Title 26 — Internal Revenue CodeRelease 119-73
§848 Capitalization of certain policy acquisition expenses
Title 26 › Subtitle Subtitle A— - Income Taxes › Chapter CHAPTER 1— - NORMAL TAXES AND SURTAXES › Subchapter Subchapter L— - Insurance Companies › Part PART III— - PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION › § 848
Summary
Requires insurance companies to treat certain policy-selling costs as capital and write them off over time instead of taking the full tax deduction right away. Those costs must be deducted in equal parts over 180 months, starting in the first month of the second half of the tax year. If the capitalized costs for a year are $5,000,000 or less, the company may spread the write-off over 60 months instead of 180 months. If the costs exceed $10,000,000 in a year, the $5,000,000 faster limit is reduced by the amount over $10,000,000. Companies in a controlled group count together as one company and the faster limit is split among them as the Treasury directs. The 60-month rule does not apply to costs tied to reinsurance premiums. Also, other laws (except this rule and one about amortization of goodwill) do not force capitalization of ceding commissions paid on or after September 30, 1990, for reinsurance. Key terms (one line each): specified policy acquisition expenses — certain general deductions tied to selling policies; specified insurance contracts — mainly life, annuity, and noncancellable accident & health contracts (with listed exclusions); net premiums — gross premiums minus return premiums and reinsurance costs; group life contract — life coverage for a defined group with group-rate premiums. The law sets percentages (2.09%, 2.45%, and 9.2%) applied to net premiums to limit how much of general deductions count as these acquisition expenses. If a category’s calculation is negative, the negative amount reduces other categories’ capitalization, then reduces earlier unamortized balances, and any leftover can be deducted. The Treasury can create separate contract categories and set percentages if needed, but must avoid reducing federal revenue.
Full Legal Text
Title 26, §848
Internal Revenue Code — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)In the case of an insurance company—
(1)specified policy acquisition expenses for any taxable year shall be capitalized, and
(2)such expenses shall be allowed as a deduction ratably over the 180-month period beginning with the first month in the second half of such taxable year.
(b)(1)Paragraph (2) of subsection (a) shall be applied with respect to so much of the specified policy acquisition expenses of an insurance company for any taxable year as does not exceed $5,000,000 by substituting “60-month” for “180-month”.
(2)If the specified policy acquisition expenses of an insurance company exceed $10,000,000 for any taxable year, the $5,000,000 amount under paragraph (1) shall be reduced (but not below zero) by the amount of such excess.
(3)In the case of any controlled group—
(A)all insurance companies which are members of such group shall be treated as 1 company for purposes of this subsection, and
(B)the amount to which paragraph (1) applies shall be allocated among such companies in such manner as the Secretary may prescribe.
(4)Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any specified policy acquisition expenses for any taxable year which are attributable to premiums or other consideration under any reinsurance contract.
(c)For purposes of this section—
(1)The term “specified policy acquisition expenses” means, with respect to any taxable year, so much of the general deductions for such taxable year as does not exceed the sum of—
(A)2.09 percent of the net premiums for such taxable year on specified insurance contracts which are annuity contracts,
(B)2.45 percent of the net premiums for such taxable year on specified insurance contracts which are group life insurance contracts, and
(C)9.2 percent of the net premiums for such taxable year on specified insurance contracts not described in subparagraph (A) or (B).
(2)The term “general deductions” means the deductions provided in part VI of subchapter B (sec. 161 and following, relating to itemized deductions) and in part I of subchapter D (sec. 401 and following, relating to pension, profit sharing, stock bonus plans, etc.).
(d)For purposes of this section—
(1)The term “net premiums” means, with respect to any category of specified insurance contracts set forth in subsection (c)(1), the excess (if any) of—
(A)the gross amount of premiums and other consideration on such contracts, over
(B)return premiums on such contracts and premiums and other consideration incurred for reinsurance of such contracts.
(2)In the case of an insurance company subject to tax under part II of this subchapter, all computations entering into determinations of net premiums for any taxable year shall be made in the manner required under section 811(a) for life insurance companies.
(3)Net premiums shall be determined without regard to section 808(e) and without regard to other similar amounts treated as paid to, and returned by, the policyholder.
(4)(A)Premiums and other consideration incurred for reinsurance shall be taken into account under paragraph (1)(B) only to the extent such premiums and other consideration are includible in the gross income of an insurance company taxable under this subchapter or are subject to tax under this chapter by reason of subpart F of part III of subchapter N.
(B)The Secretary shall prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to ensure that premiums and other consideration with respect to reinsurance are treated consistently by the ceding company and the reinsurer.
(e)For purposes of this section—
(1)(A)Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the term “specified insurance contract” means any life insurance, annuity, or noncancellable accident and health insurance contract (or any combination thereof).
(B)The term “specified insurance contract” shall not include—
(i)any pension plan contract (as defined in section 818(a)),
(ii)any flight insurance or similar contract,
(iii)any qualified foreign contract (as defined in section 807(e)(3) without regard to paragraph (5) of this subsection),
(iv)any contract which is an Archer MSA (as defined in section 220(d)), and
(v)any contract which is a health savings account (as defined in section 223(d)).
(2)The term “group life insurance contract” means any life insurance contract—
(A)which covers a group of individuals defined by reference to employment relationship, membership in an organization, or similar factor,
(B)the premiums for which are determined on a group basis, and
(C)the proceeds of which are payable to (or for the benefit of) persons other than the employer of the insured, an organization to which the insured belongs, or other similar person.
(3)Any annuity contract combined with noncancellable accident and health insurance shall be treated as a noncancellable accident and health insurance contract and not as an annuity contract.
(4)The rules of section 816(e) shall apply for purposes of this section.
(5)A contract which reinsures another contract shall be treated in the same manner as the reinsured contract.
(6)An annuity or life insurance contract which includes a qualified long-term care insurance contract as a part of or a rider on such annuity or life insurance contract shall be treated as a specified insurance contract not described in subparagraph (A) or (B) of subsection (c)(1).
(f)(1)If for any taxable year there is a negative capitalization amount with respect to any category of specified insurance contracts set forth in subsection (c)(1)—
(A)the amount otherwise required to be capitalized under this section for such taxable year with respect to any other category of specified insurance contracts shall be reduced (but not below zero) by such negative capitalization amount, and
(B)such negative capitalization amount (to the extent not taken into account under subparagraph (A))—
(i)shall reduce (but not below zero) the unamortized balance (as of the beginning of such taxable year) of the amounts previously capitalized under subsection (a) (beginning with the amount capitalized for the most recent taxable year), and
(ii)to the extent taken into account as such a reduction, shall be allowed as a deduction for such taxable year.
(2)For purposes of paragraph (1), the term “negative capitalization amount” means, with respect to any category of specified insurance contracts, the percentage (applicable under subsection (c)(1) to such category) of the amount (if any) by which—
(A)the amount determined under subparagraph (B) of subsection (d)(1) with respect to such category, exceeds
(B)the amount determined under subparagraph (A) of subsection (d)(1) with respect to such category.
(g)Nothing in any provision of law (other than this section or section 197) shall require the capitalization of any ceding commission incurred on or after September 30, 1990, under any contract which reinsures a specified insurance contract.
(h)(1)Except as provided in paragraph (2), the Secretary may provide that a type of insurance contract will be treated as a separate category for purposes of this section (and prescribe a percentage applicable to such category) if the Secretary determines that the deferral of acquisition expenses for such type of contract which would otherwise result under this section is substantially greater than the deferral of acquisition expenses which would have resulted if actual acquisition expenses (including indirect expenses) and the actual useful life for such type of contract had been used.
(2)If the Secretary exercises his authority with respect to any type of contract under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall adjust the percentage which would otherwise have applied under subsection (c)(1) to the category which includes such type of contract so that the exercise of such authority does not result in a decrease in the amount of revenue received under this chapter by reason of this section for any fiscal year.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
Amendments
2017—Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 115–97, § 13519(a)(1), substituted “180-month” for “120-month”. Subsec. (b)(1). Pub. L. 115–97, § 13519(b), substituted “180-month” for “120-month”. Subsec. (c)(1)(A). Pub. L. 115–97, § 13519(a)(2), substituted “2.09 percent” for “1.75 percent”. Subsec. (c)(1)(B). Pub. L. 115–97, § 13519(a)(3), which directed substitution of “2.45 percent” for “2.05 percent” in par. (2), was executed to par. (1)(B) to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Subsec. (c)(1)(C). Pub. L. 115–97, § 13519(a)(4), which directed substitution of “9.2 percent” for “7.7 percent” in par. (3), was executed to par. (1)(C) to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Subsec. (c) does not contain a par. (3). Subsec. (e)(1)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 115–97, § 13517(b)(4), substituted “807(e)(3)” for “807(e)(4)”. Subsec. (i). Pub. L. 115–97, § 12001(b)(8)(C), struck out subsec. (i). Text read as follows: “For purposes of determining adjusted current earnings under section 56(g), acquisition expenses with respect to contracts described in clause (iii) of subsection (e)(1)(B) shall be capitalized and amortized in accordance with the treatment generally required under generally accepted accounting principles as if this subsection applied to such contracts for all taxable years.” 2014—Subsec. (j). Pub. L. 113–295 struck out subsec. (j). Text read as follows: “In the case of any taxable year which includes
September 30, 1990, the amount taken into account as the net premiums (or negative capitalization amount) with respect to any category of specified insurance contracts shall be the amount which bears the same ratio to the amount which (but for this subsection) would be so taken into account as the number of days in such taxable year on or after
September 30, 1990, bears to the total number of days in such taxable year.” 2006—Subsec. (e)(6). Pub. L. 109–280 added par. (6). 2003—Subsec. (e)(1)(B)(v). Pub. L. 108–173 added cl. (v). 2000—Subsec. (e)(1)(B)(iv). Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title II, § 202(b)(10)], substituted “an Archer MSA” for “a Archer MSA”. Pub. L. 106–554, § 1(a)(7) [title II, § 202(a)(5)], substituted “Archer MSA” for “medical savings account”. 1996—Subsec. (e)(1)(B)(iv). Pub. L. 104–191 added cl. (iv). 1993—Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 103–66 substituted “this section or section 197” for “this section”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2017 AmendmentAmendment by section 12001(b)(8)(C) of Pub. L. 115–97 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, see section 12001(c) of Pub. L. 115–97, set out as a note under section 11 of this title. Amendment by section 13517(b)(4) of Pub. L. 115–97 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2017, with transition rule and transition relief, see section 13517(c) of Pub. L. 115–97, set out as a note under section 807 of this title. Pub. L. 115–97, title I, § 13519(c), Dec. 22, 2017, 131 Stat. 2148, provided that: “(1) In general.—The
Amendments
made by this section [amending this section] shall apply to net premiums for taxable years beginning after
December 31, 2017. “(2) Transition rule.—Specified policy acquisition expenses first required to be capitalized in a taxable year beginning before
January 1, 2018, will continue to be allowed as a deduction ratably over the 120-month period beginning with the first month in the second half of such taxable year.”
Effective Date
of 2014 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 113–295 effective Dec. 19, 2014, subject to a
Savings Provision
, see section 221(b) of Pub. L. 113–295, set out as a note under section 1 of this title.
Effective Date
of 2006 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 109–280 applicable to contracts issued after Dec. 31, 1996, but only with respect to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2009, and to specified policy acquisition expenses determined for taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2009, see section 844(g)(1), (4) of Pub. L. 109–280, set out as a note under section 72 of this title.
Effective Date
of 2003 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 108–173 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 2003, see section 1201(k) of Pub. L. 108–173, set out as a note under section 62 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–191 applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1996, see section 301(j) of Pub. L. 104–191, set out as a note under section 62 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1993 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–66 applicable, except as otherwise provided, with respect to property acquired after Aug. 10, 1993, see section 13261(g) of Pub. L. 103–66, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 197 of this title.
Effective Date
Pub. L. 101–508, title XI, § 11301(d)(1), Nov. 5, 1990, 104 Stat. 1388–449, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by subsections (a) and (c) [enacting this section] shall apply to taxable years ending on or after September 30, 1990. Any capitalization required by reason of such
Amendments
shall not be treated as a change in method of accounting for purposes of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986.”
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
26 U.S.C. § 848
Title 26 — Internal Revenue Code
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73