SECTION 27. DISCOUNTED UNPAID LOSSES (§ 846)

.01 Composite method for discounting unpaid losses .

(1) Description of change . Section 846 defines “discounted unpaid losses” for purposes of computing the insurance company taxable income of certain insurance companies. Notice 88100, 1988-2 C.B. 439, section V, sets forth a composite method for computing unpaid losses with respect to accident years not separately stated on the NAIC annual statement. Rev. Proc. 2002-74, 2002-2 C.B. 980, section 3.01, clarifies that the composite method of Notice 88-100, section V, is permitted, but not required; section 3.02 sets forth an alternative method for those taxpayers that do not use the composite method of section 3.01. An insurance company using a method provided in section 3.01 or 3.02 of Rev. Proc. 2002-74 to compute discounted unpaid losses, must use the same method to compute discounted estimated salvage recoverable. An insurance company that currently uses a permissible method of accounting for discounted unpaid losses may change its method of accounting to or from the composite method of Notice 88-100, section V, without the consent of the Commissioner. This change applies to insurance companies that are required to discount unpaid losses under § 846. See Rev. Proc. 2002-74.

(2) Designated automatic accounting method change number . The designated automatic accounting method change number for a change under this section 27.01 is “68.”

(3) Contact information . For further information regarding a change under this section, contact Rebecca L. Baxter at (202) 317-6995 (not a toll-free number).