Talcott Premium Tax Class Action Settlement
Talcott Premium Tax Class Action Settlement
Talcott Resolution Life & Annuity Insurance Company and related defendants agreed to pay $11 million to settle a class action alleging that they miscalculated premium tax charges on universal life and variable universal life policies issued by Talcott or its Hartford predecessors. Eligible policyowners whose premium tax charges were affected by an address change or tax rate issue do not need to file a claim and will automatically receive a check by mail. The Court entered final approval in September 2026, so keeping your mailing address current with the administrator is the key step.
Settlement fund
$11M
Non-reversionary cash fund
Top payout
Automatic
Check mailed by JND, no claim form
Claim form
No claim form
Final approval entered Sep 25, 2026
No claim form needed
If your mailing address has changed, contact JND Legal Administration so your settlement check reaches you.
Do you qualify?
You are a Class Member if ALL of the following apply:
- You own or owned a universal life or variable universal life policy issued by Talcott or its predecessors, including Hartford Life and Annuity Insurance Company and Hartford Life Insurance Company.
- Your policy's premium tax charge depends on your state or municipality of residence.
- Your policy was affected by the Address Change Issue (the premium tax rate was not adjusted after you changed your address) or a Tax Rate Issue, with premiums paid during the periods in Exhibit B of the Settlement Agreement, generally 2015 to early 2025.
- No claim form or proof is needed. Eligible class members are identified from policy records and paid automatically.
- Excluded: Officers or directors of the Defendants or Prudential, the presiding judge and her immediate family and staff, and anyone employed by Class Counsel's firm.
- Excluded: Policyowners who submitted a valid request for exclusion by August 26, 2026.
Not sure if you qualify? Call the Claims Administrator at 1-888-337-0128, email Info@PremiumTaxSettlement.com, write to Talcott Premium Tax Settlement, c/o JND Legal Administration, P.O. Box 91235, Seattle, WA 98111, or visit PremiumTaxSettlement.com.
What happened
The lawsuit alleges that Talcott and related defendants improperly calculated and applied premium tax charges on universal life and variable universal life policies. The claims include the Address Change Issue (failing to adjust the premium tax rate when a policyowner moved to a new state), the Rate Update Issue (failing to adjust rates when state laws changed), the Retaliatory Tax Rate Issue, and charging New York policyholders more than the allegedly applicable statutory rate.
The Defendants and Prudential deny all allegations and any wrongdoing or liability, other than certain limited administrative errors they acknowledged and corrected, and the Court has not decided the merits. The parties settled to avoid the cost and risk of continued litigation. As prospective relief, the Defendants will stop applying Connecticut's premium tax rate to policyholders in states with lower statutory rates and will limit New York premium tax charges to 0.7% unless the law changes.
How to file a claim
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1. Confirm you are eligible
You may be a class member if you own or owned a Talcott or Hartford universal life or variable universal life policy whose premium tax charge depends on your state or municipality of residence, and the policy was affected by the Address Change Issue or a Tax Rate Issue during the periods listed in Exhibit B of the Settlement Agreement. If you are unsure, call 1-888-337-0128.
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2. Understand your payment
Under the Plan of Allocation, Address Update and Rate Update claimants receive 100% of their alleged overcharges, less a proportional share of court-approved fees, expenses, and awards. Retaliatory Tax Rate claims are paid from the remaining net fund at a lower percentage of the alleged overcharges. If you have more than one type of claim, you receive one combined payment. Amounts vary by policy and are not guaranteed.
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3. No claim form: keep your address current
You do not need to file a claim. JND Legal Administration will mail eligible class members a check automatically. To make sure your check reaches you, contact the Claims Administrator if your mailing address has changed: call 1-888-337-0128, email Info@PremiumTaxSettlement.com, or write to Talcott Premium Tax Settlement, c/o JND Legal Administration, P.O. Box 91235, Seattle, WA 98111. Contact details are on the settlement contact page, and the notice, Plan of Allocation, and court orders are posted at PremiumTaxSettlement.com.
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4. Receive your check
Checks are mailed after the Court grants final approval and all appeals are resolved. The Court's final approval order and Final Judgment were filed September 25, 2026, so checks will follow once the appeal period ends and any appeals are resolved.
Key dates
- Aug 26, 2026 Opt-out & objection deadline Passed
- None No claim form required Automatic
- Sep 24, 2026 Final Fairness Hearing (3:00 p.m. ET) Passed
- TBD after final approval Payments issued to claimants Pending
The Final Approval Hearing was held September 24, 2026 at 3:00 p.m. ET at the United States Courthouse, 300 Quarropas Street, White Plains, NY 10601, and the Court's order granting final approval and Final Judgment were filed on September 25, 2026. The exclusion and objection deadline (August 26, 2026) has passed. There is no claim deadline because payments are automatic. Check PremiumTaxSettlement.com for updates on payment timing.
Where the money is going
The Defendants will pay $11 million in cash into a Settlement Fund. Court-approved attorneys' fees, litigation expenses, incentive awards, and administration expenses are paid from the fund before distribution. The net fund is then distributed automatically under the Plan of Allocation, and no money reverts to the Defendants or Prudential.
All amounts listed above are pending and subject to final court approval. The Court entered its fee order and final approval order on September 25, 2026, and the amounts actually awarded may be less than requested. Checks are mailed only after the appeal period ends and any appeals are resolved.
Common questions
How much money will I receive?
Payments depend on the alleged premium tax overcharges on your policy. Address Update and Rate Update claimants receive 100% of their alleged overcharges, less a proportional share of fees, expenses, and awards; Retaliatory Tax Rate claims receive a lower percentage from the remaining net fund. No specific amount is guaranteed.
Do I need to submit proof of purchase?
No. There is no claim form and no proof is required. Eligible class members are identified from policy records and will receive a check by mail from JND Legal Administration.
What if I didn’t receive a notice?
If you own or owned a Talcott or Hartford universal life or variable universal life policy and believe your premium tax charges were affected but you did not get a notice, contact JND at 1-888-337-0128 or Info@PremiumTaxSettlement.com to confirm your status and mailing address.
Does staying in the class affect my right to sue later?
Class members who did not opt out release all claims related to the premium tax rates charged on their policies, including the Address Update, Rate Update, Retaliatory Tax Rate, and New York claims. The release does not cover cost of insurance rate claims, claims arising after the settlement becomes final, other non-premium-tax policy terms, or policies not covered by the settlement. The exclusion deadline passed on August 26, 2026.
When will payments be sent out?
Checks are mailed after final approval and after all appeals are resolved. Final approval and Final Judgment were entered on September 25, 2026, so payment timing now depends on whether any appeal is filed. An appeal can add a year or more.
Dapeer Law, P.A.
Consumer class action attorneys based in South Florida. We track settlements so you don’t have to.
Similar open settlements
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Dapeer Law, P.A. is not the administrator of this settlement and is not affiliated with Talcott Resolution Life & Annuity Insurance Company and related defendants, JND Legal Administration (the Settlement Administrator), or Class Counsel Steven Sklaver of Susman Godfrey L.L.P. and Ryan Kirkpatrick of Susman Godfrey L.L.P. The case is Arbuckle Funding, LLC, et al. v. Talcott Resolution Life & Annuity Insurance Company, et al., Case No. 7:23-cv-07972-CS, pending in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York before the Honorable Cathy Seibel. Class representatives are Arbuckle Funding, LLC and Brighton Trustees LLC, as Trustee for Cook Street Master Trust III. Talcott denies wrongdoing. This website is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.