MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2004 Regular Session
To: Ways and Means
By: Representative Howell
AN ACT TO PERMIT THE ESTABLISHMENT AND MAINTENANCE OF HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS; TO EXEMPT CONTRIBUTIONS FROM GROSS INCOME UNDER THE STATE INCOME TAX LAW; TO PRESCRIBE THE REQUIREMENTS OF AND RESTRICTIONS ON HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNTS; TO AMEND SECTION 27-7-15, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO EXCLUDE THE AMOUNT DEPOSITED IN A HEALTH SAVINGS ACCOUNT FROM GROSS INCOME UNDER THE STATE INCOME TAX LAW; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Health Savings Accounts Act."
SECTION 2. As used in this act:
(a) "Eligible individual" means the individual taxpayer, including employees of an employer who contributes to health savings accounts on the employees’ behalf, who:
(i) Is not covered by a "high deductible health plan" individually or with dependents;
(ii) Is not covered under any health plan that is not a high deductible health plan, except for coverage for accidents, workers compensation insurance, insurance for a specified disease or illness, insurance paying a fixed amount per day per hospitalization and tort liabilities; and
(iii) Establishes, or on whose behalf is established, a health savings account.
(b) "Deductible" means the total deductible for an eligible individual and all the dependents of that eligible individual for a calendar year.
(c) "Dependent" means the spouse or child of the eligible individual as defined in Section 152 of the Internal Revenue Code.
(d) "Qualified medical expense" means an expense paid by the taxpayer for medical care described in Section 213(d) of the Internal Revenue Code.
(e) "High deductible" means:
(i) In the case of self-only coverage, an annual deductible (increased each year by a cost-of-living adjustment) which is not less than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) and the sum of the annual deductible and other annual out-of-pocket expenses required to be paid under the plan for covered benefits does not exceed Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00).
(ii) In the case of family coverage, an annual deductible (increased each year by a cost-of-living adjustment) of not less than Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) and the sum of the annual deductible and other annual out-of-pocket expenses required to be paid under the plan for covered benefits does not exceed Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00). A plan shall not fail to be treated as a high deductible plan by reason of failing to have a deductible for preventive care or, in the case of network plans, for having out-of-pocket expenses which exceed these limits on an annual deductible for services provided outside the network.
(f) "Health savings account" or "account" means a trust or custodian established in this state pursuant to a health savings account program exclusively to pay the qualified medical expenses of an eligible individual or his or her dependents, but only if the written governing instrument creating the account meets the following requirements:
(i) Except in the case of a rollover contribution, no contribution will be accepted unless it is in cash; or, to the extent such contribution, when added to the previous contributions to the account for the calendar year, exceeds one hundred percent (100%) of the eligible individual’s deductible or Twenty-six Hundred Dollars ($2,600.00) for an individual or Five Thousand One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($5,150.00) per family, whichever is lower;
(ii) The trustee or custodian is a bank, an insurance company or another person approved by the Commissioner of Insurance;
(iii) No part of the trust assets will be invested in life insurance contracts;
(iv) The assets of the account will not be commingled with other property except as allowed for under Individual Retirement Accounts; and
(v) Eligible individual’s interest in the account is nonforfeitable.
(g) "Health savings account program" or "program" means a program that includes all of the following:
(i) The purchase by an eligible individual or by an employer of a high deductible health plan; and
(ii) The contribution into a health savings account by an eligible individual or on behalf of an employee or by his or her employer. The total annual contribution may not exceed the amount of the plan’s higher deductible or the amounts listed herein.
(h) "High deductible health plan" means a health coverage policy, certificate or contract that provides for payments for covered benefits that exceed the higher deductible.
SECTION 3. (1) The provisions of this act shall apply also to taxpayers who are not receiving preferred federal tax treatment for a health savings account under Internal Revenue Code Section 223.
(2) For taxable years beginning after January 1, 2004, a resident of Mississippi or an employer shall be allowed to deposit contributions to a health savings account. The amount of deposit for 2004 shall not exceed the amount of the plan’s high deductible, nor Two Thousand Six Hundred Dollars ($2,600.00) for an individual policy and Five Thousand One Hundred Fifty Dollars ($5,150.00) for a family policy.
(3) Except as provided in Section 5 of this act, or except as otherwise provided by law, the principal contributed to and the interest earned on a health savings account and money reimbursed to an eligible individual or an employee for qualified medical expenses shall be excluded from the taxable gross income of the account holder under Section 27-7-15.
SECTION 4. The trustee or custodian shall utilize the funds held in a health savings account solely for the purpose of: (a) Paying the qualified medical expenses of the eligible individual or his or her dependents;
(b) Purchasing a health coverage policy certificate, or contract, for an eligible individual who is receiving unemployment compensation, is exercising continuation privileges under federal law or is purchasing a long-term care insurance contract; or
(c) Paying for health insurance other than a Medicare supplemental policy for those who are Medicare eligible. Funds held in a health savings account shall not be used to cover expenses of the eligible individual or his or her dependents that are otherwise covered, including, but not limited to, medical expense covered pursuant to an automobile insurance policy, worker’s compensation insurance policy or self-insured plan or another employer-funded health coverage policy, certificate or contract.
SECTION 5. (1) Notwithstanding subsections (3), (4), (5) or (6) of this section, an eligible individual may withdraw money from his or her health savings account for any purpose other than a purpose described in Section 4.
(2) Subject to subsection (3) of this section, if the eligible individual withdraws money for any purpose other than a purpose described in Section 4 at any other time, all of the following apply:
(a) The amount of the withdrawal is considered taxable gross income of the account holder under Section 27-7-15 in the tax year of the withdrawal.
(b) Interest earned on the account during the tax year in which a withdrawal under this subsection is made is considered taxable gross income of the account holder under Section 27-7-15. (3) The amount of disbursement of any assets of a health savings account pursuant to a filing for protection under Title 11 of the United States Code, 11 USCS 101 et seq. by an eligible individual or person for whose benefit the account was established is not considered a withdrawal for purposes of this section. The amount of a disbursement is not considered taxable gross income of the account holder under Section 27-7-15 and subsection (2) of this section does not apply.
(4) The transfer of an eligible individual’s interest in a health savings account to an eligible individual’s spouse or former spouse under a divorce or separation instrument shall not be considered a taxable transfer made by such eligible individual, and such interest shall, after such transfer, be treated as a health savings account with respect to which such spouse is the eligible individual.
(5) Upon the death of the eligible individual, the trustee or custodian shall distribute the principle and accumulated interest of the health savings account to the estate of the deceased.
(6) If an employee becomes employed with a different employer that participates in a health savings account program, the employee may transfer his or her health savings account to that new employer’s trustee or custodian or to an individually purchased account program.
SECTION 6. Section 27-7-15, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
27-7-15. (1) For the purposes of this article, except as otherwise provided, the term "gross income" means and includes the income of a taxpayer derived from salaries, wages, fees or compensation for service, of whatever kind and in whatever form paid, including income from governmental agencies and subdivisions thereof; or from professions, vocations, trades, businesses, commerce or sales, or renting or dealing in property, or reacquired property; also from annuities, interest, rents, dividends, securities, insurance premiums, reinsurance premiums, considerations for supplemental insurance contracts, or the transaction of any business carried on for gain or profit, or gains, or profits, and income derived from any source whatever and in whatever form paid. The amount of all such items of income shall be included in the gross income for the taxable year in which received by the taxpayer. The amount by which an eligible employee's salary is reduced pursuant to a salary reduction agreement authorized under Section 25-17-5 shall be excluded from the term "gross income" within the meaning of this article.
(2) In determining gross income for the purpose of this section, the following, under regulations prescribed by the commissioner, shall be applicable:
(a) Dealers in property. Federal rules, regulations and revenue procedures shall be followed with respect to installment sales unless a transaction results in the shifting of income from inside the state to outside the state.
(b) Casual sales of property.
(i) Prior to January 1, 2001, federal rules, regulations and revenue procedures shall be followed with respect to installment sales except they shall be applied and administered as if H.R. 3594, the Installment Tax Correction Act of 2000 of the 106th Congress, had not been enacted. This provision will generally affect taxpayers, reporting on the accrual method of accounting, entering into installment note agreements on or after December 17, 1999. Any gain or profit resulting from the casual sale of property will be recognized in the year of sale.
(ii) From and after January 1, 2001, federal rules, regulations and revenue procedures shall be followed with respect to installment sales except as provided in this subparagraph (ii). Gain or profit from the casual sale of property shall be recognized in the year of sale. When a taxpayer recognizes gain on the casual sale of property in which the gain is deferred for federal income tax purposes, a taxpayer may elect to defer the payment of tax resulting from the gain as allowed and to the extent provided under regulations prescribed by the commissioner. If the payment of the tax is made on a deferred basis, the tax shall be computed based on the applicable rate for the income reported in the year the payment is made. Except as otherwise provided in subparagraph (iii) of this paragraph (b), deferring the payment of the tax shall not affect the liability for the tax. If at any time the installment note is sold, contributed, transferred or disposed of in any manner and for any purpose by the original note holder, or the original note holder is merged, liquidated, dissolved or withdrawn from this state, then all deferred tax payments under this section shall immediately become due and payable.
(iii) If the selling price of the property is reduced by any alteration in the terms of an installment note, including default by the purchaser, the gain to be recognized is recomputed based on the adjusted selling price in the same manner as for federal income tax purposes. The tax on this amount, less the previously paid tax on the recognized gain, is payable over the period of the remaining installments. If the tax on the previously recognized gain has been paid in full to this state, the return on which the payment was made may be amended for this purpose only. The statute of limitations in Section 27-7-49 shall not bar an amended return for this purpose.
(c) Reserves of insurance companies. In the case of insurance companies, any amounts in excess of the legally required reserves shall be included as gross income.
(d) Affiliated companies or persons. As regards sales, exchanges or payments for services from one to another of affiliated companies or persons or under other circumstances where the relation between the buyer and seller is such that gross proceeds from the sale or the value of the exchange or the payment for services are not indicative of the true value of the subject matter of the sale, exchange or payment for services, the commissioner shall prescribe uniform and equitable rules for determining the true value of the gross income, gross sales, exchanges or payment for services, or require consolidated returns of affiliates.
(e) Alimony and separate maintenance payments. The federal rules, regulations and revenue procedures in determining the deductibility and taxability of alimony payments shall be followed in this state.
(f) Reimbursement for expenses of moving. There shall be included in gross income (as compensation for services) any amount received or accrued, directly or indirectly, by an individual as a payment for or reimbursement of expenses of moving from one residence to another residence which is attributable to employment or self-employment.
(3) In the case of taxpayers other than residents, gross income includes gross income from sources within this state.
(4) The words "gross income" do not include the following items of income which shall be exempt from taxation under this article:
(a) The proceeds of life insurance policies and contracts paid upon the death of the insured. However, the income from the proceeds of such policies or contracts shall be included in the gross income.
(b) The amount received by the insured as a return of premium or premiums paid by him under life insurance policies, endowment, or annuity contracts, either during the term or at maturity or upon surrender of the contract.
(c) The value of property acquired by gift, bequest, devise or descent, but the income from such property shall be included in the gross income.
(d) Interest upon the obligations of the United States or its possessions, or securities issued under the provisions of the Federal Farm Loan Act of July 17, 1916, or bonds issued by the War Finance Corporation, or obligations of the State of Mississippi or political subdivisions thereof.
(e) The amounts received through accident or health insurance as compensation for personal injuries or sickness, plus the amount of any damages received for such injuries or such sickness or injuries, or through the War Risk Insurance Act, or any law for the benefit or relief of injured or disabled members of the military or naval forces of the United States.
(f) Income received by any religious denomination or by any institution or trust for moral or mental improvements, religious, Bible, tract, charitable, benevolent, fraternal, missionary, hospital, infirmary, educational, scientific, literary, library, patriotic, historical or cemetery purposes or for two (2) or more of such purposes, if such income be used exclusively for carrying out one or more of such purposes.
(g) Income received by a domestic corporation which is "taxable in another state" as this term is defined in this article, derived from business activity conducted outside this state. Domestic corporations taxable both within and without the state shall determine Mississippi income on the same basis as provided for foreign corporations under the provisions of this article.
(h) In case of insurance companies, there shall be excluded from gross income such portion of actual premiums received from an individual policyholder as is paid back or credited to or treated as an abatement of premiums of such policyholder within the taxable year.
(i) Income from dividends that has already borne a tax as dividend income under the provisions of this article, when such dividends may be specifically identified in the possession of the recipient.
(j) Amounts paid by the United States to a person as added compensation for hazardous duty pay as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States in a combat zone designated by Executive Order of the President of the United States.
(k) Amounts received as retirement allowances, pensions, annuities or optional retirement allowances paid under the federal Social Security Act, the Railroad Retirement Act, the Federal Civil Service Retirement Act, or any other retirement system of the United States government, retirement allowances paid under the Mississippi Public Employees' Retirement System, Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol Retirement System or any other retirement system of the State of Mississippi or any political subdivision thereof. The exemption allowed under this paragraph (k) shall be available to the spouse or other beneficiary at the death of the primary retiree.
(l) Amounts received as retirement allowances, pensions, annuities or optional retirement allowances paid by any public or governmental retirement system not designated in paragraph (k) or any private retirement system or plan of which the recipient was a member at any time during the period of his employment. Amounts received as a distribution under a Roth Individual Retirement Account shall be treated in the same manner as provided under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The exemption allowed under this paragraph (l) shall be available to the spouse or other beneficiary at the death of the primary retiree.
(m) Compensation not to exceed the aggregate sum of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) for any taxable year received by a member of the National Guard or Reserve Forces of the United States as payment for inactive duty training, active duty training and state active duty.
(n) Compensation received for active service as a member below the grade of commissioned officer and so much of the compensation as does not exceed the aggregate sum of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per month received for active service as a commissioned officer in the Armed Forces of the United States for any month during any part of which such members of the Armed Forces (i) served in a combat zone as designated by Executive Order of the President of the United States; or (ii) was hospitalized as a result of wounds, disease or injury incurred while serving in such combat zone.
(o) The proceeds received from federal and state forestry incentives programs.
(p) The amount representing the difference between the increase of gross income derived from sales for export outside the United States as compared to the preceding tax year wherein gross income from export sales was highest, and the net increase in expenses attributable to such increased exports. In the absence of direct accounting the ratio of net profits to total sales may be applied to the increase in export sales. This paragraph (p) shall only apply to businesses located in this state engaging in the international export of Mississippi goods and services. Such goods or services shall have at least fifty percent (50%) of value added at a location in Mississippi.
(q) Amounts paid by the federal government for the construction of soil conservation systems as required by a conservation plan adopted pursuant to 16 USCS 3801 et seq.
(r) The amount deposited in a medical savings account, and any interest accrued thereon, that is a part of a medical savings account program as specified in the Medical Savings Account Act under Sections 71-9-1 through 71-9-9; provided, however, that any amount withdrawn from such account for purposes other than paying eligible medical expense or to procure health coverage shall be included in gross income.
(s) Amounts paid by the Mississippi Soil and Water Conservation Commission from the Mississippi Soil and Water Cost-Share Program for the installation of water quality best management practices.
(t) Dividends received by a holding corporation, as defined in Section 27-13-1, from a subsidiary corporation, as defined in Section 27-13-1.
(u) Interest, dividends, gains or income of any kind on any account in the Mississippi Affordable College Savings Trust Fund, as established in Sections 37-155-101 through 37-155-125, to the extent that such amounts remain on deposit in the MACS Trust Fund or are withdrawn pursuant to a qualified withdrawal, as defined in Section 37-155-105.
(v) Interest, dividends or gains accruing on the payments made pursuant to a prepaid tuition contract, as provided for in Section 37-155-17.
(w) Income resulting from transactions with a related member where the related member subject to tax under this chapter was required to, and did in fact, add back the expense of such transactions as required by Section 27-7-17(2). Under no circumstances may the exclusion from income exceed the deduction add-back of the related member, nor shall the exclusion apply to any income otherwise excluded under this chapter.
(x) Amounts that are subject to the tax levied pursuant to Section 27-7-901, and are paid to patrons by gaming establishments licensed under the Mississippi Gaming Control Act.
(y) Amounts that are subject to the tax levied pursuant to Section 27-7-903, and are paid to patrons by gaming establishments not licensed under the Mississippi Gaming Control Act.
(z) The amount deposited in a health savings account, and any interest accrued thereon, that is a part of a health savings account program as specified in the Health Savings Accounts Act created in Sections 1 through 5 of House Bill No. _____, 2004 Regular Session; provided, however, that any amount withdrawn from such account for purposes other than paying eligible medical expense or to procure health coverage shall be included in gross income.
(5) Prisoners of war, missing in action-taxable status.
(a) Members of the Armed Forces. Gross income does not include compensation received for active service as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States for any month during any part of which such member is in a missing status, as defined in paragraph (d) of this subsection, during the Vietnam Conflict as a result of such conflict.
(b) Civilian employees. Gross income does not include compensation received for active service as an employee for any month during any part of which such employee is in a missing status during the Vietnam Conflict as a result of such conflict.
(c) Period of conflict. For the purpose of this subsection, the Vietnam Conflict began February 28, 1961, and ends on the date designated by the President by Executive Order as the date of the termination of combatant activities in Vietnam. For the purpose of this subsection, an individual is in a missing status as a result of the Vietnam Conflict if immediately before such status began he was performing service in Vietnam or was performing service in Southeast Asia in direct support of military operations in Vietnam. "Southeast Asia," as used in this paragraph, is defined to include Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and waters adjacent thereto.
(d) "Missing status" means the status of an employee or member of the Armed Forces who is in active service and is officially carried or determined to be absent in a status of (i) missing; (ii) missing in action; (iii) interned in a foreign country; (iv) captured, beleaguered or besieged by a hostile force; or (v) detained in a foreign country against his will; but does not include the status of an employee or member of the Armed Forces for a period during which he is officially determined to be absent from his post of duty without authority.
(e) "Active service" means active federal service by an employee or member of the Armed Forces of the United States in an active duty status.
(f) "Employee" means one who is a citizen or national of the United States or an alien admitted to the United States for permanent residence and is a resident of the State of Mississippi and is employed in or under a federal executive agency or department of the Armed Forces.
(g) "Compensation" means (i) basic pay; (ii) special pay; (iii) incentive pay; (iv) basic allowance for quarters; (v) basic allowance for subsistence; and (vi) station per diem allowances for not more than ninety (90) days.
(h) If refund or credit of any overpayment of tax for any taxable year resulting from the application of subsection (5) of this section is prevented by the operation of any law or rule of law, such refund or credit of such overpayment of tax may, nevertheless, be made or allowed if claim therefor is filed with the State Tax Commission within three (3) years after the date of the enactment of this subsection.
(i) The provisions of this subsection shall be effective for taxable years ending on or after February 28, 1961.
(6) A shareholder of an S corporation, as defined in Section 27-8-3(1)(g), shall take into account the income, loss, deduction or credit of the S corporation only to the extent provided in Section 27-8-7(2).
SECTION 7. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2004.