Reg. § 1.1502-47 Consolidated returns by life-nonlife groups.

26 CFR § 1.1502-47eCFR, current through 2026-07-14

(a) Scope

(1) In general Under section , insurance companies that are taxed under section (relating to life insurance companies) are not treated as includible corporations for purposes of determining under section the existence of an affiliated group and the composition of its membership. Section provides an election whereby certain life insurance companies may be treated as includible corporations, and thus members, of a group composed of other includible corporations. This section provides regulations for the making of this election and for the determination of an electing group's composition, its consolidated taxable income (or loss), and its consolidated tax liability.

(2) General method of consolidation

(i) Subgroup method The regulations adopt a subgroup method to determine consolidated taxable income. One subgroup is the group's nonlife companies. The other subgroup is the group's life insurance companies. Initially, the nonlife subgroup computes nonlife consolidated taxable income and the life subgroup computes consolidated LICTI. A subgroup's income may in effect be reduced by a loss of the other subgroup, subject to the limitations in sections and . The life subgroup losses consist of life consolidated net operating loss, consolidated operations loss carryovers from taxable years beginning before January 1, 2018 (consolidated operations loss carryovers), and life consolidated net capital loss. The nonlife subgroup losses consist of nonlife consolidated net operating loss and nonlife consolidated net capital loss. Consolidated taxable income is therefore defined in pertinent part as the sum of nonlife consolidated taxable income and consolidated LICTI, reduced by life subgroup losses and/or nonlife subgroup losses.

(ii) Subgroup loss A subgroup loss does not actually affect the computation of nonlife consolidated taxable income or consolidated LICTI. It merely constitutes a bottom-line adjustment in reaching consolidated taxable income. Furthermore, the amount of a subgroup's loss, if any, that is eligible to be carried back to a prior taxable year first must be carried back against income of the same subgroup before it may be used as a setoff against the other subgroup's income in the taxable year the loss arose. (See sections and ; see also .) The carryback of losses from one subgroup may not be used to offset income of the other subgroup in the year to which the loss is to be carried. This carryback of one subgroup's loss may “bump” the other subgroup's loss that, in effect, previously reduced the income of the first subgroup. The subgroup's loss that is bumped in appropriate cases may, in effect, reduce a succeeding year's income of either subgroup. This approach gives the group the tax savings of the use of losses, but the bumping rule assures that, insofar as possible, life deductions will be matched against life income and nonlife deductions against nonlife income.

(iii) Carryover of subgroup loss A subgroup's loss may be used in a succeeding year, but in any particular succeeding year the loss must be used to reduce the income of the same subgroup before it may be used as a setoff against the other subgroup's income.

(3) Other provisions The provisions of the consolidated return regulations apply unless this section provides otherwise. Further, unless otherwise indicated in this section, a term used in this section has the same meaning as in sections 801-848.

(b) Definitions For purposes of this section:

(1) Life company The term life company means a life insurance company as defined in section and subject to tax under section . Section applies to each company separately.

(2) Nonlife insurance company. The term nonlife insurance company has the meaning provided in .

(3) Life insurance company taxable income The term life insurance company taxable income or LICTI has the meaning provided in section .

(4) Group The term group has the meaning provided in . Unless otherwise indicated in this section, a group's composition is determined without regard to section .

(5) Member The term member has the meaning provided in . A life company is tentatively treated as a member for any taxable year for purposes of determining if it is an eligible corporation under of this section and, therefore, if it is an includible corporation under section . If such a company is eligible and includible (under section ), it will actually be treated as a member of the group.

(6) Life member A life member is a member of the group that is a life company.

(7) Nonlife member A nonlife member is a member of the group that is not a life company.

(8) Life subgroup A life subgroup is composed of those members that are life members. If the group has only one life member, it constitutes a life subgroup.

(9) Nonlife subgroup A nonlife subgroup is composed of those members that are nonlife members. If the group has only one nonlife member, it constitutes a nonlife subgroup.

(10) Separate return year The term separate return year has the meaning provided in . For purposes of this , the term group is defined with regard to section for years in which an election under section is not in effect. Thus, a separate return year includes a taxable year for which that election is not in effect.

(11) Separate return limitation year provides exceptions to the definition of the term separate return limitation year. For purposes of applying those exceptions to this section, the term group is defined without regard to section , and the definition in this applies separately to the nonlife subgroup in determining nonlife consolidated taxable income under of this section and to the life subgroup in determining consolidated LICTI under of this section. of this section defines the term separate return limitation year for purposes of determining whether the losses of one subgroup may be used against the income of the other subgroup.

(12) Eligible corporations

(i) In general A corporation is an eligible corporation for a taxable year of a group only if, throughout every day of the base period the corporation:

(A) Was in existence and a member of the group determined without the exclusions in section (see through of this section),

(B) Was engaged in the active conduct of a trade or business (“active business”),

(C) Did not experience a change in tax character (see of this section), and

(D) Did not undergo disproportionate asset acquisitions (see of this section).

(ii) Base period The base period consists of the common parent's five taxable years immediately preceding the group's taxable year for which the consolidated return and the determination of eligibility are made. Eligibility is determined for each consolidated return year beginning with the first year for which the election under section is effective.

(iii) In existence Except as provided in and of this section, a corporation organized after the base period begins is not eligible even though it is a member of the group immediately after its organization. For purposes of this , a corporation that was a party to a reorganization described in section shall be treated as the same entity both before and after the reorganization.

(iv) Membership period Except as provided in and of this section, a corporation must have been a member of the group throughout the base period to be eligible. Thus, an ineligible corporation includes one whose stock was acquired from outside the group at any time during the base period or one which was a member of a different group (whether by application of reverse acquisition rules in or otherwise) at any time during the base period. For purposes of this subdivision (iv), the common parent of a group is treated as constituting a group (and hence is a member) during any period when it was not a member of an affiliated group within the meaning of section (applied without section ).

(v) Tacking rule The period during which an old corporation is in existence and a member of the group engaged in active business is included in (or tacks onto) the period for the new corporation if the following four conditions listed in this are met. For purposes of this , a new corporation is a corporation (whether or not newly organized) during the period its eligibility depends upon the tacking rule. The four conditions are as follows—

(A) The first condition is that, at any time, 80 percent or more of the new corporation's assets it acquired (other than in the ordinary course of its trade or business) were acquired from the old corporation in one or more transactions described in section or . This asset test is applied by using the fair market values of assets on the date they were acquired and without regard to liabilities. Assets acquired in the ordinary course of business will be excluded from total assets only if they were acquired after the new corporation became a member of the group (determined without section ). In addition, assets that the old corporation acquired from outside the group in transactions not conducted in the ordinary course of its trade or business are not included in the 80 percent (but are included in total assets) if the old corporation acquired those assets within five calendar years before the date of their transfer to the new corporation.

(B) The second condition is that at the end of the taxable year during which the first condition is first met, the old corporation and the new corporation must both have the same tax character. For purposes of this , a corporation's tax character is the section under which it would be taxed (for example, section , section , or section ) if it filed a separate return. If the old corporation is not in existence (or adopts a plan of complete liquidation) at the end of that taxable year, this will apply to the old corporation's taxable year immediately preceding the beginning of the taxable year during which the first condition is first met.

(C) The third condition is that, at the end of the taxable year during which the first condition is first met, the new corporation does not undergo a disproportionate asset acquisition under of this section.

(D) The fourth condition is that, if there is more than one old corporation, the first two conditions apply to all of the corporations. Thus, the second condition (tax character) must be met by all of the old corporations transferring assets taken into account in meeting the test in of this section.

(vi) Old group remaining in existence If the common parent of a group (or a new common parent) became the common parent in a transaction described in or where a group remained in existence, then through of this section apply by treating that common parent as if it were also the previous common parent of the group that remains in existence. If this applies to a transaction, the tacking rule in of this section does not apply to the transaction.

(vii) Change in tax character A corporation must not experience during the base period a change in tax character (as defined in of this section) if the change is attributable to an acquisition of assets from outside the group in transactions not conducted in the ordinary course of its trade or business. However, if a new corporation relies on the tacking rules in of this section, this shall apply during the base period and the current consolidated return year even if the change in tax character is attributable to an asset acquisition from within the group.

(viii) Disproportionate asset acquisition To be eligible, a corporation must not undergo during the base period disproportionate asset acquisitions which are attributable to an acquisition (or a series of acquisitions) of assets from outside the group in transactions not conducted in the ordinary course of its trade or business (special acquisition). Whether special acquisitions are disproportionate is determined at the end of each base period. Whether an acquisition results in a disproportionate asset acquisition depends on all of the facts and circumstances including the following factors and rules:

(A) One factor is the portion of the insurance reserves (that is, total reserves in section , as modified by section ) of the acquiring company at the end of the base period which is attributable to special acquisitions.

(B) A second factor is the portion of the fair market value of the assets (without reduction for liabilities) of the acquiring company at the end of the base period that is attributable to special acquisitions.

(C) A third factor is the portion of the premiums generated during the last taxable year of the base period which are attributable to special acquisitions.

(D) A corporation will not experience a disproportionate asset acquisition unless 75 percent of one factor (whether or not listed in this ) is attributable to special acquisitions.

(E) Money or other property contributed to a corporation by a shareholder that is not a member of the group (without section ) is not a special acquisition.

(F) If a new corporation relies on the tacking rules in of this section, this applies to that corporation during a consolidated return year. Thus, if at any time during a consolidated return year, a new corporation undergoes a disproportionate asset acquisition, the corporation becomes ineligible at that time.

(13) Ineligible corporation A corporation that is not an eligible corporation is ineligible. If a life company is ineligible, it is not treated under section as an includible corporation. Losses of a nonlife member arising in years when it is ineligible may not be used under section and of this section to set off the income of a life member. If a life company is ineligible and is the common parent of the group (without regard to section ), the election under section may not be made.

(14) Examples The following examples illustrate this . In each example, L indicates a life company, another letter indicates a nonlife company, and each corporation uses the calendar year as its taxable year.

(i) Example 1 P has owned all of the stock of S since 2012. On January 1, 2018, P purchased all of the stock of L1 which owns all of the stock of L2 and S2. L1 and L2 are treated as members for purposes of determining if they are eligible for 2020. However, for 2020, L1, L2, and S2 are ineligible because none of them has been a member of the group for P's five taxable years preceding 2020. For 2020, L1 and L2 may elect to file a consolidated return because they constitute an affiliated group under section , and P and S may file a consolidated return. S2 must file its own separate return for 2020.

(ii) Example 2 Since 2012, L1 has been a life company owning all the stock of L2. In 2018, L1 transfers assets to S1, a new nonlife insurance company subject to taxation under section . For 2020, only L1 and L2 are eligible corporations. The tacking rule in of this section does not apply in 2020 because the old corporation (L1) and the new corporation (S1) do not have the same tax character.

(iii) Example 3 Since 2012, L has owned all the stock of L1, which has owned all the stock of S1, a nonlife insurance company. L1 writes some accident and health insurance business. In 2018, L1 transfers this business, and S1 transfers some of its business, to a new nonlife insurance company, S2, in a transaction described in section . The property transferred to S2 by L1 had a fair market value of $50 million. The property transferred by S1 had a fair market value of $40 million. S2 is ineligible for 2020 because the tacking rule in of this section does not apply. The old corporations (L1 and S1) and the new corporation (S2) do not all have the same tax character. See and of this section. The result would be the same if L1 transferred other property (for example, stock and securities) with the same value, rather than accident and health insurance contracts, to S2.

(iv) Example 4 Since 2012, P has owned all the stock of S and L1. L1 is a large life company engaged in active business since 2012. On January 1, 2020, L1 transfers in a section (a) transaction assets (not acquired from outside the group) to a new life company, L2. For 2020, L2 is eligible because under of this section, L2 is considered to have been in existence and a member of the group engaged in the active business since 2012 which is the period L1, the old corporation, was in existence and a member of the group so engaged.

(v) Example 5 The facts are the same as in example (4). Assume that the fair market value of the assets L1 transferred to L2 was $10 million on January 1, 2020 and that L2 acquired no other assets prior to June 30, 2021. Assume further that on January 1, 2021, L1 acquires (other than in the ordinary course of its trade or business) assets having a fair market value of $40 million from L3, an unrelated life company. On June 30, 2021, L1 transfers those assets to L2. L2 becomes ineligible on June 30, 2021. Since by fair market values, 80 percent (in other words, 40/50) of L2's assets are attributable to special acquisitions, L2 has undergone a disproportionate asset acquisition at that time. See , , and of this section.

(vi) Example 6 The facts are the same as in example (5) except that L1 transfers assets (other than life insurance contracts) having a fair market value of $40 million to L2 and L2 purchases the assets of L3 on June 30, 2021. the result of the 2021 acquisition is the same as in example (5).

(vii) Example 7 The facts are the same as in example (5) except the acquired assets acquired by L2 in 2021 from L1 have a fair market value of $20 million. In 2021, L2 had $1 million of premiums on its pre-existing contracts but premiums generated by the acquired business for the entire year would have been $2 million. L2 is eligible in 2021 because it did not experience a disproportionate asset acquisition on June 30, 2021.

(viii) Example 8 Since 2012, L, a State A corporation, has owned all of the stock of L1 and S1. On January 1, 2020, L merges into L3, a smaller State B corporation, which owns the stock of S2. The transaction is a reverse acquisition described in and the group of which L was the common parent remains in existence. Under of this section, L3 is eligible for 2020. However, S2 is ineligible in 2020 under of this section.

(ix) Example 9 The facts are the same as in example (8) except that L acquires the stock of L3. L3 and S2 are both ineligible for 2020. On January 1, 2021, the fair market value of L3's assets are $5 million (without liabilities) and on that date L transfers assets (not acquired from outside the group) having a fair market value of $95 million (without liabilities) to L3. L and L3 are life companies at the end of 2021. L3 is eligible in 2021 under the tacking rule in of this section. S2 is ineligible in that year. The result would be the same if L3 was not a life company prior to January 1, 2021. See of this section.

(x) Example 10 Since 2012, X, a foreign corporation, has owned all the stock of S2 and S1, and S1 has owned all of the stock of L1. On January 1, 2020, X incorporates a new U.S. company P, and transfers the stock of S1 and S2 to P. Assume that under (relating to reverse acquisitions), the S1-L1 affiliated group remains in existence. Under of this section, P, S1, and L1 are eligible but S2 is ineligible. The result would be the same if X were an individual.

(xi) Example 11. The facts are the same as in Example (10) except that X owns all of the stock of S1, L1, and S2. In addition, on January 1, 2020, X transfers the stock of S1 and S2 to L1. L1 is eligible in 2020 under of this section. L1 would still be eligible even if it owned a subsidiary during the base period but sold the subsidiary prior to January 1, 2020. S1 and S2 are ineligible in 2020.

(xii) Example 12 Since 2012, S1 has owned all of the stock of L1. S2, an unrelated company, has owned all of the stock of L2 and S3 for 10 years. S1 and S2 are active nonlife insurance companies and not holding companies. On January 1, 2020, S1 and S2 merge into a new nonlife insurance company, S, in a transaction described in so that the group of which S1 was the common parent remains in existence. S and L1 are eligible in 2020 under of this section. L2 and S3 are ineligible.

(xiii) Example 13. The facts are the same as in Example (12) except that S2 (the first corporation in ) acquires the stock of S1 in exchange for the stock of S2. The result is that only S2, S1, and L1 are eligible in 2020.

(c) Election

(1) In general The election under section may not be made if the group's common parent is an ineligible life company. The election under section may only be made by the common parent of the group (as defined in section without the exclusions in section ). For example, assume that P owns all of the stock of L1, an eligible life company, which owns the stock of S1. Assume further that P also owns the stock of L2, an ineligible life member, which (for more than five years) has owned the stock of a nonlife company, S2. Only P may make the election and, if it does so, P, L1, and S1 may file a consolidated return under this section. L2 may not make the election under section and may not file a consolidated return with S2.

(2) How election is made

(i) General rule The election under section is generally made by the group's common parent in the same manner (and it has the same effect) as the election to file a consolidated return is made under and for a group which did not file a consolidated return for the immediately preceding taxable year. The procedure for making the election under section is the same whether or not a consolidated return was filed by the life members or the nonlife members for the immediately preceding taxable year.

(ii) Special rule Notwithstanding the general rule, however, if the nonlife members in the group filed a consolidated return for the immediately preceding taxable year and had executed and filed a Form 1122 (or successor form) that is effective for the preceding year, then such members will be treated as if they filed a Form 1122 (or successor form) when they join in the filing of a consolidated return under section and they will be deemed to consent to the regulations under this section. However, an affiliation schedule (Form 851, or any successor form) must be filed by the group and the life members must execute a Form 1122 (or successor form) in the manner prescribed in .

(3) Irrevocability Except as provided in , the election under section is irrevocable.

(4) Cross reference If an election is made under section , see and for rules that apply for not including (or including) a member or a nonmember in the consolidated return.

(d) Effect of election If the common parent makes the election under section , the following rules apply:

(1) Termination of group A mere election under section will not cause the creation of a new group or the termination of an affiliated group that files a consolidated return in the immediately preceding taxable year.

(2) Effect of eligibility If a life member is eligible after an election under section , it may not be included as a member of an affiliated group as defined in section .

(3) Eligible and ineligible life companies If any life company was a member of an affiliated group of life companies (as defined in section ) but is ineligible for a taxable year for which the election under section is effective, that year is not a separate return year merely by reason of the election under section in applying and to transactions occurring in prior consolidated return years of that affiliated group. In addition, if more than one ineligible life member of the group (as defined in section ) joined in the filing of a consolidated return in the taxable year immediately preceding the year for which the election under section is effective and, solely as a result of the election, one of the ineligible life members becomes the common parent of such a group (section ), the group must continue to file a consolidated return. For example, assume that L1 owns all of the stock of S1 and all of the stock of L2. L2 owns the stock of L3. L1, L2, and L3 are life companies and S1 is a nonlife company. Assume further that in 2019, L1, L2, and L3 file a consolidated return but L1 makes the election under section for 2020 and L2 and L3 are ineligible. L2 and L3 must continue to file a consolidated return in 2020. Moreover, L2 could elect in 2020 to file a consolidated return (section ) with L3 even if they did not file a consolidated return in 2019 with L1.

(4) Inclusion of life company If a life company is ineligible in the consolidated return year for which the election is effective, it will be treated as an includible corporation for the common parent's first taxable year in which the company becomes eligible.

(5) Dividends received deduction

(i) Dividends received by an includible insurance company Dividends received by an includible member insurance company, taxed under either section or section , from another includible member of the group are treated for Federal income tax purposes as if the group did not file a consolidated return. See sections and for rules regarding a member taxed under section , and see sections and through (E) for rules regarding a member taxed under section .

(ii) Other dividends Dividends received from a life company member of the group that are not subject to of this section are not included in gross income of the distributee member. See section . If the distributee corporation is a nonlife insurance company subject to tax under section , the rules of section through (E) apply.

(6) Controlled group Sections (a)(4), (b)(2)(D), and (b)(3)(C) (insofar as it applies to corporations described in section ) do not apply to any eligible or ineligible life company that is a member of the group for a taxable year during which the election is effective.

(7) Consolidated tax The tax liability of a group for a consolidated return year (before application of credits against that tax) is computed on a consolidated basis by adding together the following taxes:

(i) The tax imposed under section on consolidated taxable income (as determined under of this section). The taxes imposed under sections and will each be treated as a tax imposed under section .

(ii) Any taxes described in (other than in , , and ).

(e) Consolidated taxable income The consolidated taxable income is the sum of the following two amounts:

(1) Nonlife consolidated taxable income The nonlife consolidated taxable income (as defined in of this section) of the nonlife subgroup, as set off by the life subgroup losses as provided in of this section. The amount in this may not be less than zero.

(2) Consolidated LICTI The consolidated LICTI (as defined in of this section) of the life subgroup, as set off by the nonlife subgroup losses as provided in of this section. The amount in this may not be less than zero.

(f) Nonlife consolidated taxable income

(1) In general Nonlife consolidated taxable income is the consolidated taxable income of the nonlife subgroup, computed under as modified by this . For this purpose, separate taxable income of a member includes insurance company taxable income (as defined in section ).

(2) Nonlife consolidated net operating loss deduction

(i) In general In applying , the rules in this apply in determining for the nonlife subgroup the nonlife net operating loss and the portion of the nonlife net operating loss carryovers and carrybacks to the taxable year.

(ii) Nonlife CNOL The nonlife consolidated net operating loss is determined under by treating the nonlife subgroup as the group.

(iii) Carrybacks The portion of the nonlife consolidated net operating loss for the nonlife subgroup described in of this section, if any, that is eligible to be carried back to prior taxable years under is carried back to the appropriate years (whether consolidated or separate) before the nonlife consolidated net operating loss may be used as a nonlife subgroup loss under and of this section to set off consolidated LICTI in the year the loss arose. The election under section to relinquish the entire carryback period for the net operating loss of the nonlife subgroup may be made by the agent for the group within the meaning of .

(iv) Subgroup rule In determining the portion of the nonlife consolidated net operating loss that is absorbed when the loss is carried back to a consolidated return year, is applied by treating the nonlife subgroup as the group. Therefore, the absorption is determined without taking into account any life subgroup losses that were previously reported on a consolidated return as setting off nonlife consolidated taxable income for the year to which the nonlife subgroup loss is carried back.

(v) Carryover The portion of the nonlife consolidated net operating loss that is not absorbed in a prior year as a carryback, or as a nonlife subgroup loss that set off consolidated LICTI for the year the loss arose, constitutes a nonlife carryover under this to reduce nonlife consolidated taxable income before that portion may constitute a nonlife subgroup loss that sets off consolidated LICTI for a particular year. For limitations on the use of nonlife carryovers to offset nonlife consolidated taxable income or consolidated LICTI, see .

(vi) Portion of nonlife consolidated net operating loss that is carried back to prior taxable years The portion of the nonlife consolidated net operating loss that (absent an election to waive carrybacks) is carried back to the two preceding taxable years is the sum of the nonlife subgroup's farming loss (within the meaning of section ) and the amount of the subgroup's net operating loss that is attributable to nonlife insurance companies (as determined under ). For rules governing the absorption of net operating loss carrybacks, including limitations on the amount of net operating loss carrybacks that may be absorbed in prior taxable years, see .

(vii) Example P, a holding company that is not an insurance company, owns all of the stock of S, a nonlife insurance company, and L1, a life insurance company. L1 owns all of the stock of L2, a life insurance company. Both L1 and L2 satisfy the eligibility requirements of . Each corporation uses the calendar year as its taxable year, and no corporation has incurred farming losses (within the meaning of section ). For 2021, the group first files a consolidated return for which the election under section is effective. P and S filed consolidated returns for 2019 and 2020. In 2021, the P-S group sustains a nonlife consolidated net operating loss that is attributable entirely to S (see ). The election in 2021 under section does not result under of this section in the creation of a new group or the termination of the P-S group. The loss is carried back to the consolidated return years 2019 and 2020 of P and S. Pursuant to , the loss may be used to offset S's income in 2019 and 2020 without limitation, and the loss may be used to offset P's income in those years, subject to the limitation in section (see ). The portion of the loss not absorbed in 2019 and 2020 may serve as a nonlife subgroup loss in 2021 that may set off the consolidated LICTI of L1 and L2 under and of this section.

(3) Nonlife consolidated capital gain net income or loss

(i) In general In applying , the rules in this apply in determining for the nonlife subgroup the nonlife consolidated capital gain net income or loss and the portion of the nonlife net capital loss carryovers and carrybacks to the taxable year. In particular, the nonlife consolidated capital gain net income and nonlife consolidated net capital loss are determined under the principles of by treating the nonlife subgroup as the group.

(ii) Additional principles In applying to nonlife consolidated net capital loss carryovers and carrybacks, the principles set forth in through of this section for applying to nonlife consolidated net operating loss carryovers and carrybacks also apply, without regard to the limitation in of this section.

(iii) Special rules The nonlife consolidated net capital loss is reduced, for purposes of determining the carryovers and carrybacks under by the lesser of:

(A) The aggregate of the additional capital loss deductions allowed under section , or

(B) The nonlife consolidated taxable income computed without capital gains and losses.

(g) Consolidated LICTI

(1) General rule Consolidated LICTI is the consolidated taxable income of the life subgroup, computed under as modified by this .

(2) Life consolidated net operating loss deduction

(i) In general In applying , the rules in this apply in determining for the life subgroup the life net operating loss and the portion of the life net operating loss carryovers and carrybacks to the taxable year.

(ii) Life CNOL The life consolidated net operating loss is determined under by treating the life subgroup as the group.

(iii) Carrybacks

(A) General rule The portion of the life consolidated net operating loss for the life subgroup, if any, that is eligible to be carried back under is carried back to the appropriate years (whether consolidated or separate) before the life consolidated net operating loss may be used as a life subgroup loss under and of this section to set off nonlife consolidated taxable income in the year the loss arose. The election under section to relinquish the entire carryback period for the consolidated net operating loss of the life subgroup may be made by the agent for the group within the meaning of .

(B) Special rule for life consolidated net operating losses arising in 2018, 2019, or 2020 If a life consolidated net operating loss arising in a taxable year beginning after December 31, 2017, and before January 1, 2021, is carried back to a life insurance company taxable year beginning before January 1, 2018, then such life consolidated net operating loss is treated as an operations loss carryback (within the meaning of section , as in effect prior to its repeal) of such company to such taxable year.

(iv) Subgroup rule In determining the portion of the life consolidated net operating loss that is absorbed when the loss is carried back to a consolidated return year, is applied by treating the life subgroup as the group. Therefore, the absorption is determined without taking into account any nonlife subgroup losses that were previously reported on a consolidated return as setting off life consolidated taxable income for the year to which the life subgroup loss is carried back.

(v) Carryovers The portion of the life consolidated net operating loss that is not absorbed in a prior year as a carryback, or as a life subgroup loss that set off nonlife consolidated taxable income for the year the loss arose, constitutes a life carryover under this to reduce consolidated LICTI before that portion may constitute a life subgroup loss that sets off nonlife consolidated taxable income for that particular year. For limitations on the use of life carryovers to offset nonlife consolidated taxable income or consolidated LICTI, see .

(3) Life consolidated capital gain net income or loss

(i) [Reserved].

(ii) Life consolidated net capital loss carryovers and carrybacks The life consolidated net capital loss carryovers and carrybacks for the life subgroup are determined by applying the principles of as modified by the following rules in this :

(A) Life consolidated net capital loss is first carried back (or apportioned to the life members for separate return years) to be absorbed by life consolidated capital gain net income without regard to any nonlife subgroup capital losses and before the life consolidated net capital loss may serve as a life subgroup capital loss that sets off nonlife consolidated capital gain net income in the year the life consolidated net capital loss arose.

(B) If a life consolidated net capital loss is not carried back or is not a life subgroup loss that sets off nonlife consolidated capital gain net income in the year the life consolidated net capital loss arose, then it is carried over to the particular year under this first against life consolidated capital gain net income before it may serve as a life subgroup capital loss that sets off nonlife consolidated capital gain net income in that particular year.

(h) Consolidated LICTI setoff by nonlife subgroup losses

(1) In general The nonlife subgroup losses consist of the nonlife consolidated net operating loss and the nonlife consolidated net capital loss. Under of this section, consolidated LICTI is set off by the amounts of these two consolidated losses specified in of this section. The setoff is subject to the rules and limitations in of this section.

(2) Amount of setoff

(i) Current year Consolidated LICTI for the current taxable year is set off by the portion of the nonlife consolidated net operating loss and nonlife consolidated net capital loss arising in that year that cannot be carried back under of this section to prior taxable years (whether consolidated or separate return years) of the nonlife subgroup.

(ii) Carryovers The portion of the offsettable nonlife consolidated net operating loss or nonlife consolidated net capital loss that has not been used as a nonlife subgroup loss setoff against consolidated LICTI in the year it arose may be carried over to succeeding taxable years under the principles of (relating to net operating loss deduction) or (as appropriate) (relating to net capital loss carryovers). However, in any particular succeeding year, the losses will be used under of this section in computing nonlife consolidated taxable income before being used in that year as a nonlife subgroup loss that sets off consolidated LICTI. Additionally, the amount of consolidated LICTI that may be offset by nonlife consolidated net operating loss carryovers may be subject to limitation (see section and ).

(3) Nonlife subgroup loss rules and limitations The nonlife subgroup losses are subject to the following operating rules and limitations:

(i) Separate return years The carryovers in of this section may include net operating losses and net capital losses of the nonlife members arising in separate return years, that may be carried over to a succeeding year under the principles (including limitations) of and . But see of this section.

(ii) Capital loss Nonlife consolidated net capital loss sets off consolidated LICTI only to the extent of life consolidated capital gain net income (as determined under of this section) and this setoff applies before any nonlife consolidated net operating loss sets off consolidated LICTI.

(iii) Capital gain Life consolidated capital gain net income is zero in any taxable year in which the life subgroup has a life consolidated net operating loss and, in any taxable year, it may not exceed consolidated LICTI.

(iv) Ordering rule Consolidated LICTI for a consolidated return year is set off by nonlife subgroup losses for that year before being set off (under of this section) by a carryover of a nonlife subgroup loss to that year. The amount of consolidated LICTI that may be offset by nonlife consolidated net operating loss carryovers may be subject to limitation (see section and ).

(v) Setoff at bottom line The setoff of nonlife subgroup losses against consolidated LICTI does not affect life member deductions that depend in whole or in part on taxable income. Thus, the setoff does not affect the amount of consolidated LICTI for any for any taxable year but it merely constitutes an adjustment in arriving at the group's consolidated taxable income under of this section.

(vi) Ineligible nonlife member

(A) The offsetable nonlife consolidated net operating loss that arises in any consolidated return year (that may be set off against consolidated LICTI in the current taxable year or in a succeeding taxable year) is the amount computed under of this section reduced by the ineligible NOL. For purposes of this , the “ineligible NOL” is in the year the loss arose the amount of the separate net operating loss (determined under of any nonlife member that is ineligible in that year (and not the portion of the nonlife consolidated net operating loss attributable under to such a member).

(B) The carryovers of offsetable nonlife net operating losses under of this section do not include an ineligible NOL arising in a consolidated return year or a loss attributable to an ineligible member arising in a separate return year. See section .

(C) For absorption within the nonlife subgroup of an ineligible NOL arising in a consolidated return year or a loss of an ineligible member arising in a separate return year which is not a separate return limitation year under of this section, see of this section.

(vii) Absorption of ineligible NOL

(A) If all or a portion of a nonlife member's ineligible NOL (determined under of this section) may be carried back or carried over under of this section to a particular consolidated return year of the nonlife subgroup (absorption year), then notwithstanding , the amount carried to the absorption year will be absorbed by that member's contribution (to the extent thereof) to nonlife consolidated taxable income for that year, subject to the limitation in section .

(B) For purposes of of this section, a member's contribution to nonlife consolidated taxable income for an absorption year is the amount of such income (computed without the portion of the nonlife consolidated net operating loss deduction attributable to taxable years subsequent to the year the loss arose), minus such consolidated taxable income recomputed by excluding both that member's items of income and deductions for the absorption year. The deductions of the member include the prior application of this to the absorption of the nonlife consolidated net operating loss deduction for losses arising in taxable years prior to the particular loss year.

(viii) Election to relinquish carryback The offsetable nonlife consolidated net operating loss does not include the amount that could be carried back under of this section but for the election by the agent for the group (within the meaning of ) under section to relinquish the carryback. See section .

(ix) Separate return limitation year The offsetable nonlife consolidated net operating and capital loss carryovers do not include any losses attributable to a nonlife member that were sustained

(A) in a separate return limitation year (determined without section ) of that member (or a predecessor), or

(B) in a separate return year, in which an election was in effect under neither section nor section .

(x) Percentage limitation The offsetable nonlife consolidated net operating losses that may be set off against consolidated LICTI in a particular year may not exceed a percentage limitation. This limitation is the applicable percentage in section 1503(c)(1) of the lesser of two amounts—

(A) The first amount is the sum of the offsetable nonlife consolidated net operating losses under of this section that may serve in the particular year (determined without this limitation) as a setoff against consolidated LICTI.

(B) The second amount is consolidated LICTI in the particular year reduced by any nonlife consolidated net capital loss that sets off consolidated LICTI in that year.

(xi) Further limitation Any offsetable nonlife consolidated net operating loss remaining after applying the percentage limitation that is carried over to a succeeding taxable year may not be set off against the consolidated LICTI attributable to a life member that was not an eligible life member in the year the loss arose. See section .

(xii) Restoration rule The carryback of a life consolidated net operating loss or life consolidated net capital loss under of this section that reduces consolidated LICTI (or life consolidated capital gain net income) for a prior year may reduce the amount of nonlife subgroup losses that would offset consolidated LICTI in that prior year. Thus, that amount may be carried over under or of this section from that prior year in determining nonlife consolidated taxable income in a succeeding year or serve as offsetable nonlife subgroup losses in a succeeding year.

(4) Examples The following examples illustrate the principles of this . In the examples, L indicates a life company, S is a nonlife insurance company, another letter indicates a nonlife company that is not an insurance company, no company has farming losses (within the meaning of section ), and each corporation uses the calendar year as its taxable year.

(i) Example 1 P owns all of the stock of L and S. S owns all of the stock of I, a nonlife member that is an ineligible corporation for 2021 under of this section. For 2021, the group elects under section to file a consolidated return. For 2021, assume that any nonlife consolidated net operating loss may not be carried back to a prior taxable year. Other facts are summarized in the following table.

Separate taxable income (loss)
P$100
S(100)
I(100)
Nonlife consolidated net operating loss(100)

Under of this section, P's separate income is considered to absorb the loss of S, an eligible member, first and the offsetable nonlife consolidated net operating loss is zero, that is, the consolidated net operating loss ($100) reduced by I's loss ($100). The consolidated net operating loss ($100) may be carried over, but since it is entirely attributable to I (an ineligible member that is not a nonlife insurance company) its use is subject to the restrictions in of this section and section . The result would be the same if the group contained two additional members, S1, an eligible member, and I1, an ineligible member, where S1 had a loss of ($100) and I1 had income of $100.

(ii) Example 2

(A) The facts are the same as in of this section (Example 1), except that, for 2021, S's separate net operating loss is $200. Assume further that L's consolidated LICTI is $200. Under of this section, the offsetable nonlife consolidated net operating loss is $100 (the nonlife consolidated net operating loss computed under of this section ($200), reduced by the separate net operating loss of I ($100)). The offsetable nonlife consolidated net operating loss that may be set off against consolidated LICTI in 2021 is $35 (35 percent of the lesser of the offsetable $100 or consolidated LICTI of $200). See section and of this section. S carries over a loss of $65, and I carries over a loss of $100, to 2022 under of this section to be used against nonlife consolidated taxable income (consolidated net operating loss ($200) less amount used in 2021 ($35)). Under of this section, the offsetable nonlife consolidated net operating loss that may be carried to 2022 is $65 ($100 minus $35). The facts and results are summarized in the following table.

Facts (a)Offsetable (b)Limit (c)Unused loss (d)
P100
S(200)(100)(65)
I(100)(100)
Nonlife subgroup(200)(100)(100)(165)
L200200
35% of the lower of line 4(c) or 5(c)35
Unused offsetable loss(65)

(B) Accordingly, under of this section, consolidated taxable income is $165 (line 5(a) minus line 6(c)).

(iii) Example 3 The facts are the same as in of this section (Example 2), with the following additions for 2022. The nonlife subgroup has nonlife consolidated taxable income of $50 (all of which is attributable to I) before the nonlife consolidated net operating loss deduction under of this section. Consolidated LICTI is $100. Under of this section, $50 of the nonlife consolidated net operating loss carryover ($165) is used in 2022 and, under and of this section, the portion used in 2022 is attributable to I, the ineligible nonlife member. Accordingly, the offsetable nonlife consolidated net operating loss from 2021 under of this section is $65, the unused loss from 2021. The offsetable nonlife consolidated net operating loss in 2022 is $22.75 (35 percent of the lesser of the offsetable loss of $65 or consolidated LICTI of $100). Accordingly, under of this section, consolidated taxable income is $77.25 (consolidated LICTI of $100 minus the offsetable loss of $22.75).

(iv) Example 4 P owns all of the stock of S and L. For 2021, all corporations are eligible corporations, and the group elects under section to file a consolidated return, the nonlife consolidated net operating loss is $100, and the nonlife consolidated net capital loss is $50. Assume that the losses may not be carried back and the capital losses are not attributable to built-in deductions under of this section. Other facts and the results are set forth in the following table:

P-SL
1. Nonlife consolidated net operating loss($100)
2. Nonlife consolidated capital loss(50)
3. Consolidated LICTI$100
4. Life consolidated capital gain net income included in line 350
5. Offsetable:
(a) 35% of lower of line (1) or line (3)-(4)(17.5)
(b) Line 2(50)
(c) Total(67.5)
6. Unused losses available to be carried over:
(a) From line 1 (line 1 minus line 5 (a))(82.5)
(b) From line 2 (line 2 minus line 5 (b))0

Accordingly, under of this section consolidated taxable income is $32.5, that is, line 3 minus line 5(c).

(i) [Reserved]

(j) Nonlife consolidated taxable income set off by life subgroup losses

(1) In general. The life subgroup losses consist of the life consolidated net operating loss and consolidated operations loss carryovers and the life consolidated net capital loss. Under of this section, nonlife consolidated taxable income is set off by the amounts of these two consolidated losses specified in of this section, subject to the rules and limitations in of this section.

(2) Amount of setoff The portion of the life consolidated net operating loss and consolidated operations loss carryovers or life consolidated net capital loss that may be set off against nonlife consolidated taxable income (determined under of this section) is determined by applying the rules prescribed in and of this section in the following manner:

(i) Substitute the term “life” for “nonlife”, and vice versa.

(ii) Substitute the term “nonlife consolidated taxable income” for “consolidated LICTI”, and vice versa.

(iii) Substitute the term “life consolidated net operating loss and consolidated operations loss carryovers” for “nonlife consolidated net operating loss”, and “paragraph (g)” for “paragraph (f)”.

(iv) , , , and of this section do not apply to a life consolidated net operating loss and consolidated operations loss carryovers.

(v) The setoff of life subgroup losses against nonlife consolidated taxable income does not affect nonlife member deductions that depend in whole or in part on taxable income.

(3) Examples The following examples illustrate the principles of this . In the examples, L indicates a life company, S is a nonlife insurance company, another letter indicates a nonlife company that is not an insurance company, no company has farming losses (within the meaning of section ), and each corporation uses the calendar year as its taxable year.

(i) Example 1 P, S, L1 and L2 constitute a group that elects under section to file a consolidated return for 2021. In 2021, the nonlife subgroup consolidated taxable income is $100 and there is $20 of nonlife consolidated net capital loss that cannot be carried back under of this section to taxable years (whether consolidated or separate) preceding 2021. The nonlife subgroup has no carryover from years prior to 2021. The life consolidated net operating loss is $150, which under of this section includes life consolidated capital gain net income of $25. Since life consolidated capital gain net income is zero for 2021 (see of this section), the nonlife capital loss offset is zero (see of this section). However, $100 of life consolidated net operating loss sets off the $100 nonlife consolidated taxable income in 2021. The life subgroup carries under of this section to 2022 $50 of the life consolidated net operating loss ($150 minus $100). The $50 carryover will be used in 2022 (subject to the limitation in section ) against life subgroup income before it may be used in 2022 to setoff nonlife consolidated taxable income.

(ii) Example 2 The facts are the same as in of this section, except that, for 2021, the nonlife consolidated taxable income is $150 (this amount is entirely attributable to S and includes nonlife consolidated capital gain net income of $50), consolidated LICTI is $200, and a life consolidated net capital loss is $50. The $50 life consolidated net capital loss sets off the $50 nonlife consolidated capital gain net income. Consolidated taxable income under of this section is $300 (nonlife consolidated taxable income ($150) minus the setoff of the life consolidated net capital loss ($50), plus consolidated LICTI ($200)).

(iii) Example 3 The facts are the same as in of this section, except that, for 2022, the nonlife consolidated net operating loss is $150. This entire amount is attributable to S; thus, it is eligible to be carried back to 2021 against nonlife consolidated taxable income under of this section and . If P, the agent for the group within the meaning of , does not elect to relinquish the carryback under section , the entire $150 will be carried back, reducing 2021 nonlife consolidated taxable income to zero and nonlife consolidated capital gain net income to zero. Under of this section, the setoff in 2021 of the nonlife consolidated capital gain net income ($50) by the life consolidated net capital loss ($50) is restored. Accordingly, the 2021 life consolidated net capital loss may be carried over by the life subgroup to 2022. Under of this section, after the carryback, consolidated taxable income for 2021 is $200 (nonlife consolidated taxable income ($0) plus consolidated LICTI ($200)).

(iv) Example 4 The facts are the same as in of this section, except that P elects under section to relinquish the carryback of $150 arising in 2022. The setoff in Example 2 is not restored. However, the offsettable nonlife consolidated net operating loss for 2022 (or that may be carried over from 2022) is zero. See of this section. Nevertheless, the $150 nonlife consolidated net operating loss may be carried over to be used by the nonlife group.

(v) Example 5 P owns all of the stock of S1 and of L1. On January 1, 2017, L1 purchases all of the stock of L2. For 2021, the group elects under section to file a consolidated return. For 2021, L1 is an eligible corporation under of this section but L2 is ineligible. Thus, L1 but not L2 is a member for 2021. For 2021, L2 sustains a net operating loss, which cannot be carried back (see section ). For 2021, L2 is treated under of this section as a member of a controlled group of corporations under section with P, S, and L1. For 2022, L2 is eligible and is included on the group's consolidated return. L2's net operating loss for 2021 that may be carried to 2022 is not treated under of this section as having been sustained in a separate return limitation year for purposes of computing consolidated LICTI of the L1-L2 life subgroup for 2022. Furthermore, the portion of L2's net operating loss not used under of this section against life subgroup income in 2022 may be included in offsettable life consolidated net operating loss under and of this section that reduces in 2022 nonlife consolidated taxable income (subject to the limitation in section ) because L2's loss in 2021 was not sustained in a separate return limitation year under and of this section or in a separate return year (2021) when an election was in effect under neither section nor section .

(k) Preemption The rules in this section preempt any inconsistent rules in other sections of the consolidated return regulations. For example, the rules in of this section apply notwithstanding .

(l) Other consolidation principles The fact that this section treats the life and nonlife members as separate groups in computing, respectively, consolidated LICTI (or life consolidated net operating loss) and nonlife consolidated taxable income (or loss) does not affect the usual rules in the consolidated return regulations unless this section provides otherwise. Thus, the usual rules in (relating to intercompany transactions) apply to both the life and nonlife members by treating them as members of one affiliated group.

(m) Filing requirements

(1) In general To file a consolidated income tax return for a life-nonlife consolidated group, the common parent shall—

(i) File the applicable consolidated corporate income tax return: a Form 1120-L, U.S. Life Insurance Company Income Tax Return, where the common parent is a life insurance company; a Form 1120-PC, U.S. Property and Casualty Insurance Company Income Tax Return, where the common parent is an insurance company, other than a life insurance company; a Form 1120, U.S. Corporation Income Tax Return, where the common parent is any other type of corporation; or any successor form;

(ii) Indicate clearly on the face of this return that such corporate tax return is a life-nonlife return;

(iii) Show any set offs required by , , and of this section;

(iv) Report separately the nonlife consolidated taxable income or loss, determined under of this section, on a Form 1120 or 1120-PC (or any successor forms) (whether filed by the common parent or as an attachment to the consolidated return), as the case may be, of all nonlife members of the consolidated group; and

(v) Report separately the consolidated Life Insurance Company Taxable Income or life consolidated net operating loss, on a Form 1120-L (or any successor form) (whether filed by the common parent or as an attachment to the consolidated return), of all life members of the consolidated group.

(2) Cross reference See , regarding the inclusion in a corporate tax return of the required statements and schedules for subsidiaries.

(n) Effective/applicability dates The rules of this section apply to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2020. However, a taxpayer may choose to apply the rules of this section to taxable years beginning on or before December 31, 2020. If a taxpayer makes the choice described in the previous sentence, the taxpayer must apply those rules in their entirety and consistently with the provisions of subchapter L of the Internal Revenue Code applicable to the years at issue.

(Secs. 1502 and 7805 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (68A Stat. 637, 917; 26 U.S.C. 1502, 7805))

Editorial Note

Editorial Notes:

1. For Federal Register citations affecting , see the List of CFR Sections Affected, which appears in the Finding Aids section of the printed volume and at www.govinfo.gov..

2. By T.D. 9927, 85 FR 67988, Oct. 27, 2020, was amended; however, a portion of the amendment could not be incorporated due to inaccurate amendatory instruction.

[T.D. 7877, 48 FR 11441, Mar. 18, 1983]