LLM5220 - Names: other Lloyd’s-related expenditure: quota share contracts and Estate Protection Plans: FA 2002: details
The details of the legislation are set out in FA93/S178 (1)(c), FA93/S178 (3A) and FA93/S178 (3B). Definitions of the terms used in the rules are in FA93\S178 (4). The key new term is that of “transferred loss� which means the loss for which liability is taken over by the reinsurer under the quota share contract. The amount of any transferred loss does not include any part of a declared loss for which the member has paid a cash call.
Premium paid after loss declared
FA93/S178 (1)(c)(i) allows a quota share (QS) premium to the extent that it exceeds the transferred loss declared before the contract takes effect. For example, a syndicate declares a loss for a year of account of which the member’s share is £100,000. After the loss is declared but before it is called the Name pays a premium of £120,000 under which the reinsurer takes over responsibility for all future losses including those already declared. The deduction for the member’s QS premium is restricted to £20,000 (£120,000 premium less £100,000 transferred loss).
If, however, the member had already paid a cash call of £50,000, the deduction for the premium would only be restricted to £70,000 (£120,000 less £50,000 transferred loss, that is disregarding the £50,000 cash call already paid.)
FA93/S178 (1)(c)(ii) allows the premium payable where the contract does not take effect. This applies to the EPP situation where the member pays a premium but the reinsurer does not take over the liability for losses unless the member dies.
Premium is less than the declared loss
FA93\S178 (3A) taxes the amount by which a premium for a quota share is less than the declared amount. This will be an unusual case, but if applied to the first example above, if the premium paid was £90,000, all of the premium would be disallowed and £10,000 would be a profit of the year in which the contract came into effect. In effect the member is denied relief for £10,000 losses they will not be required to pay.
Cash call paid before loss declared
FA93/S178 (3B) gives a deduction for cash calls paid in respect of transferred losses before declaration. For example, a member has paid cash calls of £50,000 in respect of a year of account losses. Before the syndicate declares its loss, the member pays a premium of £100,000 to the reinsurer to take over liability for the uncalled losses. The member is entitled to a deduction of £150,000 (£50,000 cash call paid and £100,000 premium, both paid before declaration).