Finland: Ruling on life insurance saving agreement

International Tax Review is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Garden, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Finland: Ruling on life insurance saving agreement

The Finnish Central Tax Board (CTB) has given a preliminary ruling (KVL 34/2011) regarding taxation in connection with transfers of investments in life insurance saving agreement and capitalisation agreement where the taxpayer has the right to decide on which assets the policy funds are invested in.

Life insurance saving agreement refers to a life insurance policy that combines life insurance with the features of a savings and investment account. The gains from the investments accumulate tax-deferred. Capitalisation redemption agreement refers to an investment linked insurance with no specific insured. Like life insurance saving agreement, also in capital redemption agreement gains from investments accumulate tax-deferred.

In the matter before the CTB the taxpayer was planning to conclude either a life insurance saving agreement or a capitalisation agreement with an insurance company. In said agreements, the premium paid to the insurance company could be invested in different types of assets. The insurance company was the owner of the assets and also had the right to assign the assets and invest the received funds in other assets. The terms and conditions, however, stipulated additionally that it was possible to grant the policyholder an independent right to decide on the transfers and investments during the term of the policy.

The assignment of investments linked to the life insurance or the capitalisation agreement by the insurance company during the term of the policy was not considered to be a taxable transfer in taxation of the policyholder. According to the CTB the policyholder did not receive taxable income from said transfers nor did any tax-deductable loss arise although he or she would be entitled to decide on the investments independently.

Janne Juusela (janne.juusela@borenius.com)

Borenius – Taxand

Tel: +358 9 615 333

Website: www.borenius.com

more across site & shared bottom lb ros

More from across our site

The long-running dispute centres on Medtronic’s use of the comparable uncontrolled transaction TP method; in other news, Paul Hastings and FTI Consulting both made double tax hires
The boutique Australian firm’s TP award recognition proves that world-class advisory services aren’t limited to the ‘big four’, the firm’s founder tells ITR
Canadian and Indian dual VAT models have been a source of inspiration for the Brazilian model, but the latter has unique and innovative features, the OECD paper claimed
More sophisticated use of technology, heightened TP scrutiny and stricter filing requirements are making South African Revenue Service audits a formidable challenge
The hire of Doug Wick expands Baker McKenzie’s state and local tax practice and adds to the firm’s growing ex-IRS expertise
One year after Nuwaru joined the WTS network, leaders James Jobson and Matthew Missaghi reflect on the firm’s mission to offer mid-tier pricing but deliver top-tier results
Join ITR's Head of Research, John Harrison, for an overview of key dates, new developments, best practices, and more for next year’s research cycle
The president’s tariff regime has already caused misery for taxpayers. Losing at the Supreme Court would mean it was all for nothing
The US itself was the biggest loser of tax revenue to American multinationals’ profit shifting, the Tax Justice Network reported; in other news, firms made key tax hires
Identifying who will bear the costs and concerns around confidentiality are issues yet to be resolved, advisers say
Gift this article