ARTICLE 8B.
Taxes Upon Insurance Companies.
Section
§105-228.5. Taxes measured by gross premiums.
(a) Tax Levied. - A tax is levied in this section on insurers, Article 65 corporations, health maintenance organizations, and self-insurers. An insurer, health maintenance organization, or Article 65 corporation that is subject to the tax levied by this section is not subject to franchise or income taxes imposed by Articles 3 and 4, respectively, of this Chapter.
(b) Tax Base. --
(b1) Calculation of Tax Base. - In determining the amount of gross premiums from business in this State, all gross premiums received in this State, credited to policies written or procured in this State, or derived from business written in this State shall be deemed to be for contracts covering persons, property, or risks resident or located in this State unless one of the following applies:
Gross premiums from business done in this State in the case of life insurance contracts, including supplemental contracts providing for disability benefits, accidental death benefits, or other special benefits that are not annuities, means all premiums collected in the calendar year, other than for contracts of reinsurance, for policies the premiums on which are paid by or credited to persons, firms, or corporations resident in this State, or in the case of group policies, for contracts of insurance covering persons resident within this State. The only deductions allowed shall be for premiums refunded on policies rescinded for fraud or other breach of contract and premiums that were paid in advance on life insurance contracts and subsequently refunded to the insured, premium payer, beneficiary or estate. Gross premiums shall be deemed to have been collected for the amounts as provided in the policy contracts for the time in force during the year, whether satisfied by cash payment, notes, loans, automatic premium loans, applied dividend, or by any other means except waiver of premiums by companies under a contract for waiver of premium in case of disability.
Gross premiums from business done in this State for all other health care plans and contracts of insurance, including contracts of insurance required to be carried by the Workers' Compensation Act, means all premiums written during the calendar year, or the equivalent thereof in the case of self-insurers under the Workers' Compensation Act, for contracts covering property or risks in this State, other than for contracts of reinsurance, whether the premiums are designated as premiums, deposits, premium deposits, policy fees, membership fees, or assessments. Gross premiums shall be deemed to have been written for the amounts as provided in the policy contracts, new and renewal, becoming effective during the year irrespective of the time or method of making payment or settlement for the premiums, and with no deduction for dividends whether returned in cash or allowed in payment or reduction of premiums or for additional insurance, and without any other deduction except for return of premiums, deposits, fees, or assessments for adjustment of policy rates or for cancellation or surrender of policies.
(c) Exclusions. - Every insurer, in computing the premium tax, shall exclude all of the following from the gross amount of premiums, and the gross amount of excluded premiums is exempt from the tax imposed by this section:
(d) Tax Rates; Disposition. --
The following definitions apply in this subdivision:
(e) Report and Payment. - Each taxpayer doing business in this State shall, within the first 15 days of March, file with the Secretary of Revenue a full and accurate report of the total gross premiums as defined in this section, the payroll and other information required by the Secretary in the case of a self-insurer, or the total gross collections from membership dues exclusive of receipts from cost plus plans collected in this State during the preceding calendar year. The taxes imposed by this section shall be remitted to the Secretary with the report.
(f) Installment Payments Required. - Taxpayers that are subject to the tax imposed by this section and have a premium tax liability of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more for business done in North Carolina during the immediately preceding year shall remit three equal quarterly installments with each installment equal to at least thirty-three and one-third percent (33 1/3%) of the premium tax liability incurred in the immediately preceding taxable year. The quarterly installment payments shall be made on or before April 15, June 15, and October 15 of each taxable year. The company shall remit the balance by the following March 15 in the same manner provided in this section for annual returns.
The Secretary may permit an insurance company to pay less than the required estimated payment when the insurer reasonably believes that the total estimated payments made for the current year will exceed the total anticipated tax liability for the year.
An underpayment or an overpayment of an installment payment required by this subsection accrues interest in accordance with G.S. 105-241.21. An overpayment of tax shall be credited to the company and applied against the taxes imposed upon the company under this Article.
(g) Exemptions. – This section does not apply to farmers' mutual assessment fire insurance companies or to fraternal orders or societies that do not operate for a profit and do not issue policies on any person except members. This section does not apply to a captive insurance company taxed under G.S. 105-228.4A. (1945, c. 752, s. 2; 1947, c. 501, s. 8; 1951, c. 643, s. 8; 1955, c. 1313, s. 5; 1957, c. 1340, s. 12; 1959, c. 1211; 1961, c. 783; 1963, c. 1096; 1969, c. 1221; 1973, cc. 142, 1019; 1975, c. 143; c. 559, s. 8; 1979, c. 714, s. 2; 1983, c. 713, s. 81; 1985, c. 119, s. 3; c. 719, ss. 1, 2; 1985 (Reg. Sess., 1986), c. 1031, ss. 1-5; 1987, c. 709, s. 2; c. 814, s. 2; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 814, s. 27; 1991, c. 689, s. 297; 1993 (Reg. Sess., 1994), c. 600, s. 4; 1995, c. 360, s. 1(d); 1995 (Reg. Sess., 1996), c. 747, s. 2; 1998-98, s. 17; 2001-424, s. 34.22(a), (d), (e); 2001-487, s. 69(a); 2001-489, s. 2(a)-(d), (f), (g); 2003-284, s. 43.1; 2005-276, s. 38.4(a); 2005-435, s. 57(a); 2006-196, ss. 1-5; 2007-250, s. 1; 2007-491, s. 2; 2013-116, s. 6; 2013-360, s. 20; 2014-64, s. 3(b).)
Return to Table of Contents page for Chapter 97. Workers' Compensation Act.
Display Complete Text of Chapter 97. Workers' Compensation Act.