ACA Filing in the Year 2017

By now you probably know that the filing deadlines for the ACA Forms 1095-B and 1095-C have been extended. Your recipient forms are due to be sent out before March 31; paper filers must file with the IRS by May 31; and e-filers must transmit their forms to the IRS by June 30. So since we’ve got some time before our first deadline, let’s take a moment to look ahead to one year from today to see what the future holds for ACA filing.

*Buzzing and whirring sounds of the time machine*

Ah, here we are. The year is 2017, the date February 8. The 45th President of the United States, [insert reader’s candidate preference here], has recently been sworn in as the nation watched from their TVs, computers, and iPhone 11s (why they skipped 7 and went straight to 11, only 2016 can tell). But despite all the healthcare talk during the presidential race, ACA filing is still here, and it’s still required of insurance providers and Applicable Large Employers (ALEs).

The ACA e-filers of 2017 are taking a short breather after their scramble to get their 1095-Bs and 1095-Cs to their recipients on time. Instead of having until March 31 like they did last year, the recipient copies were due at the same time as their 1099 and W-2 recipient forms. The lucky ones who used ExpressIRSForms in 2016 were able to quickly fill out their forms and have them mailed on time since all their prior year recipient information had been saved in their accounts. As for the others, well to speak of it now would be too soon...

The paper filers don’t have the luxury for such a break, as their 1095-B and 1095-C forms must be sent to the IRS along with their 1094-B and 1094-C forms by February 28, just over two weeks from now. Reporting the healthcare coverage of all of their recipients by hand sure does take some time, so we won’t disrupt them any longer.

As the e-filers pick themselves up and dust off, a few develop a skip in their step when they realize that by completing their recipient forms with ExpressIRSForms, their forms have already been e-filed and transmitted to the IRS, putting them months ahead of schedule. The rest begrudgingly move forward to make sure their forms are e-filed by March 31, 2017. Some of the paper filers see the skipping e-filers and shed their paper forms like molting swans, joining them in their easier, faster filing bliss.

*Time machine buzzing and whirring sounds*

So the moral of the story: e-file your Affordable Care Act forms with ExpressIRSForms today for a brighter, easier filing season in 2017. If you need help filing or have any questions, just give us a call at 704-839-2270 or send us a live chat Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Or email us anytime at support@expressirsforms.com.