Conning–New Tax Law Mostly Positive for U.S. Property-Casualty Insurers

Insurance Weekly News

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Insurance Weekly News -- The 2017 U.S. Tax Cut and Jobs Act brings with it both opportunities and challenges for the U.S. property-casualty insurance industry, according to a new analysis by Conning.

"The 2017 Tax Cut and Jobs Act was signed into law in December, and insurers are still processing the Act's major elements and planning responses," said Alan Dobbins, a Director, Insurance Research at Conning. "Clearly the headline reduction of the corporate tax rate will benefit U.S. insurers overall. Based on our proprietary P&C model, the tax rate reduction to 21% will increase the industry's net income by approximately 15% for 2018 and 2019. The elimination of the corporate alternative minimum tax is also a positive for the industry, but the reduction in the corporate tax rate will reduce the relative attractiveness of tax exempt municipal holdings that represent almost a third of the industry's current bond holdings. The law also reduces the value of deferred tax assets and liabilities with the reduction in corporate tax rate, with a corresponding effect on surplus."

The Conning "Property-Casualty Forecast & Analysis" fourth quarter edition reviews the key components of the tax law changes and likely impact on the industry and its financial performance.

"The Base Erosion Anti-Abuse Tax will have an impact on multinational insurers," said Steve Webersen, Head of Insurance Research at Conning. "For re/insurers, this minimum tax is meant to address business ceded from U.S. subsidiaries to foreign-domiciled subsidiaries. We expect that this change will significantly reduce the estimated $90 billion in premiums ceded by U.S. subsidiaries to affiliates, and initiate a re-allocation of capital to U.S. subsidiaries. In response to these and other tax law changes insurers will need to plan responses to the tax act to optimize performance with possible structural adjustments and reassess their strategic investment allocations."

"Property-Casualty Forecast & Analysis" is available for purchase from Conning by calling (888) 707-1177 or by visiting www.conningresearch.com.