MetLife, Inc.  Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued) Information regarding the closed block revenues and expenses was as follows:
## Table 0 ##
Expenses
## Table 1 ##
(1) The closed block adjustment represents an intra-company reallocation of assets which affected the closed block.
The adjustment had no impact on the Company’s consolidated financial statements.
MLIC charges the closed block with federal income taxes, state and local premium taxes and other additive state or local taxes, as well as investment management expenses relating to the closed block as provided in the Plan.
MLIC also charges the closed block for expenses of maintaining the policies included in the closed block.11.
Long-term and Short-term Debt Long-term and short-term debt outstanding is as follows:
## Table 2 ##
MetLife, Inc.  Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued) operations.
The Company does not intend to repatriate these earnings to fund U. S.  operations.
Deferred taxes are provided for earnings of non-U.
S.  affiliates and associated companies when the Company plans to remit those earnings.
At December 31, 2010, the Company has not made a provision for U. S.  taxes on approximately $1,045 million of the excess of the amount for financial reporting over the tax basis of investments in foreign subsidiaries that are essentially permanent in duration.
It is not practicable to estimate the amount of deferred tax liability related to investments in these foreign subsidiaries.
The Company files income tax returns with the U. S.  federal government and various state and local jurisdictions, as well as foreign jurisdictions.
The Company is under continuous examination by the IRS and other tax authorities in jurisdictions in which the Company has significant business operations.
The income tax years under examination vary by jurisdiction.
With a few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U. S.  federal, state and local, or foreign income tax examinations by tax authorities for years prior to 2000.
In early 2009, the Company and the IRS completed and substantially settled the audit years of 2000 to 2002.
A few issues not settled have been escalated to the next level, IRS Appeals.
In April 2010, the IRS exam of the current audit cycle, years 2003 to 2006 began.
The Company’s liability for unrecognized tax benefits may decrease in the next 12 months pending the outcome of remaining issues, taxexempt income and tax credits associated with the 2000 to 2002 IRS audit.
A reasonable estimate of the decrease cannot be made at this time.
However, the Company continues to believe that the ultimate resolution of the issues will not result in a material change to its consolidated financial statements, although the resolution of income tax matters could impact the Company’s effective tax rate for a particular future period.
The Company classifies interest accrued related to unrecognized tax benefits in interest expense, included within other expenses, while penalties are included in income tax expense.
At December 31, 2010, the Company’s total amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $810 million and the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that would affect the effective tax rate, if recognized, was $536 million.
The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits increased by $37 million from December 31, 2009 primarily due to increases for tax positions of prior years offset by reductions for tax positions of prior years and settlements reached with the IRS.
The increases for tax positions of prior years included $169 million from the acquisition of American Life.
Settlements with tax authorities amounted to $59 million, all of which was reclassified to current and deferred income tax payable, as applicable, with $3 million paid in 2010.
At December 31, 2009, the Company’s total amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $773 million and the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that would affect the effective tax rate, if recognized, was $583 million.
The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits increased by $7 million from December 31, 2008 primarily due to additions for tax positions of the current and prior years offset by settlements reached with the IRS.
Settlements with tax authorities amounted to $46 million, of which $44 million was reclassified to current income tax payable and paid in 2009 and $2 million reduced current income tax expense.
At December 31, 2008, the Company’s total amount of unrecognized tax benefits was $766 million and the total amount of unrecognized tax benefits that would affect the effective tax rate, if recognized, was $567 million.
The total amount of unrecognized tax benefits decreased by $74 million from December 31, 2007 primarily due to settlements reached with the IRS with respect to certain significant issues involving demutualization, leasing and tax credits offset by additions for tax positions of the current year.
As a result of the settlements, items within the liability for unrecognized tax benefits, in the amount of $153 million, were reclassified to current and deferred income tax payable, as applicable, of which $20 million was paid in 2008 and $133 million was paid in 2009.
A reconciliation of the beginning and ending amount of unrecognized tax benefits was as follows:
## Table 3 ##
During the year ended December 31, 2010, the Company recognized $39 million in interest expense associated with the liability for unrecognized tax benefits.
At December 31, 2010, the Company had $221 million of accrued interest associated with the liability for unrecognized tax benefits.
The $23 million increase from December 31, 2009 in accrued interest associated with the liability for unrecognized tax benefits resulted primarily from an increase of $20 million from the acquisition of American Life, along with an increase of $39 million of interest expense and a $36 million decrease primarily resulting from the aforementioned IRS settlements.
Of the $36 million decrease, $18 million has been reclassified to current income tax payable, of which $2 million was paid in 2010.
The remaining $18 million reduced interest expense.
During the year ended December 31, 2009, the Company recognized $44 million in interest expense associated with the liability for unrecognized tax benefits.
At December 31, 2009, the Company had $198 million of accrued interest associated with the liability for unrecognized tax benefits.
The $22 million increase from December 31, 2008 in accrued interest associated with the liability for unrecognized tax benefits resulted from an increase of $44 million of interest expense and a $22 million decrease primarily resulting from the
MetLife, Inc.  Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements — (Continued) Although it no longer received compensation, the Company continued to be responsible for managing the funds of those participants that transferred to the government system.
This change resulted in the establishment of a liability for future servicing obligations and the elimination of the Company’s obligations under death and disability policy coverages.
During 2008, the future servicing obligation was reduced by $23 million, net of income tax, when information regarding the level of participation in the government pension plan became fully available.
In September 2008, the Argentine Supreme Court ruled against the validity of the 2002 Pesification Law enacted by the Argentine government.
This ruling applied to certain social security pension annuity contractholders that had filed a lawsuit against the 2002 Pesification Law.
The annuity contracts impacted by this ruling, which were deemed peso denominated under the 2002 Pesification Law, are now considered to be U. S.  dollar denominated obligations of the Company.
The applicable contingent liabilities were then adjusted and refined to be consistent with this ruling.
The impact of the refinements resulting from the change in these contingent liabilities and the associated future policyholder benefits was an increase to net income of $34 million, net of income tax, during the year ended December 31, 2008.
In October 2008, the Argentine government announced its intention to nationalize private pensions and, in December 2008, the Argentine government nationalized the private pension system seizing the underlying investments of participants which were being managed by the Company.
With this action, the Company’s pension business in Argentina ceased to exist and the Company eliminated certain assets and liabilities held in connection with the pension business.
Deferred acquisition costs, deferred tax assets, and liabilities — primarily the liability for future servicing obligation referred to above — were eliminated and the Company incurred severance costs associated with the termination of employees.
The impact of the elimination of assets and liabilities and the incurral of severance costs was an increase to net income of $6 million, net of income tax, during the year ended December 31, 2008.
In March 2009, in light of market developments resulting from the Supreme Court ruling contrary to the Pesification Law and the implementation by the Company of a program to allow the contractholders that had not filed a lawsuit to convert to U. S.  dollars the social security annuity contracts denominated in pesos by the Pesification Law, the Company further reduced the outstanding contingent liabilities by $108 million, net of income tax, which was partially offset by the establishment of contingent liabilities from the implementation of the program to convert these contracts to U. S.  dollars of $13 million, net of income tax, resulting in a decrease to net loss of $95 million, net of income tax, for the year ended December 31, 2009.
Further governmental or legal actions are possible in Argentina.
Such actions may impact the level of existing liabilities or may create additional obligations or benefits to the Company’s operations in Argentina.
Management has made its best estimate of its obligations based upon information currently available; however, further governmental or legal actions could result in changes in obligations which could materially impact the amounts presented within the consolidated financial statements.
Commitments Leases In accordance with industry practice, certain of the Company’s income from lease agreements with retail tenants are contingent upon the level of the tenants’ revenues.
Additionally, the Company, as lessee, has entered into various lease and sublease agreements for office space, information technology and other equipment.
Future minimum rental and sublease income, and minimum gross rental payments relating to these lease agreements are as follows:
## Table 4 ##
During 2008, the Company moved certain of its operations in New York from Long Island City, Queens to Manhattan.
As a result of this movement of operations and current market conditions, which precluded the Company’s immediate and complete sublet of all unused space in both Long Island City and Manhattan, the Company incurred a lease impairment charge of $38 million which is included within other expenses in Banking, Corporate & Other.
The impairment charge was determined based upon the present value of the gross rental payments less sublease income discounted at a risk-adjusted rate over the remaining lease terms which range from 15-20 years.
The Company has made assumptions with respect to the timing and amount of future sublease income in the determination of this impairment charge.
During 2009, pending sublease deals were impacted by the further decline of market conditions, which resulted in an additional lease impairment charge of $52 million.
See Note 19 for discussion of $28 million of such charges related to restructuring.
Additional impairment charges could be incurred should market conditions deteriorate further or last for a period significantly longer than anticipated.
Commitments to Fund Partnership Investments The Company makes commitments to fund partnership investments in the normal course of business.
The amounts of these unfunded commitments were $3.8 billion and $4.1 billion at December 31, 2010 and 2009, respectively.
The Company anticipates that these amounts will be invested in partnerships over the next five years.
The Holding Company lends funds, as necessary, to its subsidiaries, some of which are regulated, to meet their capital requirements.
Such loans are included in loans to subsidiaries and consisted of the following at:
## Table 5 ##
Debt Repayments.
The Holding Company intends to either repay all or refinance in whole or in part the debt that is due in December 2011.
See “— The Holding Company — Liquidity and Capital Sources — Senior Notes.
” Support Agreements.
The Holding Company is party to various capital support commitments and guarantees with certain of its subsidiaries and a corporation in which it owns 50% of the equity.
Under these arrangements, the Holding Company has agreed to cause each such entity to meet specified capital and surplus levels or has guaranteed certain contractual obligations.
In November 2010, the Holding Company guaranteed the obligations of Exeter Reassurance Company, Ltd.  (“Exeter”) in an aggregate amount up to $1.0 billion, under a reinsurance agreement with MetLife Europe Limited (“MEL”), under which Exeter reinsures the guaranteed living benefits and guaranteed death benefits associated with certain unit-linked annuity contracts issued by MEL.
In January 2010, the Holding Company guaranteed the obligations of its subsidiary, Missouri Reinsurance (Barbados) Inc.  (“MoRe”), under a retrocession agreement with RGA Reinsurance (Barbados) Inc. , pursuant to which MoRe retrocedes certain group term life insurance issued by MLIC.
In December 2009, the Holding Company, in connection with MetLife Reinsurance Company of Vermont (“MRV”)’s reinsurance of certain universal life and term life insurance risks, committed to the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration to take necessary action to cause the third protected cell of MRV to maintain total adjusted capital equal to or greater than 200% of such protected cell’s authorized control level RBC, as defined in state insurance statutes.
See “— The Company — Liquidity and Capital Sources — Credit and Committed Facilities” and Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Holding Company, in connection with MRV’s reinsurance of certain universal life and term life insurance risks, committed to the Vermont Department of Banking, Insurance, Securities and Health Care Administration to take necessary action to cause each of the two initial protected cells of MRV to maintain total adjusted capital equal to or greater than 200% of such protected cell’s authorized control level RBC, as defined in state insurance statutes.
See “— The Company — Liquidity and Capital Sources — Credit and Committed Facilities” and Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Holding Company, in connection with the collateral financing arrangement associated with MRC’s reinsurance of a portion of the liabilities associated with the closed block, committed to the South Carolina Department of Insurance to make capital contributions, if necessary, to MRC so that MRC may at all times maintain its total adjusted capital at a level of not less than 200% of the company action level RBC, as defined in state insurance statutes as in effect on the date of determination or December 31, 2007, whichever calculation produces the greater capital requirement, or as otherwise required by the South Carolina Department of Insurance.
See “— The Company — Liquidity and Capital Sources — Debt Issuances and Other Borrowings” and Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Holding Company, in connection with the collateral financing arrangement associated with MRSC’s reinsurance of universal life secondary guarantees, committed to the South Carolina Department of Insurance to take necessary action to cause MRSC to maintain total adjusted capital equal to the greater of $250,000 or 100% of MRSC’s authorized control level RBC, as defined in state insurance statutes.
See “— The Company — Liquidity and Capital Sources — Debt Issuances and Other Borrowings” and Note 12 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Holding Company has net worth maintenance agreements with two of its insurance subsidiaries, MetLife Investors Insurance Company and First MetLife Investors Insurance Company.
Under these agreements, as subsequently amended, the Holding Company agreed, without limitation as to the amount, to cause each of these subsidiaries to have a minimum capital and surplus of $10 million, total adjusted capital at a level not less than 150% of the company action level RBC, as defined by state insurance statutes, and liquidity necessary to enable it to meet its current obligations on a timely basis.
The Holding Company entered into a net worth maintenance agreement with Mitsui Sumitomo MetLife Insurance Company Limited (“MSI MetLife”), an investment in Japan of which the Holding Company owns 50% of the equity.
Under the agreement, the Holding Company agreed, without limitation as to amount, to cause MSI MetLife to have the amount of capital and surplus necessary for MSI MetLife to maintain a solvency ratio of at least 400%, as calculated in accordance with the Insurance Business Law of Japan, and to make such loans to MSI MetLife as may be necessary to ensure that MSI MetLife has sufficient cash or other liquid assets to meet its payment obligations as they fall due.
As described in Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, the Holding Company reached an agreement to sell its 50% interest in MSI MetLife to a third-party.
Upon the close of such sale, the Holding Company’s obligations under the net worth maintenance agreement will terminate.
The Holding Company has guaranteed the obligations of its subsidiary, Exeter, under a reinsurance agreement with MSI MetLife, under which Exeter reinsures variable annuity business written by MSI MetLife.
This guarantee will remain in place until such time as the reinsurance agreement between Exeter and MSI MetLife is terminated, notwithstanding any prior disposition of the Holding Company’s interest in MSI MetLife as described in Note 2 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The Holding Company also guarantees the obligations of a number of its subsidiaries under credit facilities with third-party banks.
See Note 11 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements See “Adoption of New Accounting Pronouncements” in Note 1 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
Dividends and Distributions We pay regular quarterly dividends to holders of our common stock.
On February 16, 2007, our Board of Directors declared the first quarterly installment of our 2007 dividend in the amount of $0.475 per share, payable on March 30, 2007 to stockholders of record on March 20, 2007.
We expect to distribute 100% or more of our taxable net income to our stockholders for 2007.
Our Board of Directors normally makes decisions regarding the frequency and amount of our dividends on a quarterly basis.
Because the Board considers a number of factors when making these decisions, we cannot assure you that we will maintain the policy stated above.
Please see “Cautionary Statements” and the risk factors included in Part I, Item 1A of this Annual Report on Form 10-K for a description of other factors that may affect our distribution policy.
Our stockholders may reinvest all or a portion of any cash distribution on their shares of our common stock by participating in our Distribution Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, subject to the terms of the plan.
See “Note 15—Capital Stock” of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements included in Item 8 of this Annual Report on Form 10-K.  Director and Employee Stock Sales Certain of our directors, executive officers and other employees have adopted and may, from time to time in the future, adopt non-discretionary, written trading plans that comply with Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, or otherwise monetize their equity-based compensation.
Securities Authorized for Issuance Under Equity Compensation Plans The following table summarizes information with respect to our equity compensation plans as of December 31, 2006:

<table><tr><td></td><td colspan="3">Years Ended December 31,</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2010</td><td>2009</td><td>2008</td></tr><tr><td></td><td colspan="3">(In millions)</td></tr><tr><td> Revenues</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Premiums</td><td>$2,461</td><td>$2,708</td><td>$2,787</td></tr><tr><td>Net investment income</td><td>2,294</td><td>2,197</td><td>2,248</td></tr><tr><td>Net investment gains (losses):</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Other-than-temporaryimpairments on fixed maturity securities</td><td>-32</td><td>-107</td><td>-94</td></tr><tr><td>Other-than-temporaryimpairments on fixed maturity securities transferred to other comprehensive income (loss)</td><td>—</td><td>40</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>Other net investment gains (losses)</td><td>71</td><td>327</td><td>-19</td></tr><tr><td>Total net investment gains (losses)</td><td>39</td><td>260</td><td>-113</td></tr><tr><td>Net derivative gains (losses)</td><td>-27</td><td>-128</td><td>29</td></tr><tr><td>Total revenues</td><td>4,767</td><td>5,037</td><td>4,951</td></tr><tr><td> Expenses</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Policyholder benefits and claims</td><td>3,115</td><td>3,329</td><td>3,393</td></tr><tr><td>Policyholder dividends</td><td>1,235</td><td>1,394</td><td>1,498</td></tr><tr><td>Other expenses</td><td>199</td><td>203</td><td>217</td></tr><tr><td>Total expenses</td><td>4,549</td><td>4,926</td><td>5,108</td></tr><tr><td>Revenues, net of expenses before provision for income tax expense (benefit)</td><td>218</td><td>111</td><td>-157</td></tr><tr><td>Provision for income tax expense (benefit)</td><td>72</td><td>36</td><td>-68</td></tr><tr><td>Revenues, net of expenses and provision for income tax expense (benefit)</td><td>$146</td><td>$75</td><td>$-89</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td colspan="3"> Years Ended December 31,</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2010</td><td>2009</td><td> 2008</td></tr><tr><td></td><td colspan="3"> (In millions)</td></tr><tr><td>Balance at December 31,</td><td>$4,441</td><td>$4,587</td><td>$4,518</td></tr><tr><td>Less:</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>Closed block adjustment -1</td><td>—</td><td>144</td><td>—</td></tr><tr><td>Balance at January 1,</td><td>4,587</td><td>4,518</td><td>4,429</td></tr><tr><td>Change during year</td><td>$-146</td><td>$-75</td><td>$89</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td colspan="2">Interest Rates</td><td></td><td></td><td></td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td>Weighted</td><td></td><td colspan="2"> December 31,</td></tr><tr><td></td><td> Range</td><td>Average</td><td> Maturity</td><td> 2010</td><td> 2009</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td colspan="2"> (In millions)</td></tr><tr><td>Senior notes</td><td>0.61%-7.72%</td><td>5.58%</td><td>2011-2045</td><td>$16,258</td><td>$10,458</td></tr><tr><td>Advances agreements</td><td>0.23%-4.86%</td><td>2.41%</td><td>2011-2015</td><td>3,600</td><td>1,846</td></tr><tr><td>Surplus notes</td><td>7.63%-7.88%</td><td>7.85%</td><td>2015-2025</td><td>699</td><td>698</td></tr><tr><td>Fixed rate notes</td><td>3.76%-15.00%</td><td>8.67%</td><td>2011-2012</td><td>82</td><td>63</td></tr><tr><td>Other notes with varying interest rates</td><td>1.98%-8.00%</td><td>7.20%</td><td>2013-2030</td><td>95</td><td>120</td></tr><tr><td>Capital lease obligations</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>32</td><td>35</td></tr><tr><td>Total long-term debt -1</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>20,766</td><td>13,220</td></tr><tr><td>Total short-term debt</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>306</td><td>912</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td></td><td></td><td></td><td>$21,072</td><td>$14,132</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td colspan="3">Years Ended December 31,</td></tr><tr><td></td><td>2010</td><td>2009</td><td>2008</td></tr><tr><td></td><td colspan="3">(In millions)</td></tr><tr><td>Balance at January 1,</td><td>$773</td><td>$766</td><td>$840</td></tr><tr><td>Additions for tax positions of prior years</td><td>186</td><td>43</td><td>11</td></tr><tr><td>Reductions for tax positions of prior years</td><td>-84</td><td>-33</td><td>-51</td></tr><tr><td>Additions for tax positions of current year</td><td>13</td><td>52</td><td>147</td></tr><tr><td>Reductions for tax positions of current year</td><td>-8</td><td>-9</td><td>-22</td></tr><tr><td>Settlements with tax authorities</td><td>-59</td><td>-46</td><td>-153</td></tr><tr><td>Lapses of statutes of limitations</td><td>-11</td><td>—</td><td>-6</td></tr><tr><td>Balance at December 31,</td><td>$810</td><td>$773</td><td>$766</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td> Rental   Income</td><td> Sublease   Income</td><td> Gross   Rental   Payments</td></tr><tr><td></td><td colspan="3"> (In millions)</td></tr><tr><td>2011</td><td>$444</td><td>$18</td><td>$366</td></tr><tr><td>2012</td><td>$375</td><td>$17</td><td>$280</td></tr><tr><td>2013</td><td>$331</td><td>$16</td><td>$237</td></tr><tr><td>2014</td><td>$286</td><td>$10</td><td>$167</td></tr><tr><td>2015</td><td>$236</td><td>$6</td><td>$136</td></tr><tr><td>Thereafter</td><td>$724</td><td>$44</td><td>$965</td></tr></table>
<table><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td colspan="2"> December 31,</td></tr><tr><td> Subsidiaries</td><td> Interest Rate</td><td> Maturity Date</td><td> 2010</td><td> 2009</td></tr><tr><td></td><td></td><td></td><td colspan="2"> (In millions)</td></tr><tr><td>Metropolitan Life Insurance Company</td><td>6-month LIBOR + 1.80%</td><td>December 31, 2011</td><td>$775</td><td>$775</td></tr><tr><td>Metropolitan Life Insurance Company</td><td>6-month LIBOR + 1.80%</td><td>December 31, 2011</td><td>—</td><td>300</td></tr><tr><td>Metropolitan Life Insurance Company</td><td>7.13%</td><td>December 15, 2032</td><td>400</td><td>400</td></tr><tr><td>Metropolitan Life Insurance Company</td><td>7.13%</td><td>January 15, 2033</td><td>100</td><td>100</td></tr><tr><td>Total</td><td></td><td></td><td>$1,275</td><td>$1,575</td></tr></table>

Question: In which year is Balance at December 31 positive?