§953. Insurance income

(a) General rule

For purposes of section 952(a)(1), the term "insurance income" means any income which-

(1) is attributable to the issuing (or reinsuring) of any insurance or annuity contract-

(A) in connection with property in, liability arising out of activity in, or in connection with the lives or health of residents of, a country other than the country under the laws of which the controlled foreign corporation is created or organized, or

(B) in connection with risks not described in subparagraph (A) as the result of any arrangement whereby another corporation receives a substantially equal amount of premiums or other consideration in respect of issuing (or reinsuring) a contract described in subparagraph (A), and

(2) would (subject to the modifications provided by paragraphs (1) and (2) of subsection (b)) be taxed under subchapter L of this chapter if such income were the income of a domestic insurance company.

(b) Special rules

For purposes of subsection (a)-

(1) The following provisions of subchapter L shall not apply:

(A) The small life insurance company deduction.

(B) Section 805(a)(5) (relating to operations loss deduction).

(C) Section 832(c)(5) (relating to certain capital losses).

(2) The items referred to in-

(A) section 803(a)(1) (relating to gross amount of premiums and other considerations),

(B) section 803(a)(2) (relating to net decrease in reserves),

(C) section 805(a)(2) (relating to net increase in reserves), and

(D) section 832(b)(4) (relating to premiums earned on insurance contracts),

shall be taken into account only to the extent they are in respect of any reinsurance or the issuing of any insurance or annuity contract described in subsection (a)(1).

(3) All items of income, expenses, losses, and deductions shall be properly allocated or apportioned under regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

(c) Special rule for certain captive insurance companies

(1) In general

For purposes only of taking into account related person insurance income-

(A) the term "United States shareholder" means, with respect to any foreign corporation, a United States person (as defined in section 957(c)) who owns (within the meaning of section 958(a)) any stock of the foreign corporation,

(B) the term "controlled foreign corporation" has the meaning given to such term by section 957(a) determined by substituting "25 percent or more" for "more than 50 percent", and

(C) the pro rata share referred to in section 951(a)(1)(A)(i) shall be determined under paragraph (5) of this subsection.

(2) Related person insurance income

For purposes of this subsection, the term "related person insurance income" means any insurance income (within the meaning of subsection (a)) attributable to a policy of insurance or reinsurance with respect to which the person (directly or indirectly) insured is a United States shareholder in the foreign corporation or a related person to such a shareholder.

(3) Exceptions

(A) Corporations not held by insureds

Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any foreign corporation if at all times during the taxable year of such foreign corporation-

(i) less than 20 percent of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of such corporation entitled to vote, and

(ii) less than 20 percent of the total value of such corporation,

is owned (directly or indirectly under the principles of section 883(c)(4)) by persons who are (directly or indirectly) insured under any policy of insurance or reinsurance issued by such corporation or who are related persons to any such person.

(B) De minimis exception

Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any foreign corporation for a taxable year of such corporation if the related person insurance income (determined on a gross basis) of such corporation for such taxable year is less than 20 percent of its insurance income (as so determined) for such taxable year determined without regard to those provisions of subsection (a)(1) which limit insurance income to income from countries other than the country in which the corporation was created or organized.

(C) Election to treat income as effectively connected

Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any foreign corporation for any taxable year if-

(i) such corporation elects (at such time and in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe)-

(I) to treat its related person insurance income for such taxable year as income effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business in the United States, and

(II) to waive all benefits (other than with respect to section 884) with respect to related person insurance income granted by the United States under any treaty between the United States and any foreign country, and

(ii) such corporation meets such requirements as the Secretary shall prescribe to ensure that the tax imposed by this chapter on such income is paid.

An election under this subparagraph made for any taxable year shall not be effective if the corporation (or any predecessor thereof) was a disqualified corporation for the taxable year for which the election was made or for any prior taxable year beginning after 1986.

(D) Special rules for subparagraph (C)

(i) Period during which election in effect

(I) In general

Except as provided in subclause (II), any election under subparagraph (C) shall apply to the taxable year for which made and all subsequent taxable years unless revoked with the consent of the Secretary.

(II) Termination

If a foreign corporation which made an election under subparagraph (C) for any taxable year is a disqualified corporation for any subsequent taxable year, such election shall not apply to any taxable year beginning after such subsequent taxable year.

(ii) Exemption from tax imposed by section 4371

The tax imposed by section 4371 shall not apply with respect to any related person insurance income treated as effectively connected with the conduct of a trade or business within the United States under subparagraph (C).

(E) Disqualified corporation

For purposes of this paragraph the term "disqualified corporation" means, with respect to any taxable year, any foreign corporation which is a controlled foreign corporation for an uninterrupted period of 30 days or more during such taxable year (determined without regard to this subsection) but only if a United States shareholder (determined without regard to this subsection) owns (within the meaning of section 958(a)) stock in such corporation at some time during such taxable year.

(4) Treatment of mutual insurance companies

In the case of a mutual insurance company-

(A) this subsection shall apply,

(B) policyholders of such company shall be treated as shareholders, and

(C) appropriate adjustments in the application of this subpart shall be made under regulations prescribed by the Secretary.

(5) Determination of pro rata share

(A) In general

The pro rata share determined under this paragraph for any United States shareholder is the lesser of-

(i) the amount which would be determined under paragraph (2) of section 951(a) if-

(I) only related person insurance income were taken into account,

(II) stock owned (within the meaning of section 958(a)) by United States shareholders on the last day of the taxable year were the only stock in the foreign corporation, and

(III) only distributions received by United States shareholders were taken into account under subparagraph (B) of such paragraph (2), or

(ii) the amount which would be determined under paragraph (2) of section 951(a) if the entire earnings and profits of the foreign corporation for the taxable year were subpart F income.

(B) Coordination with other provisions

The Secretary shall prescribe regulations providing for such modifications to the provisions of this subpart as may be necessary or appropriate by reason of subparagraph (A).

(6) Related person

For purposes of this subsection-

(A) In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term "related person" has the meaning given such term by section 954(d)(3).

(B) Treatment of certain liability insurance policies

In the case of any policy of insurance covering liability arising from services performed as a director, officer, or employee of a corporation or as a partner or employee of a partnership, the person performing such services and the entity for which such services are performed shall be treated as related persons.

(7) Coordination with section 1248

For purposes of section 1248, if any person is (or would be but for paragraph (3)) treated under paragraph (1) as a United States shareholder with respect to any foreign corporation which would be taxed under subchapter L if it were a domestic corporation and which is (or would be but for paragraph (3)) treated under paragraph (1) as a controlled foreign corporation-

(A) such person shall be treated as meeting the stock ownership requirements of section 1248(a)(2) with respect to such foreign corporation, and

(B) such foreign corporation shall be treated as a controlled foreign corporation.

(8) Regulations

The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection, including-

(A) regulations preventing the avoidance of this subsection through cross insurance arrangements or otherwise, and

(B) regulations which may provide that a person will not be treated as a United States shareholder under paragraph (1) with respect to any foreign corporation if neither such person (nor any related person to such person) is (directly or indirectly) insured under any policy of insurance or reinsurance issued by such foreign corporation.

(d) Election by foreign insurance company to be treated as domestic corporation

(1) In general

If-

(A) a foreign corporation is a controlled foreign corporation (as defined in section 957(a) by substituting "25 percent or more" for "more than 50 percent" and by using the definition of United States shareholder under 953(c)(1)(A)),

(B) such foreign corporation would qualify under part I or II of subchapter L for the taxable year if it were a domestic corporation,

(C) such foreign corporation meets such requirements as the Secretary shall prescribe to ensure that the taxes imposed by this chapter on such foreign corporation are paid, and

(D) such foreign corporation makes an election to have this paragraph apply and waives all benefits to such corporation granted by the United States under any treaty,

for purposes of this title, such corporation shall be treated as a domestic corporation.

(2) Period during which election is in effect

(A) In general

Except as provided in subparagraph (B), an election under paragraph (1) shall apply to the taxable year for which made and all subsequent taxable years unless revoked with the consent of the Secretary.

(B) Termination

If a corporation which made an election under paragraph (1) for any taxable year fails to meet the requirements of subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C), of paragraph (1) for any subsequent taxable year, such election shall not apply to any taxable year beginning after such subsequent taxable year.

(3) Treatment of losses

If any corporation treated as a domestic corporation under this subsection is treated as a member of an affiliated group for purposes of chapter 6 (relating to consolidated returns), any loss of such corporation shall be treated as a dual consolidated loss for purposes of section 1503(d) without regard to paragraph (2)(B) thereof.

(4) Effect of election

(A) In general

For purposes of section 367, any foreign corporation making an election under paragraph (1) shall be treated as transferring (as of the 1st day of the 1st taxable year to which such election applies) all of its assets to a domestic corporation in connection with an exchange to which section 354 applies.

(B) Exception for pre-1988 earnings and profit

(i) In general

Earnings and profits of the foreign corporation accumulated in taxable years beginning before January 1, 1988, shall not be included in the gross income of the persons holding stock in such corporation by reason of subparagraph (A).

(ii) Treatment of distributions

For purposes of this title, any distribution made by a corporation to which an election under paragraph (1) applies out of earnings and profits accumulated in taxable years beginning before January 1, 1988, shall be treated as a distribution made by a foreign corporation.

(iii) Certain rules to continue to apply to pre-1988 earnings

The provisions specified in clause (iv) shall be applied without regard to paragraph (1), except that, in the case of a corporation to which an election under paragraph (1) applies, only earnings and profits accumulated in taxable years beginning before January 1, 1988, shall be taken into account.

(iv) Specified provisions

The provisions specified in this clause are:

(I) Section 1248 (relating to gain from certain sales or exchanges of stock in certain foreign corporations).

(II) Subpart F of part III of subchapter N to the extent such subpart relates to earnings invested in United States property or amounts referred to in clause (ii) or (iii) of section 951(a)(1)(A).

(III) Section 884 to the extent the foreign corporation reinvested 1987 earnings and profits in United States assets.

(5) Effect of termination

For purposes of section 367, if-

(A) an election is made by a corporation under paragraph (1) for any taxable year, and

(B) such election ceases to apply for any subsequent taxable year,

such corporation shall be treated as a domestic corporation transferring (as of the 1st day of such subsequent taxable year) all of its property to a foreign corporation in connection with an exchange to which section 354 applies.

(6) Additional tax on corporation making election

(A) In general

If a corporation makes an election under paragraph (1), the amount of tax imposed by this chapter for the 1st taxable year to which such election applies shall be increased by the amount determined under subparagraph (B).

(B) Amount of tax

The amount of tax determined under this paragraph shall be equal to the lesser of-

(i) ¾ of 1 percent of the aggregate amount of capital and accumulated surplus of the corporation as of December 31, 1987, or

(ii) $1,500,000.

(Added Pub. L. 87–834, §12(a), Oct. 16, 1962, 76 Stat. 1008 ; amended Pub. L. 89–809, title I, §104(m)(2), Nov. 13, 1966, 80 Stat. 1563 ; Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX, §1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834 ; Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title II, §211(b)(13), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 755 ; Pub. L. 99–514, title XII, §1221(b)(1), (2), (3)(D), Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2551 , 2553; Pub. L. 100–647, title I, §1012(i)(1)–(3)(B), (4), (5), (7)–(9), (21), title VI, §6135(a), Nov. 10, 1988, 102 Stat. 3507–3509 , 3511, 3721; Pub. L. 101–239, title VII, §7816(p), Dec. 19, 1989, 103 Stat. 2423 .)

Amendments

1989-Subsec. (d)(3). Pub. L. 101–239 substituted "for purposes of section 1503(d) without regard to paragraph (2)(B) thereof" for "(as defined in section 1503(d))".

1988-Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(i)(7)(A), redesignated par. (2) as (1) and struck out former par. (1) which read as follows: "A corporation which would, if it were a domestic insurance corporation, be taxable under part II of subchapter L shall apply subsection (a) as if it were taxable under part III of subchapter L."

Subsec. (b)(1)(A). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(i)(7)(B), added subpar. (A) and struck out former subpar. (A) which read as follows: "The special life insurance company deduction and the small life insurance company deduction."

Subsec. (b)(2) to (4). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(i)(7)(A), (C), redesignated pars. (3) and (4) as (2) and (3), respectively, and struck out "(other than those taken into account under paragraph (3))" after "and deductions" in par. (3). Former par. (2) redesignated (1).

Subsec. (c)(1)(C). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(i)(2)(A), added subpar. (C).

Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(i)(3)(A), (4)(B), (5), substituted "insurance income (within the meaning of subsection (a)) attributable" for "insurance income attributable", "with respect to which the person (directly or indirectly) insured is" for "with respect to which the primary insured is", and "related person" for "related person (within the meaning of section 954(d)(3))".

Subsec. (c)(3)(A). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(i)(3)(B), (4)(B), substituted "persons who are (directly or indirectly) insured" for "persons who are the primary insured" and "to any such person" for "(within the meaning of section 954(d)(3)) to any such primary insured".

Subsec. (c)(3)(B). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(i)(8), substituted "related person insurance income (determined on a gross basis)" for "related person insurance income" and "its insurance income (as so determined)" for "its insurance income".

Subsec. (c)(3)(C). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(i)(1)(A), (9), substituted "all benefits (other than with respect to section 884)" for "all benefits" and "granted by the United States under any treaty" for "under any income tax treaty" in cl. (i)(II) and inserted at end "An election under this subparagraph made for any taxable year shall not be effective if the corporation (or any predecessor thereof) was a disqualified corporation for the taxable year for which the election was made or for any prior taxable year beginning after 1986."

Subsec. (c)(3)(D)(i). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(i)(1)(B), substituted "Period during which election in effect" for "Election irrevocable" in heading and amended text generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: "Any election under subparagraph (C) shall apply to the taxable year for which made and all subsequent taxable years unless revoked with the consent of the Secretary."

Subsec. (c)(3)(E). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(i)(1)(C), added subpar. (E).

Subsec. (c)(5). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(i)(2)(B), added par. (5) and redesignated former par. (5) as (6).

Subsec. (c)(6). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(i)(4)(A), added par. (6) and redesignated former par. (6) as (7).

Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(i)(2)(B), redesignated former par. (5) as (6).

Subsec. (c)(7). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(i)(21), added par. (7) and struck out former par. (7) "Regulations", which read as follows: "The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this subsection, including regulations preventing the avoidance of this subsection through cross insurance arrangements or otherwise."

Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(i)(4)(A), redesignated former par. (6) as (7).

Subsec. (c)(8). Pub. L. 100–647, §1012(i)(21), added par. (8).

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 100–647, §6135(a), added subsec. (d).

1986-Pub. L. 99–514, §1221(b)(3)(D), substituted "Insurance income" for "Income from insurance of United States risks" in section catchline.

Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 99–514, §1221(b)(1), amended subsec. (a) generally, substituting provisions defining "insurance income" for former provisions defining "income derived from the insurance of United States risks".

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 99–514, §1221(b)(2), added subsec. (c).

1984-Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 98–369, §211(b)(13)(D), substituted "and (2)" for ", (2), and (3)".

Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 98–369, §211(b)(13)(A), redesignated par. (2) as (1). Former par. (1), which provided that the application of part I of subchapter L of this chapter, life insurance company taxable income was the gain from operations as defined in section 809(b), was struck out.

Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 98–369, §211(b)(13)(B), in amending par. (2) generally, substituted

"(A) The special life insurance company deduction and the small life insurance company deduction.

"(B) Section 805(a)(5) (relating to operations loss deduction).

"(C) Section 832(c)(5) (relating to certain capital losses)."

for

"(A) Section 809(d)(4) (operations loss deduction).

"(B) Section 809(d)(5) (certain nonparticipating contracts).

"(C) Section 809(d)(6) (group life, accident, and health insurance)."

and struck out

"(D) Section 809(d)(10) (small business deduction).

"(E) Section 817(b) (gain on property held on December 31, 1958, and certain substituted property acquired after 1958).

"(F) Section 832(c)(5) (certain capital losses)."

Pub. L. 98–369, §211(b)(13)(A), redesignated par. (3) as (2). Former par. (2) redesignated (1).

Subsec. (b)(3). Pub. L. 98–369, §211(b)(13)(A), redesignated par. (4) as (3). Former par. (3) redesignated (2).

Subsec. (b)(3)(A). Pub. L. 98–369, §211(b)(13)(C)(i), substituted "section 803(a)(1)" for "section 809(c)(1)".

Subsec. (b)(3)(B). Pub. L. 98–369, §211(b)(13)(C)(ii), substituted "section 803(a)(2)" for "section 809(c)(2)".

Subsec. (b)(3)(C). Pub. L. 98–369, §211(b)(13)(C)(iii), substituted "section 805(a)(2)" for "section 809(d)(2)".

Subsec. (b)(4), (5). Pub. L. 98–369, §211(b)(13)(A), (E), redesignated par. (5) as (4) and substituted "paragraph (3)" for "paragraph (4)". Former par. (4) redesignated (3).

1976-Subsec. (b)(5). Pub. L. 94–455 struck out "or his delegate" after "Secretary".

1966-Subsec. (b)(3)(F). Pub. L. 89–809 substituted "832(c)(5)" for "832(b)(5)".

Effective Date of 1989 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 101–239 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Technical and Miscellaneous Revenue Act of 1988, Pub. L. 100–647, to which such amendment relates, see section 7817 of Pub. L. 101–239, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Effective Date of 1988 Amendment

Section 1012(i)(3)(C) of Pub. L. 100–647 provided that: "The amendments made by this paragraph [amending this section] to the extent such amendments add the phrase '(directly or indirectly)' shall apply only to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1987."

Amendment by section 1012(i)(1), (2), (4), (5), (7)–(9), (21) of Pub. L. 100–647 effective, except as otherwise provided, as if included in the provision of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, Pub. L. 99–514, to which such amendment relates, see section 1019(a) of Pub. L. 100–647, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.

Section 6135(b) of Pub. L. 100–647 provided that: "The amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 1987."

Effective Date of 1986 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 99–514 applicable to taxable years of foreign corporations beginning after Dec. 31, 1986, except as otherwise provided, see section 1221(g) of Pub. L. 99–514, set out as a note under section 954 of this title.

Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1983, see section 215 of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as an Effective Date note under section 801 of this title.

Effective Date of 1966 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 89–809 applicable with respect to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1966, see section 104(n) of Pub. L. 89–809, set out as a note under section 11 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 884, 898, 904, 952, 954, 956, 957, 6046 of this title.