17 August 2006
Life insurance tax rules to be reviewed
The government is to carry out a comprehensive review of the life insurance tax rules, Finance Minister Michael Cullen
and Revenue Minister Peter Dunne announced today.
“Life insurance constitutes a major sector of the savings industry, with over $9 billion of savings funds under
management,” they said.
“A review of the life insurance tax rules is long overdue. The current rules have been operating in a largely unmodified
form since 1990, even though the commercial, regulatory and savings environment has changed markedly over the last 16
years.
“The review will also look at whether life insurance should be included in the proposed rules for taxing portfolio
investment entities, the subject of a bill currently before Parliament, to prevent it being disadvantaged relative to
other savings vehicles.
“We expect the review to be welcomed by the life insurance industry, which has been especially keen to have life
insurance included in the forthcoming investment tax rules. The review will, of course, be conducted in full
consultation with the industry.
“Any changes emerging from the review will be included in a tax bill to be introduced next year,” the Ministers said.
ENDS