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Commitments and Contingencies
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies
Commitments and Contingencies

Qualification of Life Products

We have previously reported that a portion of the life insurance policies issued by our subsidiary insurance companies failed to qualify for the favorable U.S. federal income tax treatment afforded by Section 7702 of the Internal Revenue Code ("IRC") of 1986. Further, we have determined that the structure of our policies sold to non-U.S. citizens, which were novated to CICA Ltd. effective July 1, 2018, may have inadvertently generated U.S. source income over time. Based upon a review of the options available to address these issues, we intend to remediate domestic life and annuity policies to U.S. citizens to comply with the IRC. For the novated policies sold to non-U.S. citizens, we expect to settle any past liabilities with the Internal Revenue Service ("IRS"). The Company has continued to refine its estimate of the exposure and expenses related to these tax issues, as described below for the current reporting period. The products have been and continue to be appropriately reported as life insurance under U.S. GAAP for financial reporting.

These tax issues result in an estimated liability as of March 31, 2019 and December 31, 2018 of $10.0 million, after tax, related to projected IRS settlement amounts of $9.1 million and reserve increases totaling $0.9 million to bring policies into compliance. The probability weighted range of financial estimates relative to this issue is $6.0 million to $52.5 million, after tax. This estimated range includes projected taxes and interest and penalties payable to the IRS, as well as estimated increased payout obligations to current holders of non-compliant domestic life insurance policies expected to result from remediation of those policies. The estimated liability and the estimated range will be updated as we continue to refine our estimates.

The amount of our liabilities and expenses depends on a number of uncertainties, including the number of prior tax years for which we may be liable to the IRS, the number of domestic life insurance policies we will be required to remediate, and the methodology applicable to the calculation of the tax liabilities for policies. Given the range of potential outcomes and the significant variables assumed in establishing our estimates, actual amounts incurred may exceed our reserve and could exceed the high end of our estimated range of liabilities and expenses. To the extent the amount reserved by the Company is insufficient to meet the actual amount of our liabilities and expenses, or if our estimates of those liabilities and expenses change in the future, our financial condition and results of operation may be materially adversely affected. Management believes that based upon current information we have recorded the best estimate liability to date.

Accruals for loss contingencies are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. The process of determining our best estimate and the estimated range was a complex undertaking including insight from external consultants and involved management’s judgment based upon a variety of factors known at the time. We expect to incur additional costs ranging from $0.6 million to $0.9 million related to performing this analysis, but due to the uncertainty of actions, we cannot reasonably estimate these costs with any reliability. Actual amounts incurred may exceed this estimate and will be recorded as they become probable and can be reasonably estimated.

On May 17, 2017, we submitted an offer to enter into Closing Agreements with the IRS covering the CICA and CNLIC domestic life insurance businesses. The toll charges calculated and enumerated in the Closing Agreements totaled $124,000 and $4,000 for the CICA and CNLIC domestic life insurance businesses, respectively. We have not yet received any correspondence from the IRS related to our submissions.

Litigation and Regulatory Actions

From time to time we are subject to legal and regulatory actions relating to our business. We may incur defense costs, including attorneys' fees, and other direct litigation costs associated with defending claims. If we suffer an adverse judgment as a result of litigation claims, it could have a material adverse effect on our business, results of operations and financial condition.