The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) with 50 or more full-time or full-time equivalent employees to file information returns with the Internal Revenue Service and provide statements to their full-time employees about employer-offered health insurance coverage. This information will be used to administer the ACA’s employer shared responsibility provisions (employer mandate) and to determine whether an employee is eligible for the premium tax credit.
Filing Forms (Drafts)
In 2014, the IRS released non-final draft versions of two forms that ALEs can use to satisfy these reporting requirements.
- Form 1095-C (Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage)
- Form 1094-C (Transmittal of Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage Information Returns)
Filing Deadlines
ALEs must file these forms with the IRS on or before February 28 (March 31 if filed electronically) of the year immediately following the calendar year for which the offer of coverage information is reported. For calendar year 2014, there is no filing requirement. For calendar year 2015, these forms must be filed by February 29, 2016 (or March 31, 2016 if filed electronically).
ALEs must also furnish a Form 1095-C to each full-time employee by January 31 of the following year. The first Forms 1095-C are due to these individuals by February 1, 2016.
Form 1095-C
ALEs must file a Form 1095-C (or a substitute form) for each employee who was a full-time employee for any month of the calendar year. This form is used to report specific health insurance coverage information for each full-time employee to the IRS, such as:
- which months the employee was a full-time employee
- any offers of health coverage that meet the minimum value standard made to the employee and family members each month
- the employee’s share of the monthly premium for the lowest-cost insurance that offers minimum value health coverage
- whether any safe harbors are applicable to the employee
- whether the employee was enrolled in the plan
Form 1094-C
ALEs must use Form 1094-C to transmit its Forms 1095-C to the IRS. A Form 1094-C must be attached to any Forms 1095-C filed by an ALE. One transmittal form can be used to cover all Forms 1095-C filed by an ALE or multiple transmittal forms can be used. The information reported with this form includes:
- the total number of Forms 1095-C submitted with this particular transmittal
- the total number of Forms 1095-C that will be filed by the ALE
- whether the ALE is a member of an aggregate group (multiple employers treated as a single employer)
- whether special rules or transition relief apply to the ALE
Though these ACA reporting forms are not due until 2016, large employers cannot wait until the last minute. Given the technical nature and complexity of the new ACA reporting requirements, legal and tax professionals should be consulted when preparing any forms filed with the IRS.
At Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk, we are committed to guiding you through the health care reform process. Check back with us periodically for future informational updates about the Affordable Care Act. If you have specific questions about the Act or if you are ready to take action and would like to see how Setnor Byer Insurance & Risk can help, contact us.
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