"(1)
"(2)
"(3)
"(b)
"(1)
"(A) a company having its principal place of business in Alabama and incorporated in Delaware on November 29, 1979, or
"(B) a company having its principal place of business in Houston, Texas, and incorporated in Delaware on June 9, 1947.
"(2)
"(A)
"(B)
"(i)
"(I) the amount of the adjustments which would be taken into account under such section in taxable years beginning after 1983 without regard to this subparagraph, exceeds
"(II) the amount of any fresh start adjustment attributable to contracts for which there was such an increase in reserves as a result of such change.
"(ii)
"(I) the reserve attributable to such contract as of the close of the taxpayer's last taxable year beginning before January 1, 1984, over
"(II) the reserve for such contract as of the beginning of the taxpayer's first taxable year beginning after 1983 as recomputed under subsection (a) of this section.
"(C)
"(3)
"(A)
"(i) to any reserve transferred pursuant to—
"(I) a reinsurance agreement entered into after September 27, 1983, and before January 1, 1984, or
"(II) a modification of a reinsurance agreement made after September 27, 1983, and before January 1, 1984, and
"(ii) to any reserve strengthening reported for Federal income tax purposes after September 27, 1983, for a taxable year ending before January 1, 1984.
Clause (ii) shall not apply to the computation of reserves on any contract issued if such computation employs the reserve practice used for purposes of the most recent annual statement filed before September 27, 1983, for the type of contract with respect to which such reserves are set up. For purposes of this subparagraph, if the reinsurer's taxable year is not a calendar year, the first day of the reinsurer's first taxable year beginning after December 31, 1983, shall be substituted for 'January 1, 1984' each place it appears.
"(B)
"(C) 10-
"(D)
"(E)
"(4)
"(A)
"(B)
"(C)
"(i)
"(I) which made an election under such section 818(c
"(II) which was acquired in a qualified stock purchase (as defined in section 338(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954]) before December 31, 1983,
the fact that such corporation is treated as a new corporation under section 338 of such Code shall not result in the election described in subclause (I) not applying to such new corporation.
"(ii)
"(iii)
"(5)
"(i) if the amount of the reserves with respect to the recaptured contracts, computed at the date of recapture, that the reinsurer would have taken into account under [former] section 810(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act) exceeds the amount of the reserves with respect to the recaptured contracts, computed at the date of recapture, taken into account by the reinsurer under section 807(c) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended by this subtitle), such excess (but not greater than the amount of such excess if computed on January 1, 1984) shall be taken into account by the reinsurer under the method described in section 807(f)(1)(B)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended by this subtitle) commencing with the taxable year of recapture, and
"(ii) the amount, if any, taken into account by the reinsurer under clause (i) for purposes of part I of subchapter L of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 shall be taken into account by the reinsured under the method described in section 807(f)(1)(B)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended by this subtitle) commencing with the taxable year of recapture.
The excess described in clause (i) shall be reduced by any portion of such excess to which section 807(f) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 applies by reason of paragraph (3) of this subsection. For purposes of this paragraph, the term 'reinsurer' refers to the taxpayer that held reserves with respect to the recaptured contracts as of the end of the taxable year preceding the first taxable year beginning after December 31, 1983, and the term 'reinsured' refers to the taxpayer to which such reserves are ultimately transferred upon termination.
"(c)
"(1)
"(A) subsection (a) shall not apply to such company, and
"(B) as of the beginning of the first taxable year beginning after December 31, 1983, and thereafter, the reserve for any contract issued before the first day of such taxable year by such company shall be the statutory reserve for such contract (within the meaning of [former] section 809(b)(4)(B)(i) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986).
"(2)
"(A)
"(i) a qualified life insurance company makes an election under paragraph (1), and
"(ii) the tentative LICTI (within the meaning of [former] section 806(c) of such Code) of such company for its first taxable year beginning after December 31, 1983, does not exceed $3,000,000 (determined with regard to this paragraph),
such company may elect under this paragraph to have the reserve for any contract issued on or after the first day of such first taxable year and before January 1, 1989, be equal to the greater of the statutory reserve for such contract (adjusted as provided in subparagraph (B)) or the net surrender value of such contract (as defined in section 807(e)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954]).
"(B)
"(i) the prevailing State assumed interest rate (within the meaning of section 807(c)(4) of such Code), for
"(ii) the adjusted reserves rate.
"(3)
"(4)
"(5)
"(A) shall be made at such time and in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury may prescribe, and
"(B) once made, shall be irrevocable."
Treatment of Certain Companies Operating Both as Stock and Mutual Company
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title II, §217(e), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 762, provided that: "If, during the 10-year period ending on December 31, 1983, a company has, as authorized by the law of the State in which the company is domiciled, been operating as a mutual life insurance company with shareholders, such company shall be treated as a stock life insurance company."
Treatment of Reinsurance Agreements Required by National Association of Insurance Commissioners
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title II, §217(g), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 763, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, §2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that: "Effective for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1981, and before January 1, 1984, subsections (c)(1)(F) and (d)(12) of section 809 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act [July 18, 1984]) shall not apply to dividends to policyholders reimbursed to the taxpayer by a reinsurer in respect of accident and health policies reinsured under a reinsurance agreement entered into before June 30, 1955, pursuant to the direction of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and approved by the State insurance commissioner of the taxpayer's State of domicile. For purposes of subchapter L of chapter 1 of such Code (as in effect on the day before the date of the enactment of this Act) any such dividends shall be treated as dividends of the reinsurer and not the taxpayer."
Reports to Congress on Revenue, Segment Balance, Etc.
Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title II, §231, July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 776, as amended by Pub. L. 99–514, §2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095, provided that:
"(a)
"(1) the aggregate amount of revenue received under part I of subchapter L of chapter 1 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 [formerly I.R.C. 1954] for the most recent taxable years for which data are available,
"(2) a comparison between the amount of such revenue and the amount anticipated by reason of changes made by the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 [Pub. L. 97–248] or the Life Insurance Tax Act of 1984 [probably means title II of div. A of Pub. L. 98–369], and
"(3) the reasons for any difference between such aggregate revenues and anticipated revenues.
"(b)
"(1)
"(2)
"(A) an analysis of the portion of the taxes paid by mutual life insurance companies and stock life insurance companies, and
"(B) any other data considered relevant by either stock life insurance companies or mutual life insurance companies in determining appropriate segment balance, such as the respective amounts of the following items held by each segment of the industry—
"(i) equity,
"(ii) life insurance reserves,
"(iii) other types of reserves,
"(iv) dividends paid to policyholders and shareholders,
"(v) pension business,
"(vi) total assets, and
"(vii) gross receipts.
Such report shall also include an analysis of the extent to which taxes paid by stockholders of life insurance companies shall be included in analyzing segment balance.
"(3)
"(A)
"(B)
"(c)