Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
333-185333
METLIFE SHIELD LEVEL SELECTORSM
SUPPLEMENT DATED APRIL 28, 2014 TO THE PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 1, 2013
This supplement revises and, to the extent inconsistent therewith, replaces information contained in the Prospectus. Certain terms used in this supplement have special meanings. If a term is not defined in this supplement, it has the meaning given to it in the Prospectus. It should be read in its entirety and kept together with your Prospectus for future reference. If you have any questions or would like a copy of the Prospectus, please contact us at 1-800-343-8496, or write us at MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut, 4700 Westown Parkway, Ste. 200, West Des Moines, Iowa 50266.
The Prospectus is revised as follows:
1. | The new address for MetLife Investors Distribution Company is as follows: |
1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036
2. | The definition of “Joint Owner” and “Owner (“you”, “yours”)” on page 6 are revised as follows: |
Joint Owner.If there is more than one Owner, each Owner will be a Joint Owner of the Contract. Joint Owners are limited to natural persons.
Owner (“you”, “yours”).The person(s) entitled to the ownership rights under the Contract. Subject to our administrative procedures, we may also permit ownership by a corporation – a type of non-natural person. If Joint Owners are named, all references to Owner shall mean Joint Owners.
3. | Replace the second sentence in the “Purchase Payment” section under the section “Key Features of the Contract” beginning on page 10 with the following: |
Prior approval required for a Purchase Payment of less than $25,000 or $1,000,000 or more. |
4. | Replace the fifth paragraph under the section “THE ANNUITY CONTRACT” beginning on page 14 with the following: |
The Contract is intended for retirement savings or other long-term investment purposes. The Contract benefits from tax deferral. Tax deferral means that you are not taxed on Account Value or appreciation on the assets in your Contract until you take money out of your Contract. Non-qualified annuity Contracts owned by corporations do not receive tax deferral on earnings. In addition, for any tax qualified account (e.g., an IRA), the tax deferred accrual feature is provided by the tax qualified retirement plan. Therefore, there should be reasons other than tax deferral for acquiring the Contract by a corporation or within a qualified plan. (See “FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS.”)
5. | Revise the section “PURCHASE—Purchase Payment” beginning on page 15 as follows: |
(a) | Revise the second bullet point as follows: |
If you want to make a Purchase payment of less than $25,000 or, $1,000,000 or more, you will need our prior approval. |
(b) | Add the following fifth bullet point: |
• | Corporations may purchase the Contract; however, we will not accept a Purchase Payment made by a corporation to fund any type of Qualified or Non-Qualified retirement plan. |
6. | The following Shield Options are added to the Shield Option chart on page 16: |
SHIELD OPTIONS | ||
TERM | INDEX | |
SHIELD 25 (up to 25% downside protection) | ||
6 Year | Russell 2000® Index MSCI EAFE Index | |
SHIELD 15 (up to 15% downside protection) | ||
3 Year | Russell 2000® Index MSCI EAFE Index | |
6 Year | Russell 2000® Index MSCI EAFE Index | |
SHIELD 10 (up to 10% downside protection) | ||
6 Year | Russell 2000® Index MSCI EAFE Index |
7. | Replace the section “FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS” beginning on page 39 with the following: |
FEDERAL TAX CONSIDERATIONS
Introduction
The following information on taxes is a general discussion of the subject. It is not intended as tax advice. The Internal Revenue Code (“Code”) and the provisions of the Code that govern the Contract are complex and subject to change. The applicability of Federal income tax rules may vary with your particular circumstances. This discussion does not include all the Federal income tax rules that may affect you and your Contract. Nor does this discussion address other Federal tax consequences (such as estate and gift taxes, sales to foreign individuals or entities), or state or local tax consequences, which may affect your investment in the Contract. As a result, you should always consult a tax adviser for complete information and advice applicable to your individual situation.
You are responsible for determining whether your purchase of a Contract, withdrawals, income payments and any other transactions under your Contract satisfy applicable tax law.
We do not expect to incur Federal, state or local income taxes on the earnings or realized capital gains attributable to the Separate Account. However, if we do incur such taxes in the future, we reserve the right to charge amounts allocated to the Separate Account for these taxes.
Any Code reference to “spouse” includes those persons who are married spouses under state law, regardless of sex.
Non-Qualified Annuity Contracts
A “non-qualified” annuity Contract discussed here assumes the Contract is an annuity Contract for Federal income tax purposes, but the Contract is not held in a tax qualified “plan” defined by the Code. Tax qualified plans include arrangements described in Code Sections 401(a), 401(k), 403(a), 403(b) or tax sheltered annuities (“TSA”), 408 or “IRAs” (including SEP and SIMPLE IRAs), 408A or “Roth IRAs” or 457(b) or governmental 457(b) plans. Contracts owned through such plans are referred to below as “qualified” contracts.
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Non-Qualified Annuity Contracts Owned by Corporations
Taxes on earnings are deferred until you take money out. Non-qualified annuity Contracts owned by corporations do not receive tax deferral on earnings.
Accumulation
Generally, an owner of a non-qualified annuity Contract is not taxed on increases in the value of the Contract until there is a distribution from the Contract, either as surrenders, partial withdrawals or income payments. This deferral of taxation on accumulated value in the Contract is limited to Contracts owned by or held for the benefit of “natural persons.” A Contract will be treated as held by a natural person even if the nominal owner is a trust or other entity which holds the Contract as an agent for a natural person.
In contrast, a Contract owned by other than a “natural person,” such as a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity, will be taxed currently on the increase in accumulated value in the Contract in the year earned.
Surrenders or Withdrawals — Early Distribution
If you take a withdrawal from your Contract, or surrender your Contract prior to the date you commence taking annuity or “income” payments (the “Annuity Starting Date”), the amount you receive will be treated first as coming from earnings (and thus subject to income tax) and then from your purchase payments (which are not subject to income tax). If the accumulated value is less than your purchase payments upon surrender of your Contract, you might be able to claim the loss on your Federal income taxes as a miscellaneous itemized deduction.
The portion of any withdrawal or distribution from an annuity Contract that is subject to income tax will also be subject to a 10% Federal income tax penalty for “early” distribution if such withdrawal or distribution is taken prior to you reaching age 59 1⁄2, unless the distribution was made:
(a) | on account of your death or disability; |
(b) | as part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments payable for your life or joint lives of you and your designated beneficiary; or |
(c) | under certain immediate income annuities providing for substantially equal payments made at least annually. |
If you receive systematic payments that you intend to qualify for the “substantially equal periodic payments” exception noted above, any modifications (except due to death or disability) to your payment before age 59 1⁄2 or within five years after beginning these payments, whichever is later, will result in the retroactive imposition of the 10% Federal income tax penalty with interest. Such modifications may include additional purchase payments or withdrawals (including tax-free transfers or rollovers of income payments) from the Contract.
Aggregation
If you purchase two or more deferred annuity Contracts from MetLife (or its affiliates) during the same calendar year (after October 21, 1988), the law requires that all such Contracts must be treated as a single Contract for purposes of determining whether any payments not received as an annuity (e.g., withdrawals) will be includible in income. Aggregation could affect the amount of a withdrawal that is taxable and subject to the 10% Federal income tax penalty described above. Since the IRS may require aggregation in other circumstances as well, you should consult a tax adviser if you are purchasing more than one annuity Contract from the same insurance company in a single calendar year. Aggregation does not affect distributions paid in the form of an annuity (See “Taxation of Payments in Annuity Form” below).
Exchanges/Transfers
The annuity Contract may be exchanged in whole or in part for another annuity contract or a long-term care insurance policy. The exchange for another annuity contract may be a tax-free transaction provided that, among other prescribed IRS conditions, no amounts are distributed from either contract involved in the exchange for 180
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days following the date of the exchange – other than annuity payments made for life, joint lives, or for a term of 10 years or more. Otherwise, a withdrawal or “deemed” distribution may be includible in your taxable income (plus a 10% Federal income tax penalty) to the extent that the accumulated value of your annuity exceeds your investment in the Contract (your “gain”). The opportunity to make partial annuity exchanges was provided by the IRS in 2011 and some ramifications of such an exchange remain unclear. If the annuity Contract is exchanged in part for an additional annuity contract, a distribution from either contract may be taxable to the extent of the combined gain attributable to both contracts, or only to the extent of your gain in the contract from which the distribution is paid. It is not clear whether this guidance applies to a partial exchange involving long-term care contracts. Consult your tax adviser prior to a partial exchange.
A transfer of ownership of the Contract, or the designation of an annuitant or other beneficiary who is not also the Contract owner, may result in income or gift tax consequences to the Contract owner. You should consult your tax adviser if you are considering such a transfer or assignment.
Death Benefits
The death benefit is taxable to the recipient in the same manner as if paid to the Contract owner (under the rules for withdrawals or income payments, whichever is applicable).
After your death, any death benefit determined under the Contract must be distributed according to certain rules. The method of distribution that is required depends on whether you die before or after the Annuity Starting Date. If you die on or after the Annuity Starting Date, the remaining portion of the interest in the Contract must be distributed at least as rapidly as under the method of distribution being used as of the date of death. If you die before the Annuity Starting Date, the entire interest in the Contract must be distributed within five (5) years after the date of death, or as periodic payments over a period not extending beyond the life or life expectancy of the designated beneficiary (provided such payments begin within one year of your death). Your designated beneficiary is the person to whom benefit rights under the Contract pass by reason of death; the beneficiary must be a natural person in order to elect a periodic payment option based on life expectancy or a period exceeding five years. Additionally, if the annuity is payable to (or for the benefit of) your surviving spouse, that portion of the Contract may be continued with your spouse as the owner. For Contracts owned by a non-natural person, the required distribution rules apply upon the death of the annuitant. If there is more than one annuitant of a Contract held by a non-natural person, then such required distributions will be triggered by the death of the first co-annuitant.
Taxation of Payments in Annuity Form
When payments are received from the Contract in the form of an annuity, normally the annuity payments are taxable as ordinary income to the extent that payments exceed the portion of the payment determined by applying the exclusion ratio to the entire payment. The exclusion ratio of a Contract is determined at the time the Contract’s accumulated value is converted to an annuity form of distribution. Generally, the applicable exclusion ratio is your investment in the Contract divided by the total payments you are expected to receive based on IRS rules which consider such factors, such as the form of annuity and mortality. The excludable portion of each annuity payment is the return of investment in the Contract and it is excludable from your taxable income until your investment in the Contract is fully recovered. We will make this calculation for you. However, it is possible that the IRS could conclude that the taxable portion of income payments under a non-qualified Contract is an amount greater — or less — than the taxable amount determined by us and reported by us to you and the IRS.
Once you have recovered the investment in the Contract, further annuity payments are fully taxable. If you die before your investment in the Contract is fully recovered, the balance may be deducted on your last tax return, or if annuity payments continue after your death, the balance may be deducted by your beneficiary.
The IRS has not furnished explicit guidance as to how the excludable amount is to be determined each year under variable income annuities that permit transfers between a fixed annuity option and variable investment options, as well as transfers between investment options after the Annuity Starting Date. Once annuity payments have commenced, you may not be able to make transfer withdrawals to another non-qualified annuity contract or a long-term care contract in a tax-free exchange.
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If you receive payments that you intend to qualify for the “substantially equal periodic payments” exception noted above, any modifications (except due to death or disability) to your payment before age 59 1⁄2 or within five years after beginning these payments, whichever is later, will result in the retroactive imposition of the 10% Federal income tax penalty with interest. Such modifications may include additional purchase payments or withdrawals (including tax-free transfers or rollovers of income payments) from the Contract.
If the Contract allows, you may elect to convert less than the full value of your Contract to an annuity form of pay-out (i.e., “partial annuitization.”) In this case, your investment in the Contract will be pro-rated between the annuitized portion of the Contract and the deferred portion. An exclusion ratio will apply to the annuity payments as described above, provided the annuity form you elect is payable for at least 10 years or for the life of one or more individuals.
3.8% Tax on Net Investment Income
Federal tax law imposes a 3.8% Medicare tax on the lesser of:
the taxpayer’s “net investment income,” (from non-qualified annuities, interest, dividends, and other investments, offset by specified allowable deductions); or
the taxpayer’s modified adjusted gross income in excess of a specified income threshold ($250,000 for married couples filing jointly, $125,000 for married couples filing separately, and $200,000 otherwise).
“Net investment income” in Item 1 above does not include distributions from tax qualified plans, (i.e., arrangements described in Code Sections 401(a), 403(a), 403(b), 408, 408A or 457(b), but such income will increase modified adjusted gross income in Item 2 above.
You should consult your tax adviser regarding the applicability of this tax to income under your annuity Contract.
Puerto Rico Tax Considerations
The Puerto Rico Internal Revenue Code of 2011 (the “2011 PR Code”) taxes distributions from non-qualified annuity contracts differently than in the U.S.
Distributions that are not in the form of an annuity (including partial surrenders and period certain payments) are treated under the 2011 PR Code first as a return of investment. Therefore, a substantial portion of the amounts distributed generally will be excluded from gross income for Puerto Rico tax purposes until the cumulative amount paid exceeds your tax basis.
The amount of income on annuity distributions in annuity form (payable over your lifetime) is also calculated differently under the 2011 PR Code. Since the U.S. source income generated by a Puerto Rico bona fide resident is subject to U.S. income tax and the IRS issued guidance in 2004 which indicated that the income from an annuity contract issued by a U.S. life insurer would be considered U.S. source income, the timing of recognition of income from an annuity contract could vary between the two jurisdictions. Although the 2011 PR Code provides a credit against the Puerto Rico income tax for U.S. income taxes paid, an individual may not get full credit because of the timing differences. You should consult with a personal tax adviser regarding the tax consequences of purchasing an annuity Contract and/or any proposed distribution, particularly a partial distribution or election to annuitize if you are a resident of Puerto Rico.
Qualified Annuity Contracts
Introduction
The Contract may be purchased through certain types of retirement plans that receive favorable treatment under the Code (“tax qualified plans”). Tax-qualified plans include arrangements described in Code Sections 401(a), 401(k), 403(a), 403(b) or tax sheltered annuities (“TSA”), 408 or “IRAs” (including SEP and SIMPLE IRAs),
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408A or “Roth IRAs” or 457 (b) or 457(b) governmental plans. Extensive special tax rules apply to qualified plans and to the annuity Contracts used in connection with these plans. Therefore, the following discussion provides only general information about the use of the Contract with the various types of qualified plans. Adverse tax consequences may result if you do not ensure that contributions, distributions and other transactions with respect to the Contract comply with the law.
The rights to any benefit under the plan will be subject to the terms and conditions of the plan itself as well as the terms and conditions of the Contract.
We exercise no control over whether a particular retirement plan or a particular contribution to the plan satisfies the applicable requirements of the Code, or whether a particular individual is entitled to participate or benefit under a plan.
All qualified plans and arrangements receive tax deferral under the Code. Since there are no additional tax benefits in funding such retirement arrangements with an annuity, there should be reasons other than tax deferral for acquiring the annuity within the plan. Such non-tax benefits may include additional insurance benefits, such as the availability of a guaranteed income for life.
Accumulation
The tax rules applicable to qualified plans vary according to the type of plan and the terms and conditions of the plan itself. Both the amount of the contribution that may be made and the tax deduction or exclusion that you may claim for that contribution are limited under qualified plans.
Purchase payments or contributions to IRAs or tax qualified retirement plans of an employer may be taken from current income on a before tax basis or after tax basis. Purchase payments made on a “before tax” basis entitle you to a tax deduction or are not subject to current income tax. Purchase payments made on an “after tax” basis do not reduce your taxable income or give you a tax deduction. Contributions may also consist of transfers or rollovers as described below which are not subject to the annual limitations on contributions.
The Contract will accept as a single purchase payment a transfer or rollover from another IRA or rollover from an eligible retirement plan of an employer (i.e., 401(a), 401(k), 403(a), 403(b) or governmental 457(b) plans.) It will also accept a rollover or transfer from a SIMPLE IRA after the taxpayer has participated in such arrangement for at least two years. As part of the single purchase payment, the IRA Contract will also accept an IRA contribution subject to the Code limits for the year of purchase.
Taxation of Annuity Distributions
If contributions are made on a “before tax” basis, you generally pay income taxes on the full amount of money you withdraw as well as income earned under the Contract. Withdrawals attributable to any after-tax contributions are your basis in the Contract and not subject to income tax (except for the portion of the withdrawal allocable to earnings). Under current Federal income tax rules, the taxable portion of distributions under annuity contracts and qualified plans (including IRAs) is not eligible for the reduced tax rate applicable to long-term capital gains and qualifying dividends.
If you meet certain requirements, your Roth IRA earnings are free from Federal income taxes.
With respect to IRA Contracts, we will withhold a portion of the taxable amount of your withdrawal for income taxes, unless you elect otherwise. The amount we withhold is determined by the Code.
Withdrawals Prior to Age 59 1⁄2
A taxable withdrawal or distribution from a qualified plan which is subject to income tax may also be subject to a 10% Federal income tax penalty for “early” distribution if taken prior to age 59 1⁄2, unless an exception described below applies.
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These exceptions include distributions made:
(a) | on account of your death or disability, or |
(b) | as part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments payable for your life or joint lives of you and your designated beneficiary and you are separated from employment. |
If you receive systematic payments that you intend to qualify for the “substantially equal periodic payments” exception noted above, any modifications (except due to death or disability) to your payment before age 59 1⁄2 or within five years after beginning these payments, whichever is later, will result in the retroactive imposition of the 10% Federal income tax penalty with interest. Such modifications may include additional purchase payments or withdrawals (including tax-free transfers or rollovers of income payments) from the Contract.
In addition to death, disability and as part of a series of substantially equal periodic payments as indicated above, a withdrawal or distribution from an IRA (including Roth IRAs) will avoid the penalty (1) if the distribution is to pay deductible medical expenses; (2) if the distribution is to pay IRS levies (and made after December 31, 1999); (3) if the distribution is used to pay for medical insurance (if you are unemployed), qualified higher education expenses, or for a qualified first time home purchase up to $10,000. Other exceptions may be applicable under certain circumstances and special rules may be applicable in connection with the exceptions enumerated above.
Rollovers
Your Contract is non-forfeitable (i.e., not subject to the claims of your creditors) and non-transferable (i.e., you may not transfer it to someone else).
Under certain circumstances, you may be able to transfer amounts distributed from your Contract to another eligible retirement plan or IRA.
Generally, a distribution may be eligible for rollover. Certain types of distributions cannot be rolled over, such as distributions received on account of:
(a) | minimum distribution requirements, or |
(b) | financial hardship. |
20% Withholding on Eligible Rollover Distributions
For certain qualified employer plans, we are required to withhold 20% of the taxable portion of your withdrawal that constitutes an “eligible rollover distribution” for Federal income taxes. The amount we withhold is determined by the Code. You may avoid withholding if you assign or transfer a withdrawal from this Contract directly into another qualified plan or IRA. Similarly, you may be able to avoid withholding on a transfer into this Contract from an existing qualified plan you may have with another provider by arranging to have the transfer made directly to us. For taxable withdrawals that are not “eligible rollover distributions,” the Code requires different withholding rules which determine the withholding amounts.
Death Benefits
The death benefit is taxable to the recipient in the same manner as if paid to the Contract owner or plan participant (under the rules for withdrawals or income payments, whichever is applicable).
Distributions required from a qualified annuity Contract following your death depend on whether you die before you had converted your Contract to an annuity form and started taking annuity payments (your Annuity Starting Date). If you die on or after your Annuity Starting Date, the remaining portion of the interest in the Contract must be distributed at least as rapidly as under the method of distribution being used as of the date of death. If you die before your Annuity Starting Date, the entire interest in the Contract must be distributed within five (5) years after the date of death, or as periodic payments over a period not extending beyond the life or life expectancy of the designated beneficiary (provided such payments begin within one year of your death). Your designated
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beneficiary is the person to whom benefit rights under the Contract pass by reason of death; the beneficiary must be a natural person in order to elect a periodic payment option based on life expectancy or a period exceeding five years. For required minimum distributions following the death of the annuitant of a qualified Contract, the five-year rule is applied without regard to calendar year 2009. For instance, for a contract owner who died in 2007, the five-year period would end in 2013 instead of 2012. The required minimum distribution rules are complex, so consult your tax adviser because the application of these rules to your particular circumstances may have been impacted by the 2009 required minimum distribution waiver.
Additionally, if the annuity is payable to (or for the benefit of) your surviving spouse, that portion of the Contract may be continued with your spouse as the owner. If your spouse is your beneficiary, and your Contract permits, your spouse may delay the start of these payments until December 31 of the year in which you would have reached age 70 1⁄2.
If your spouse is your sole beneficiary, he or she may elect to rollover the death proceeds into his or her own IRA.
If your beneficiary is not your spouse and your plan and Contract permit, your beneficiary may be able to rollover the death proceeds via a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer into an inherited IRA. However, a non-spouse beneficiary may not treat the inherited IRA as his or her own IRA.
Required Minimum Distributions
Generally, you must begin receiving retirement plan withdrawals by April 1 following the latter of:
(a) | the calendar year in which you reach age 70 1⁄2; or |
(b) | the calendar year you retire, provided you do not own more than 5% of your employer. |
For IRAs, you must begin receiving withdrawals by April 1 of the year after you reach age 70 1⁄2 even if you have not retired.
A tax penalty of 50% applies to the amount by which the required minimum distribution exceeds the actual distribution.
The minimum required distribution is calculated with respect to each IRA, but the aggregate distribution may be taken from any one or more of your IRAs.
Complex rules apply to the calculation of these withdrawals. In general, income tax regulations permit income payments to increase based not only with respect to the investment experience of the portfolios but also with respect to actuarial gains.
The regulations also require that the value of benefits under a deferred annuity including certain death benefits in excess of Contract value must be added to the amount credited to your account in computing the amount required to be distributed over the applicable period. We will provide you with additional information regarding the amount that is subject to minimum distribution under this rule. You should consult your own tax adviser as to how these rules affect your own distribution under this rule.
If you intend to receive your minimum distributions which are payable over the joint lives of you and a beneficiary who is not your spouse (or over a period not exceeding the joint life expectancy of you and your non-spousal beneficiary), be advised that Federal tax rules may require that payments be made over a shorter period or may require that payments to the beneficiary be reduced after your death to meet the minimum distribution incidental benefit rules and avoid the 50% excise tax. You should consult your own tax adviser as to how these rules affect your own Contract.
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Required minimum distribution rules that apply to other types of IRAs while you are alive do not apply to Roth IRAs. However, in general, the same rules with respect to minimum distributions required to be made to a beneficiary after your death under other IRAs do apply to Roth IRAs.
Additional Information regarding IRAs
Purchase payments
Traditional IRA purchase payments (except for permissible rollovers and direct transfers) are generally not permitted after you attain age 70 1⁄2. Except for permissible rollovers and direct transfers, purchase payments for individuals are limited in the aggregate to the lesser of 100% of compensation or the deductible amount established each year under the Code. A purchase payment up to the deductible amount can also be made for a non-working spouse provided the couple’s compensation is at least equal to their aggregate contributions. Individuals age 50 and older are permitted to make additional “catch-up” contributions if they have sufficient compensation. If you or your spouse are an active participant in a retirement plan of an employer, your deductible contributions may be limited. If you exceed purchase payment limits you may be subject to a tax penalty.
Roth IRA purchase payments for individuals are non-deductible (made on an “after tax” basis) and are limited to the lesser of 100% of compensation or the annual deductible IRA amount. Individuals age 50 and older can make an additional “catch-up” purchase payment each year (assuming the individual has sufficient compensation). You may contribute up to the annual purchase payment limit if your modified adjusted gross income does not exceed certain limits. You can contribute to a Roth IRA after age 70½. If you exceed purchase payment limits, you may be subject to a tax penalty.
Withdrawals
If and to the extent that Traditional IRA purchase payments are made on an “after tax” basis, withdrawals would be included in income except for the portion that represents a return of non-deductible purchase payments. This portion is generally determined based upon the ratio of all non-deductible purchase payments to the total value of all your Traditional IRAs (including SEP IRAs and SIMPLE IRAs). We withhold a portion of the amount of your withdrawal for income taxes, unless you elect otherwise. The amount we withhold is determined by the Code.
Generally, withdrawal of earnings from Roth IRAs are free from Federal income tax if (1) they are made at least five taxable years after your first purchase payment to a Roth IRA; and (2) they are made on or after the date you reach age 59 1⁄2 and upon your death, disability or qualified first-home purchase (up to $10,000). Withdrawals from a Roth IRA are made first from purchase payments and then from earnings. We may be required to withhold a portion of your withdrawal for income taxes, unless you elect otherwise. The amount will be determined by the Code.
Conversion
Traditional IRAs may be converted to Roth IRAs. Except to the extent you have non-deductible contributions, the amount converted from an existing Traditional IRA into a Roth IRA is taxable. Generally, the 10% Federal income tax penalty does not apply. However, the taxable amount to be converted must be based on the fair market value of the entire annuity contract being converted into a Roth IRA. Such fair market value, in general, is to be determined by taking into account the value of all benefits (both living benefits and death benefits) in addition to the account balance; as well as adding back certain loads and charges incurred during the prior twelve month period. Your Contract may include such benefits and applicable charges. Accordingly, if you are considering such conversion of your annuity Contract, please consult your tax adviser. The taxable amount may exceed the account balance at the date of conversion.
A Roth IRA Contract may also be re-characterized as a Traditional IRA, if certain conditions are met. Please consult your tax adviser.
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Distinction for Puerto Rico Code
Rollover
Deferral of the recognition of income continues upon the receipt of a distribution by a participant from a qualified plan, if the distribution is contributed to another qualified retirement plan or traditional individual retirement account for the employee’s benefit no later than sixty (60) days after the distribution.
ERISA Considerations
In the context of a Puerto Rico qualified retirement plan trust, the IRS has recently held that the transfer of assets and liabilities from a qualified retirement plan trust under the Code to that type of plan would generally be treated as a distribution includible in gross income for U.S. income tax purposes even if the Puerto Rico retirement plan is a plan described in ERISA Section 1022(i)(1). By contrast, a transfer from a qualified retirement plan trust under the Code to a Puerto Rico qualified retirement plan trust that has made an election under ERISA Section 1022(i)(2) is not treated as a distribution from the transferor plan for U.S. income tax purposes because a Puerto Rico retirement plan that has made an election under ERISA Section 1022(i)(2) is treated as a qualified retirement plan for purposes Code Section 401(a). The IRS has determined that the above described rules prescribing the inclusion in income of transfers of assets and liabilities to a Puerto Rico retirement plan trust described in ERISA Section 1022(i)(1) would be applicable to transfers taking effect after December 31, 2012.
Similar to the IRS Revenue Ruling 2013-17, the U.S. Department of Labor issued DOL Technical Release No. 2013-04 on September 18, 2013 providing that, where the Secretary of Labor has authority to regulate with respect to the provisions of ERISA dealing with the use of the term “spouse”, spouse will be read to refer to any individuals who are lawfully married under any state law, including same-sex spouses, and without regard to whether their state of domicile recognizes same-sex marriage. Thus, for ERISA purposes as well as Federal tax purposes, an employee benefit plan participant who marries a person of the same sex in a jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex marriage will continue to be treated as married even if the couple moves to a jurisdiction, like Puerto Rico, that does not recognize same-sex marriage.
Additional Federal Tax Considerations
Non-Qualified Annuity Contracts
Changes to Tax Rules and Interpretations
Changes to applicable tax rules and interpretations can adversely affect the tax treatment of your Contract. These changes may take effect retroactively.
We reserve the right to amend your Contract where necessary to maintain its status as an Annuity Contract under Federal tax law and to protect you and other Contract owners from adverse tax consequences.
The3.8 % investment tax applies to investment income earned in households making at least $250,000 ($200,000 single) and will result in the following top tax rates on investment income:
Capital Gains | Dividends | Other | ||||||
23.8% | 43.4 | % | 43.4 | % |
The table above also incorporates the scheduled increase in the capital gains rate from 15% to 20%, and the scheduled increase in the dividends rate from 15% to 39.6%.
Qualified Annuity Contracts
Annuity contracts purchased through tax qualified plans are subject to limitations imposed by the Code and regulations as a condition of tax qualification. There are various types of tax qualified plans which have certain beneficial tax consequences for Contract owners and plan participants.
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Types of Qualified Plans
The following includes individual account-type plans which may hold an annuity Contract as described in the Prospectus.
IRA
Established by an individual, or employer as part of an employer plan.
Roth Account
Individual or employee plan contributions made to certain plans on an after-tax basis. An IRA may be established as a Roth IRA, and 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans may provide for Roth accounts.
Plan Limits for Individual Contributions:
Plan Type | Elective Contribution | Catch-up Contribution | ||||||
23.8% | 43.4 | % | 43.4 | % |
Dollar limits are for 2014 and subject to cost-of-living adjustments in future years.
Federal Estate Taxes
While no attempt is being made to discuss the Federal estate tax implications of the Contract, you should bear in mind that the value of an annuity contract owned by a decedent and payable to a beneficiary by virtue of surviving the decedent is included in the decedent’s gross estate. Depending on the terms of the annuity contract, the value of the annuity included in the gross estate may be the value of the lump sum payment payable to the designated beneficiary or the actuarial value of the payments to be received by the beneficiary. Consult an estate planning adviser for more information.
Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax
Under certain circumstances, the Code may impose a “generation-skipping transfer tax” when all or part of an annuity contract is transferred to, or a death benefit is paid to, an individual two or more generations younger than the contract owner. Regulations issued under the Code may require us to deduct the tax from your contract, or from any applicable payment, and pay it directly to the IRS.
Annuity Purchase Payments by Nonresident Aliens and Foreign Corporations
The discussion above provides general information regarding U.S. Federal income tax consequences to annuity purchasers that are U.S. citizens or residents. Purchasers that are not U.S. citizens or residents will generally be subject to U.S. Federal withholding tax on taxable distributions from annuity contracts at a 30% rate, unless a lower treaty rate applies. In addition, purchasers may be subject to state and/or municipal taxes and taxes that may be imposed by the purchaser’s country of citizenship or residence. Prospective purchasers are advised to consult with a qualified tax adviser regarding U.S., state and foreign taxation with respect to an annuity contract purchase.
8. | Replace the first sentence under the section “OWNERSHIP PROVISIONS” beginning on page 44 with the following: |
Owner. You, as the Owner, have all the interest and rights under the Contract. Subject to our administrative procedures, we may also permit ownership by a corporation — a type of non-natural person.
9. | Replace the section “THE INSURANCE COMPANY” beginning on page 45 with the following: |
MetLife Insurance Company of Connecticut (“MetLife of Connecticut”) is a stock insurance company chartered in 1863 in Connecticut and continuously engaged in the insurance business since that time. It is licensed to conduct life insurance business in all states of the United States except New York, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. and British Virgin Islands and the Bahamas.
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The Company is a wholly owned subsidiary of MetLife, Inc., a publicly traded company. MetLife, Inc., through its subsidiaries and affiliates, is a leading provider of insurance and other financial services to individual and institutional customers. The Company’s Home Office is located at 1300 Hall Boulevard, Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002-2910.
In 2013, MetLife, Inc. announced its plans to merge MetLife of Connecticut, MetLife Investors Insurance Company (“MetLife Investors”), MetLife Investors USA Insurance Company (“MetLife Investors USA”), and Exeter Reassurance Company, Ltd. (“Exeter Reassurance”), to create one larger U.S.-based and U.S.-regulated life insurance company. MetLife Investors and MetLife Investors USA, like MetLife of Connecticut, are U.S. insurance companies that issue variable insurance products in addition to other products. Exeter Reassurance is a direct subsidiary of MetLife, Inc. that mainly reinsures guarantees associated with variable annuity products issued by U.S. insurance companies that are direct or indirect subsidiaries of MetLife, Inc. MetLife of Connecticut, which is expected to be renamed and domiciled in Delaware, will be the surviving entity. These mergers are expected to occur towards the end of 2014, subject to regulatory approvals.
10. | Replace the section “DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACTS” beginning on page 47 with the following: |
DISTRIBUTION OF THE CONTRACTS
MetLife Investors Distribution Company (“MLIDC”) is the principal underwriter and distributor of the securities offered through this Prospectus. MLIDC, which is our affiliate, also acts as the principal underwriter and distributor of some of the other variable annuity contracts and variable life insurance policies we and our affiliated companies issue. We reimburse MLIDC for expenses MLIDC incurs in distributing the Contracts (e.g., commissions payable to the retail broker-dealers who sell the Contracts, including our affiliated broker-dealers.) MLIDC does not retain any fees under the Contracts. We also pay amounts to MLIDC that may be used for its operating and other expenses, including the following sales expenses: compensation and bonuses for MLIDC’s management team, advertising expenses, and other expenses of distributing the Contracts. MLIDC’s management team also may be eligible for non-cash compensation items that we may provide jointly with MLIDC. Non-cash items include conferences, seminars and trips (including travel, lodging and meals in connection therewith), entertainment, merchandise and other similar items.
MLIDC’s principal executive offices are located at 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10036. MLIDC is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as well as the securities commissions in the states in which it operates, and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”). FINRA provides background information about broker-dealers and their registered representatives through FINRA BrokerCheck. You may contact the FINRA BrokerCheck Hotline at 1-800-289-9999, or log on to www.finra.org. An investor brochure that includes information describing FINRA BrokerCheck is available through the Hotline or on-line.
The Contracts are sold through Company licensed sales representatives who are associated with our affiliated broker-dealers MetLife Securities, Inc. (“MSI”) and New England Securities Corporation (“NES”), which are paid compensation for the promotion and sale of the Contracts. MSI and NES are registered with the SEC as broker-dealers under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and are also members of FINRA. The Contracts may also be sold through other registered broker-dealers. The Contracts may also be sold through the mail, the Internet or by telephone.
There is no front-end sales load deducted from purchase payments to pay sales commissions. Distribution costs are recovered through the charges and deductions under the Contract. Our sales representatives must meet a minimum level of sales production in order to maintain their agent status with us. Sales representatives can meet the minimum level of sales production through sales of proprietary and/or non-proprietary products. (Proprietary products are those issued by us or our affiliates.) However, sales representatives can meet a lower alternative minimum level of sales production if the sales representative focuses on sales of proprietary products. Therefore,
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a sales representative may have an incentive to favor the sale of proprietary products. Moreover, because the managers who supervise the representatives receive a higher level of compensation based on sales of proprietary products, these sales managers have an incentive to promote the sale of proprietary products.
Our sales representatives receive cash payments for the products they sell and service based upon a ‘gross dealer concession’ model. With respect to the Contracts, the maximum gross dealer concession is 6% of the Purchase Payment. Some sales representatives may elect to receive a lower gross dealer concession when a Purchase Payment is made, along with a trail gross dealer concession of up to 1% of the Account Value each year the Contract is in force for servicing the Contract. A gross dealer concession may also be credited when the Contract is annuitized. The amount of gross dealer concession credited upon annuitization depends on several factors, including the number of years the Contract has been in force.
A sales representative is entitled to part or all of the gross dealer concession. The percentage to which the representative is entitled is determined by a sliding-scale formula that takes into account the total amount of proprietary and non-proprietary products sold and serviced by the representative.
Our sales representatives and their managers may be eligible for additional cash compensation, such as bonuses and expense allowances (that may be tied to sales of specific products), equity awards (such as stock options), training allowances, supplemental compensation, product level add-ons controlled at the local and company levels, financing arrangements, special loan repayment options, marketing support, medical and other insurance benefits, and retirement benefits and other benefits. Since some of this additional compensation, in particular, life insurance, disability and retirement benefits is based primarily on the amount of proprietary products sold, our sales representatives and their managers have an incentive to favor the sale of proprietary products. Sales representatives who meet certain productivity, persistency, and length of service standards and/or their managers may be eligible for additional cash compensation. Moreover, managers may be eligible for additional cash compensation based on the sales production of the sales representatives that the manager supervises. The business unit responsible for the operation of our distribution system is also eligible to receive an amount of compensation.
Our sales representatives and their managers may be eligible for non-cash compensation incentives, such as conferences, trips, prizes and awards. Other non-cash compensation payments may be made for other services that are not directly related to the sale of products. These payments may include support services in the form of recruitment and training of personnel, production of promotional services and other support services.
We and MLIDC also pay compensation for the sale of the Contracts by unaffiliated broker-dealers. The compensation paid to unaffiliated broker-dealers for sales of the Contracts is generally not expected to exceed, on a present value basis, the aggregate amount of total compensation that is paid with respect to sales made through Company representatives. (The total compensation includes payments that we make to our business unit that is responsible for the operation of the distribution systems through which the Contracts are sold.) Broker-dealers pay their sales representatives all or a portion of the commissions received for their sales of the Contracts. Some firms may retain a portion of commissions. The amount that the broker-dealer passes on to its sales representatives is determined in accordance with its internal compensation programs. Those programs may also include other types of cash and non-cash compensation and other benefits. Sales representatives of these selling firms may also receive non-cash compensation pursuant to their firm’s guidelines, directly from us or the Distributor. We and our affiliates may also provide sales support in the form of training, sponsoring conferences, defraying expenses at vendor meetings, providing promotional literature and similar services. An unaffiliated broker-dealer or sales representatives of an unaffiliated broker-dealer may receive different compensation for selling one product over another and/or may be inclined to favor one product provider over another product provider due to differing compensation rates. Ask your sales representative further information about what your sales representative and the broker-dealer for which he or she works may receive in connection with your purchase of a Contract.
Additional Compensation for Selected Selling Firms. We and MLIDC have entered into distribution arrangements with certain selected selling firms. Under these arrangements we and MLIDC may pay additional
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compensation to selected selling firms, including marketing allowances, introduction fees, persistency payments, preferred status fees and industry conference fees. Marketing allowances are periodic payments to certain selling firms, the amount of which depends on cumulative periodic (usually quarterly) sales of our insurance contracts (including the Contracts) and may also depend on meeting thresholds in the sale of certain of our insurance contracts (other than the Contracts). They may also include payments we make to cover the cost of marketing or other support services provided for or by registered representatives who may sell our products. Introduction fees are payments to selling firms in connection with the addition of our products to the selling firm’s line of investment products, including expenses relating to establishing the data communications systems necessary for the selling firm to offer, sell and administer our products. Persistency payments are periodic payments based on account values of our insurance contracts (including Account Values of the Contracts) or other persistency standards. Preferred status fees are paid to obtain preferred treatment of the Contracts in selling firms’ marketing programs, which may include marketing services, participation in marketing meetings, listings in data resources and increased access to their sales representatives. Industry conference fees are amounts paid to cover in part the costs associated with sales conferences and educational seminars for selling firms’ sales representatives. We and MLIDC have entered into such distribution agreements with our affiliates, New England Securities Corporation and MSI, as well as unaffiliated selling firms identified on our website. We and MLIDC may enter into similar arrangements with other affiliates, such as MSI and New England Securities Corporation.
The additional types of compensation discussed above are not offered to all selling firms. The terms of any particular agreement governing compensation may vary among selling firms and the amounts may be significant. The prospect of receiving, or the receipt of, additional compensation as described above may provide selling firms and/or their sales representatives with an incentive to favor sales of the Contracts over other annuity contracts (or other investments) with respect to which selling firm does not receive additional compensation, or lower levels of additional compensation. You may wish to take such payment arrangements into account when considering and evaluating any recommendation relating to the Contracts. For more information about any such additional compensation arrangements, ask your registered representative. (Visit our website at www.metlife.com/shield for a list of selling firms that received compensation during the last calendar year, as well as the range of additional compensation paid.)
11. | Replace “Appendix E — the “PREMIUM TAX TABLE” with the following: |
APPENDIX E PREMIUM TAX TABLE
If you are a resident of one of the following jurisdictions, the percentage amount listed by that jurisdiction is the premium tax rate applicable to your Contract.
Qualified Contracts | Non-Qualified Contracts | |||||||
California(1) | 0.50 | % | 2.35 | % | ||||
Florida(2) | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | ||||
Maine(3) | 0.00 | % | 2.00 | % | ||||
Nevada(4) | 0.00 | % | 3.50 | % | ||||
Puerto Rico(5) | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | ||||
South Dakota(6) | 0.00 | % | 1.25 | % | ||||
West Virginia | 1.00 | % | 1.00 | % | ||||
Wyoming(4) | 0.00 | % | 1.00 | % |
(1) | California applies the qualified tax rate to plans that qualify under the following Code sections: 401(a), 403(b), 404, 408(b) and 501(a). |
(2) | Annuity premiums are exempt from taxation provided the tax savings are passed back to the contract holders. Otherwise, they are taxable at 1%. |
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(3) | Maine applies the qualified tax rate to plans that qualify under the following Code sections: 401, 403, 403(b), 404, 408, 457 and 501 |
(4) | Nevada and Wyoming apply the qualified tax rate to plans that qualify under the following Code sections: 401, 403, 404, 408 and 501. |
(5) | We will not deduct premium taxes paid by Us to Puerto Rico from purchase payments, account balances, withdrawals, death benefits or income payments. |
(6) | Special rate applies for large case annuity policies. Rate is 8/100 of 1% for that portion of the annuity considerations received on a contract exceeding $500,000 annually. Special rate on large case policies is not subject to retaliation. South Dakota applies the qualified tax rate to plans that qualify under the following Code sections: 401, 403(b), 404, 408, 457 and 501(a). |
Book 145 | April 28, 2014 |
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