Reporting COBRA Coverage

As an employer or any filer of ACA returns, it’s important that everything is reported correctly on your 1094 and 1095 forms. This isn’t too hard with full-time employees who worked all year under the same coverage. But what about when it comes to reporting COBRA Coverage?

What is COBRA Coverage?
COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, which was passed in 1986. The act amended existing laws by giving certain former employees, retirees, spouses, and dependents the right to temporary continuation of health coverage at group rates. COBRA coverage is offered when the employee loses access to coverage under a group plan, due to voluntary or involuntary termination or a reduction in their hours of employment.

Reporting COBRA Coverage on Part II of Form 1095-C
If you’ve offered COBRA coverage to a terminated employee (generally anyone whose employment didn’t end because of gross misconduct), you won’t report it as an offer of coverage on line 14 of Form 1095-C. Instead, use code 1H, no offer of coverage, for any month the continued coverage applies.

If you need to report COBRA coverage for an active employee, say, someone whose hours were reduced and is, therefore, ineligible for plan coverage, you’ll report it in the same manner as an offer of that type of coverage to any other active employee.

Self-Insured Plans and COBRA Coverage
Under self-insured COBRA plans, spouses and dependents can elect to receive the continued coverage independently of the employee (i.e., if the employee declines coverage or is deceased). Employers who sponsor these plans will still need to report coverage offered to each non-employee spouse and dependent on a separate Form 1095-B or 1095-C from the employee. If a spouse and dependents elect to receive COBRA coverage along with the employee, you can report them on the same form.

Whatever you have to report on your ACA forms, ExpressIRSForms can help. Create an account or log in today to get started e-filing your ACA returns! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to give us a call (704-684-4751) or send us a live chat Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT. We also provide after hours assistance at support@ExpressIRSForms.com.

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Got A Lot of ACA Forms to Send Out? Bulk Upload to File in Minutes!

ExpressIRSForms has always worked to make e-filing your information returns with the IRS as easy and hassle-free as possible. That’s why we introduced the Bulk Upload feature with one of our first releases, allowing users to seamlessly upload information and create 1099 or W-2 forms.

Now that you can e-file ACA Forms 1094 and 1095 with ExpressIRSForms, the Bulk Upload feature has been tuned up to include these forms as well!

After you start to e-file ACA Forms 1095-B or 1095-C, you’re asked if you want to enter your employee/recipient information individually or all at once. If you opt for all at once, you’re taken to a screen where you can download our ACA Bulk Upload Excel Template to use or upload one of your own.

Once you upload that template, your ACA forms are completed, without you re-entering all the information you already have into little boxes on a computer screen for (what would at least seem like) hours.

And soon, you’ll even be able to use our Bulk Upload option with file formats other than Excel! We’re working now to add the option to upload already completed ACA PDFs for filers who have their forms but no way to e-file them.

Ready to start e-filing? Log into your ExpressIRSForms account to e-file your ACA forms with the IRS today! If you need help getting started, you can give us a call at (704) 684-4751 during our office hours, which are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT, or send us an email anytime at support@ExpressIRSForms.com.




Looking for something a little less hands-on? Check out ExpressACAForms, our full-service ACA e-filing option.

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Ace Adventures: Paper Filers, Start Your Engines!

“Oh, good, you’re here! It’s me, Doc! Things are getting pretty crazy here in ExpressIRSForms, what with the ACA deadline at the end of this month and everyone still being a little unsure about these forms altogether. We don’t want another surprise visit from Confusion on on our hands. Come on down to the square, everyone’s waiting for Ace to come out and tell us what we need to do next!”

“In fact, no one’s around! Where is everyone? It’s almost eerie how quiet it is.”

BANG

“Did you hear that?? That sounded like a gun! We’d better get moving; someone might be in trouble! Heck, Ace could be in trouble! I don’t know if that boy’s bullet-proof or not…”

“What the -- the racetrack? What in the sam hill is going on here? Oh, I suppose there’s no use in asking you, you just got here. We gotta find Ace. He’ll know what’s up. Let’s see about getting inside. There you are!”

“Hey, Doc! What’s up?” Ace, who had just walked out of the racetrack, asked.

“You know I hate those jokes.”

“What jokes?”

“The ‘what’s up, doc?’ one -- oh, never mind that now. What happened to everyone? Confusion hasn’t got them has she?”

“Once I explained to the crowd,” Ace continued, “that e-filers had until June 30, and told them that was just the beginning of the e-filing over paper filing benefits, most of them figured it would be best to check out ExpressIRSForms or ExpressACAForms to e-file their ACA forms. Then the paper filers hurried off to work on finishing their forms by the 31st, and the rest of us came here for the big race today. I tell ya, I don’t know how that tortoise keeps beating that hare but--”

“Whoa, before you get going there Ace,” Doc interrupted, “you wanna give the kid here a little recap of your speech? I’m afraid I made us a little late.”

“Oh, of course! Well, the paper filing deadline for ACA forms 1094 and 1095 is May 31, meaning copies need to be stamped and mailed by that day to the IRS. Now, if you have over 250 forms to file, you’re required to e-file. That was the point that got a lot of people who thought they could paper file. Although, why you’d wanna paper file 250 forms, who knows.

“Anyway, paper filing is great and all if you’re a traditionalist, but you’re way less likely to make an error e-filing. Plus, e-filing’s much more secure and helps the whole filing process go more smoothly, especially when it comes to correcting any errors. So, that’s fine if you want to paper file, but more time and security makes e-filing the sweeter deal.”

That’s right, any questions you have regarding ACA e-filing can be directed at us, the ExpressIRSForms support team, AKA Ace’s sidekicks. You can reach us by phone (704-684-4751) and live chat Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT. We also answer emails 24/7 at support@ExpressIRSForms.com.

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Words of Wisdom from Martin Luther King, Jr.

Happy MLK Day, ExpressIRSForms users! While a lot of you may be joining us from the comfort of a three-day weekend, the ExpressIRSForms office is up and running today to help you e-file your 1099s, W-2s, and ACA forms. So to honor the good doctor on his day, we’ve brought you some words of wisdom from him to carry you throughout your day and week.

Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

When you are right, you cannot be too radical; when you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative.

We must accept finite disappointment, but never lose infinite hope.

Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable...Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.

Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.

Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle. And so we must straighten our backs and work for our freedom. A man can’t ride you unless your back is bent.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

Rarely do we find men who willingly engage in hard, solid thinking. There is an almost universal quest for easy answers and half-baked solutions. Nothing pains some people more than having to think.

Whatever your life’s work, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.

Have a wonderful week ExpressIRSForms readers! For more of your regularly scheduled 1099, W-2, and ACA related blogs, tune back Wednesday. In the meantime, if you need any help with your e-filing, we’re here Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. by phone (704-839-2270) and live chat. We’ve also still got 24/7 email support going at support@expressirsforms.com.

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ACA Forms: The Benefits of E-filing with ExpressIRSForms

We’ll be back to your regularly scheduled blogs after this final ACA-themed one! We’ve gone over the basics of the ACA forms, and delved more into Forms 1095-B and 1095-C. We’ve even talked about what your employees and recipients need to know about the Affordable Care Act information returns.

But even after all of the long talks we’ve had, what real reason do you have to e-file your ACA returns this year and in years to come? Well, this is the blog post where we give you a few reasons to file with us, starting with…

The 250 Rule
If you’re filing more than 250 of either Form 1095-B or 1095-C, the IRS requires you to e-file your forms. Although the IRS will tell you they do recommend e-filing regardless of how many forms you’re filing, because e-filing is a speedier process and leaves less room for error. And since the IRS recommends us too (we were one of the first e-filing services to be IRS-authorized for e-filing ACA forms!), it only seems right that you use ExpressIRSForms to e-file.

No Form 1094
When you paper file Forms 1095-B and 1095-C, you have to include a transmittal Form 1094-B or 1094-C. Think of it as a cover letter that summarizes all of the information in the forms you’re filing. When you e-file, there’s no need for this form since you’re not sending a stack of papers through the mail. Fill out fewer forms: e-file with ExpressIRSForms.

It’s Pretty Easy...
Like our other tax products, it was important to us that our clients have the simplest filing experience ever with ExpressIRSForms. Our program will walk you through your forms step by step, providing helpful hints and guidelines along the way. We’ll also perform an error check before you transmit your forms to make sure everything gets filed correctly the first time around.

...And It’s Free!
That’s right! It’s absolutely free to e-file the optional 2014 ACA information returns with ExpressIRSForms. It’s always free to create an account with us, and since these ACA forms are brand new, we thought our users might like a free trial with them. Just create your account, choose the form you’d like to fill out, and see how easy it is to e-file with us at no cost to you. Your recipient information will also be saved securely in your account with our cloud-based software, so in a month or so when you do your 2015 ACA returns, you can complete your e-filing in just a matter of clicks!

Lastly, The Service
At ExpressIRSForms, our customer service is second to none. We’re available by phone all year (not just during tax season!), Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST at (704) 839-2270. We also offer live chat through our website during these hours and email support at support@expressirsforms.com 24/7. Our US-based headquarters in Rock Hill, SC offers complimentary support in English and Spanish. Whatever your e-filing need, we’re here to help!

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Riddle Me This: Are You Ready for Tax Season?

Riddles are wonderful little brain enhancers. But when riddles could affect your tax return - and subsequently cause you penalties for getting them wrong - they tend to lose their charm.

That’s why ExpressIRSForms is committed to turning the riddles of the IRS’s tax jargon into directions that aren’t so... riddle-culous. The only time you should face any real penalties because of a riddle is if a sphinx is asking. Go ahead and create a free account through ExpressIRSForms and see just how easy it is to complete and e-file your information tax returns!

And even if you get into the program and things start to seem like they were written by one of Batman’s foes, the ExpressIRSForms support team will come to the rescue! Just give us a call at (704) 839-2270, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. We’re also available by live chat through our website, and we offer 24/7 email support at support@expressirsforms.com.

So now that we’ve set your mind at ease about these IRS forms, here are a few riddles to help get your mind in shape for the upcoming tax season:

1. Paul’s height is six feet, he’s an assistant at a butcher’s shop, and wears size 9 shoes. What does he weigh?
2. What kind of tree can you carry in your hand?
3. If you have me, you want to share me. If you share me, you haven’t got me. What am I
4. Forward I am heavy, but backward I am not. What am I?
5. Imagine you are in a dark room. How do you get out?
6. A girl who was just learning to drive went down a one-way street in the wrong direction, but didn’t break the law. How come?
7. And the toughie: You have been given the task of transporting 3,000 apples 1,000 miles from Appleland to Bananaville. Your truck can carry 1,000 apples at a time. Every time you travel a mile towards Bananaville you must pay a tax of 1 apple but you pay nothing when going towards Appleland. What is the highest number of apples you can get to Bananaville?

Answers:

1. Meat
2. A palm tree
3. A secret
4. A ton
5. Stop imagining
6. She was walking.
7. 833. You drive the first 334 miles starting with 1,000 apples in each load, leaving you with 1,998 apples remaining at 334 miles. Now you can continue with two loads of 999 apples until mile 833, where you’ll have 1,000 apples remaining. Drive the remaining 167 miles to Bananaville, where you’ll arrive with 833 apples.

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Introducing ExpressIRSForms!

Sometimes spring cleaning happens in the middle of autumn or, at least, it may seem that way. Most likely spring cleaning started happening months ago and the final product only just came to fruition. At least, that’s the case around the ExpressTaxZone office.

You see, ExpressTaxZone has been royally spring cleaned. We’ve brushed up and decluttered ExpressTaxFilings and ExpressExtension, added some new features and forms, and wrapped them all up nicely and neatly into the new program, ExpressIRSForms!

Now, instead of having to first go to ExpressExtension.com to e-file your income tax extension forms, then going all the way to ExpressTaxFilings.com for your federal and state 1099 and W-2 e-filngs, you can do all this -- and more -- from one site! Just type in www.ExpressIRSForms.com, hit Enter, and you’re on your way.

And, in addition to everything you could do before, we’ve got some new forms for you. We’ve added e-filing for the newly instated Affordable Care Act Information Return Forms 1094-B/C and 1095-B/C. You can get some practice with these forms by e-filing for the optional 2014 tax year absolutely free. And our program will even save your recipient information for when it’s time to e-file the required 2015 forms, saving you a lot of time and headaches in the long run.

The ease you may remember from filing with ExpressTaxZone is still a key feature in ExpressIRSForms. We’ve taken every precaution to make sure your form is filed correctly the first time so that you can get on to more important things.

So on behalf of the entire ExpressIRSForms team, we’d like to welcome you to the site. Take a look around, and if you have any questions, just contact one of us at our headquarters in Rock Hill, South Carolina; we’re happy to help! Give us a call (or send us a live chat!) Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST at (704) 839-2270, or send us an email 24/7 at support@expressirsforms.com!

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