Insurance Premium Tax Is a Budget No-Go Says BIBA

LONDON, England, Nov. 22 -- The British Insurance Brokers' Association issued the following news release:

BIBA, its members and their customers believe that Insurance Premium Tax should be reduced and have made the case to the Chancellor in a recent budget submission.

In its submission to HM Treasury BIBA explained that the 10 percent increase in uninsured accidents identified by the Motor Insurance Bureau (MIB) in August 2017, can in the opinion of most industry experts, be attributed to this summers' IPT rate hike, moving from 6 percent to 12 percent in a 20 month period. It also drew attention to the impact of the tax on those living or operating in high flood risk areas, where premiums are already necessarily higher if the risks are outside the scope of Flood Re.

The impact of this increased tax is very real. BIBA has heard from Mr Tony Dearsley who now pays GBP 242.96 more per year in tax as a result of this regressive insurance tax and who supports our view that this is an unfair tax.

Steve White, BIBA CEO said: IPT is a tax on protection and the UK has one of the highest levels of premium tax in Europe yet our insurance sector also has one of the biggest costs of regulation. We believe that IPT is now at a level that is contrary to HMT's policy that it should make the required contribution to Government revenues while minimising the effect on the take up of insurance. Any further increase would exacerbate the problems already being seen."

Graeme Trudgill, Executive Director at BIBA concluded: "We have seen a 100 percent increase in tax and this is without doubt beginning to bite at a time when motor premiums in particular are rising as a result of continued fraud and the March change to the personal injury compensation discount rate. Figures from both the AA and BIBA's own research show a significant increase in quarter 3 premiums for motor insurance. The BIBA -Acturis premium index revealed an 8 percent hike in private motor premiums before IPT is applied - rising to 10 percent when the last tax increase is applied."

Read BIBA's Budget submission here

British Insurance Brokers' Association-Budget submission - 22nd September 2017

The Negative Impact of recent Insurance premium tax Increases

Following the spring 2017 budget, the Financial Secretary to the Treasury wrote a letter stating that there was no evidence to show there was an increase in uninsured driving. However on August 2017 the Motor Insurers Bureau (MIB) - the official body set up to deal with uninsured driving, reported that for the first time in more than a decade, they saw an increase in the number of claims made following accidents with uninsured drivers. This increase was a significant 10 percent.

The Majority of Industry experts including BIBA and large brokers like the AA attribute this increase in uninsured driving directly to the doubling of IPT, from 6 percent to 12 percent in a 20 month period up to June 2017.

Insurance - reduces the burden on the state

Insurance is a social good. It allows people to take responsibility for themselves and their assets, and reduces the burden on the state should things go wrong. Additionally, the transferring of risk through insurance allows business to function. It gives our country resilience and businesses the peace of mind that when the unexpected happens, they will be given the assistance they need to be able to continue trading. Without it, the economy would grind to a halt as very few businesses possess the ability to carry their own risk without the need for insurance. In summary, insurance is vital.

Certain classes of insurance such as motor and employers' liability are also compulsory. Whilst there are very good reasons for this, it means that these policyholders have to pay the tax.

Insurance Premium Tax was introduced by then Conservative Chancellor Kenneth Clarke in 1993. Previous to this, there was no tax attached to this insurance as previous Governments saw this as a social good.

Insurance Premium Tax (IPT) is a tax on general insurance premiums. There are two rates;

* Standard rate: 12 percent per cent (home, contents, motor, van, pet, business, health)

* Higher rate: 20 per cent (travel insurance, mechanical/electrical appliances insurance and some vehicle insurance).

The tax is paid on insurance premiums, which in turn are paid by customers, similar to the way VAT is charged on goods or services and that charge is passed on the purchasers of these.

Between 1997 and 2011, a period of 14 years, there were only two increases of Insurance Premium Tax, introducing a modest rise from 4 percent to 5 percent under Rt Hon Gordon Brown, and 5 percent to 6 percent under Rt Hon George Osborne MP. The recent increases the industry has seen are beyond historical precedent (figure 1). In a period of around 20 months, there have been three increases in the rate of insurance Premium Tax, doubling the rate from 6 percent to 12 percent.

BIBA members feel strongly that this gross inflation of the rate of tax materially affects affordability and limits the ability of the industry to pass on savings made through joint initiatives between the industry and Government to tackle fraud.

In its consultation 'Reforming the soft tissue injury (whiplash) claims process'[i], Ministry of Justice Minister, Lord Keen, stated "Millions of motorists could save an average of GBP 40 on their annual car insurance from these proposals to tackle the unacceptable number of claims". However, the ability of the industry to be able to do this is seriously impacted by the level and frequency of the increases to Insurance Premium Tax, compounded by the Ogden changes, which even after the recent announcement form the Lord Chancellor will still lead to higher catastrophic injury awards and therefore higher premiums when compared to 12 months ago.

Telematics-graph1 (https://d10ou7l0uhgg4f.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/21085930/Telematics-graph1.docx)

Motor insurance

According to the AA British Insurance premium Index, in the 12 months up to the end of quarter two 2017 motor insurance premiums including IPT increased by almost 20 percent (19.6 percent) this is partly due to IPT as well as the change to the Ogden discount rate and claims inflation.

Insurance Premium Tax is a regressive tax, hitting hardest those who pay more for premiums. In particular, those on low incomes, those who live in high-risk areas and young drivers are some of the most adversely affected.

For young drivers in particular, the most recent increases in IPT have significantly pushed up premiums. For a GBP 1,500 policy, the IPT contribution has increased from GBP 90 at 6 percent to GBP 180 at 12 percent, in a space of around 20 months. This is level of increase is clearly unsustainable.

Helping Young Drivers - Insurance Premium Tax Relief for young drivers using telematics

Telematics policies can offer savings of up to 25 percent for responsible young drivers. Data provided by the 'black-box' technology builds a personalised risk profile based on an individual's actual driving. Ongoing monitoring of driving behaviours encourages better, safer road use.

Research from insurance provider Ingenie shows that telematics-based feedback can halve a driver's risk of crashing over their first policy year. In addition, BIBA member Marmalade, specialists in telematics insurance for young drivers, has seen exceptionally strong safety results. Studies show that 1 in 5 young drivers have an accident within the first 6 months of passing their test, yet with Marmalade that figure significantly improves to only 1 in 16, making their young drivers three times safer.

Research by the UK's 3rd largest private car insurer, Ageas, together with the Road Safety Foundation studied the business case behind implementing Insurance Premium Tax relief (a zero rate of IPT) on telematics insurance policies for the under 25s[ii].

The research showed that over a seven year period, the reduction in accidents resulting in killed/seriously injured road users would be 259 in year 7, presenting an economic saving of GBP 829m over the period, compared to lost revenue from IPT of GBP 588m (at the current rate of 12 percent).

BIBA believes this is a credible policy intervention the Government could make that would limit the impact of previous IPT increases on the group most acutely impacted by it, whilst at the same time making roads safer.

Click here to view table (https://www.biba.org.uk/?p=28418&preview=true)

It demonstrated that over a seven year period, not only would there be 1,036 fewer KSI accidents but also the cost benefit for HM Treasury would be GBP 212 Million (GBP 699M present value of benefits - GBP 487M present value costs)

We feel there is significant merit in Government considering the policy in order to help deliver safer roads, enable young people to take to the roads and increase the revenue that is taken into the exchequer.

Telematics is becoming increasingly popular. Each year, BIBA conducts research into the number of telematics policies live in the UK. By the end of 2016 the number exceeded three quarters of a million for the first time[iii]. The survey includes information from the leading telematics brands in the UK to determine the number of live policies which, on a like for like basis, shows an increase of nearly 25 percent on the 2015 figure. However it still represents only a fraction of the insurance policies covering the 30 Million plus vehicles in use and a zero IPT rate would provide much needed stimulus as well as serving as a prudent 'nudge' towards a product delivering significant road safety improvements.

Growth in live telematics policies (751,000 live policies at end of 2016)

Telematics-graph (https://d10ou7l0uhgg4f.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/21085539/Telematics-graph.docx)

Flood risk areas

Those living in flood risk areas are also impacted heavily by these increases in Insurance Premium Tax. Often, these communities face difficult decisions as to whether they can afford flood insurance or to forgo cover. An increase in the cost of insurance further puts insurance out of the reach of many, especially those outside of the scope of Flood Re.

Flood Re is a transitional arrangement, lasting for a total of 25 years. It is crucial that when the market moves to a risk-reflective pricing model at the end of the scheme, that insurance is not out of reach for those that need it.

Further, the previous IPT increase from 9.5 percent to 10 percent was ring-fenced to pay for flood defence spend. Flood defence spending is vital to being able to deliver an affordable risk reflective market at the end of Flood Re, as well as to deliver an effective market for those currently outside of the scope of Flood Re.

BIBA recently launched a new commercial insurance scheme for businesses that will also include flood cover for many commercial premises and let properties located in areas at risk from flooding.

Worked with the market to develop an innovative product that will both help them meet the usual commercial insurance needs of their small and medium sized clients (SMEs) and provide flood cover for many businesses risks that are ineligible for Flood Re.

The commercial scheme backed by the A+ rated security of Lloyd's underwriting capacity, uses an advanced mapping facility developed by Landmark which pin-points exactly the location and features of an individual property. Having this degree of specific and detailed risk reflective information allows each individual business or property to have insurance that is based on its own specific risk. It also recognises where meaningful resilience or resistance measures have been installed to decrease the risk or size of loss that may occur.

The scheme also offers a high degree of customer choice giving the option to 'buy-back' any flood excess that is applied because of the business location meaning customers can choose the amount of risk they want to bear themselves.

Crucial to the success of this however is sustained investment in capital projects, as well as routine maintenance of culverts, highways and defences. BIBA seeks clarification of this spending commitment and that the IPT contribution to fund flood defences will continue to be ring-fenced for this purpose from the increase that took place in October 2016.

Other jurisdictions

Another argument Government previously put forward for raising the rate of IPT is to bring us in-line with rates in Europe. However, The UK is now has the sixth highest rate of insurance taxation in Europe, behind only Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Finland[iv]. The rate in Germany is often given as an example of the UK not being the most expensive regime in Europe, however it is worthy of note their regulation of insurance brokers is paid through general taxation, where in the UK some BIBA members pay comfortably over GBP 1m each year in fees.

Research, conducted by London Economics shows that for both medium and large-sized insurance broking firms, the cost of regulation as a proportion of income in Finland, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands is not as high as it is in the UK. This demonstrates that whilst their rate of taxation may be higher, they are not subject to the same expensive regulation as we are here in the UK. Implementing a high-tax regime at the same time as having one of the most expensive regulatory systems in the world puts the UK at a competitive disadvantage, precisely at a time global competitiveness is more important than ever following the decision to exit the EU.

Click here to view table (https://d10ou7l0uhgg4f.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/21085539/Telematics-graph.docx)

Case study on the effect of IPT

Mr Dearsley a retired local government officer lives with his wife Karla an author and their two Bischon Frise dogs Harry and Sophie. He has insurance policies for Motor, Home, Private Health and Pets and the recent doubling in the cost of IPT has had a considerable impact of the cost of these policies.

Mr Dearsley shares BIBA's concerns over the increases to IPT due to the negative effect it has had on their family finances

Click here to view table (https://d10ou7l0uhgg4f.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/21085539/Telematics-graph.docx)

Who else is affected?

IPT is paid by the majority of UK small, medium and large business, but also personal lines customers including:

20.4 million Home owners/renters with contents insurance

20.1 million Drivers with home insurance

3.2 million Home owners with mortgage protection

1.9 million People with private medical insurance

3.4 million Pet owners

Our members are reporting back that following the increase to 12 percent they are receiving requests to reduce and cancel cover and increase excess/ deductibles from both personal and commercial customers.

Summary of the issues

* BIBA believes that the recent increases are contrary to the stated HMRC policy objective IPT01300 as measured by incidents caused by uninsured driving, which have now increased by 10 percent

* There is now evidence that the recent doubling of Insurances Premium tax has led to a lower take up of motor insurance by young drivers.

* The UK now has one of the highest rates of Insurance Premium Tax in Europe; however, also has one of the most expensive regulatory regimes in the world.

* New IPT income that was generated specifically by an increase of 0.5 percent to improve flood defences should focus on areas where accessing insurance is the most challenging.

* We have the most expensive financial regulatory system in the world but our regulator has no requirement to consider the international competitiveness of UK firms

Calls to action

* For Government to reduce the rate of Insurance premium tax (IPT) for young drivers using telematics policies to zero, acting as an incentive for greater take up of these policies which deliver significant improved road safety results and result in cheaper premiums.

* BIBA accept that part of the increase was to flood much needed flood defences, however the increase has gone too far and BIBA now call for a reduction in the standard rate of Insurance Premium tax to 10 percent

* For Government to commit to sustained flood defence spend and the finds from the October 2016 increase in IPT will continue to be ring-fenced for this purpose.

* For the FCA to be given a balancing statutory objective or strong formal guidance to consider the international competitiveness of the UK's financial markets

[i] https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/581387/reforming-soft-tissue-injury-claims-process.pdf

[ii] https://www.dropbox.com/sh/tavfplf855jwpt8/AAA0g5UdS7iHXAZGvV9M5Urza?dl=0

[iii] https://www.biba.org.uk/press-releases/biba-research-reveals-750000-live-telematics-based-policies/

[iv] https://www.abi.org.uk/~/media/Files/Documents/Publications/Public/2016/KeyFacts/EUIPT.pdf

This document was posted showing the date: Nov. 21, 2017.