• Deferred Acquisition Costs (DAC) is the sum of an insurer’s acquisition costs incurred as the insurance premium is written, but earned and expensed over the life of the policy. The unearned portion is capitalized and recognized as an asset on the insurer’s balance sheet. In accordance with statutory accounting, all acquisition costs are 100% recognized as earned and expensed at policy inception, resulting in an immediate reduction in profits. In life insurance, acquisition costs are recognized as the premium is earned, creating a tax effect called the “DAC tax”.