26 U.S.C. § 803 (2024)
This is the official text of 26 U.S.C. § 803 (2024), part of Federal (US Code)’s United States Code — the codified general and permanent federal statutes of the United States, organized into more than 50 numbered titles by subject.
Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
Life insurance gross income
Official statutory text
(a) In general
For purposes of this part, the term "life insurance gross income" means the sum of the following amounts:
(1) Premiums
(A) The gross amount of premiums and other consideration on insurance and annuity contracts, less
(B) return premiums, and premiums and other consideration arising out of indemnity reinsurance.
(2) Decreases in certain reserves
Each net decrease in reserves which is required by section 807(a) to be taken into account under this paragraph.
(3) Other amounts
All amounts not includible under paragraph (1) or (2) which under this subtitle are includible in gross income.
(b) Special rules for premiums
(1) Certain items included
For purposes of subsection (a)(1)(A), the term "gross amount of premiums and other consideration" includes—
(A) advance premiums,
(B) deposits,
(C) fees,
(D) assessments,
(E) consideration in respect of assuming liabilities under contracts not issued by the taxpayer, and
(F) the amount of policyholder dividends reimbursable to the taxpayer by a reinsurer in respect of reinsured policies,
on insurance and annuity contracts.
(2) Policyholder dividends excluded from return premiums
For purposes of subsection (a)(1)(B)—
(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term "return premiums" does not include any policyholder dividends.
(B) Exception for indemnity reinsurance
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to amounts of premiums or other consideration returned to another life insurance company in respect of indemnity reinsurance.
(Added Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title II, §211(a), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 721.)
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 803, acts Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 256; Mar. 13, 1956, ch. 83, §2, 70 Stat. 39, related to income and deductions in the case of life insurance companies, prior to the general revision of this part by Pub. L. 86–69, §2(a), June 25, 1959, 73 Stat. 112.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 721.)
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 803, acts Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 256; Mar. 13, 1956, ch. 83, §2, 70 Stat. 39, related to income and deductions in the case of life insurance companies, prior to the general revision of this part by Pub. L. 86–69, §2(a), June 25, 1959, 73 Stat. 112.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1983, see section 215 of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 801 of this title.
For purposes of this part, the term "life insurance gross income" means the sum of the following amounts:
(1) Premiums
(A) The gross amount of premiums and other consideration on insurance and annuity contracts, less
(B) return premiums, and premiums and other consideration arising out of indemnity reinsurance.
(2) Decreases in certain reserves
Each net decrease in reserves which is required by section 807(a) to be taken into account under this paragraph.
(3) Other amounts
All amounts not includible under paragraph (1) or (2) which under this subtitle are includible in gross income.
(b) Special rules for premiums
(1) Certain items included
For purposes of subsection (a)(1)(A), the term "gross amount of premiums and other consideration" includes—
(A) advance premiums,
(B) deposits,
(C) fees,
(D) assessments,
(E) consideration in respect of assuming liabilities under contracts not issued by the taxpayer, and
(F) the amount of policyholder dividends reimbursable to the taxpayer by a reinsurer in respect of reinsured policies,
on insurance and annuity contracts.
(2) Policyholder dividends excluded from return premiums
For purposes of subsection (a)(1)(B)—
(A) In general
Except as provided in subparagraph (B), the term "return premiums" does not include any policyholder dividends.
(B) Exception for indemnity reinsurance
Subparagraph (A) shall not apply to amounts of premiums or other consideration returned to another life insurance company in respect of indemnity reinsurance.
(Added Pub. L. 98–369, div. A, title II, §211(a), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 721.)
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 803, acts Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 256; Mar. 13, 1956, ch. 83, §2, 70 Stat. 39, related to income and deductions in the case of life insurance companies, prior to the general revision of this part by Pub. L. 86–69, §2(a), June 25, 1959, 73 Stat. 112.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 721.)
Editorial Notes
Prior Provisions
A prior section 803, acts Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A Stat. 256; Mar. 13, 1956, ch. 83, §2, 70 Stat. 39, related to income and deductions in the case of life insurance companies, prior to the general revision of this part by Pub. L. 86–69, §2(a), June 25, 1959, 73 Stat. 112.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section applicable to taxable years beginning after Dec. 31, 1983, see section 215 of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 801 of this title.
Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site
Need a lawyer in Federal (US Code)?
Find a Federal (US Code) lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the
Open US Law dataset
(Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine
(Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.