Your Business's IRS Forms Are Due This Week!

It’s getting down to the nitty-gritty for IRS return filing for business owners!

Not only are your 1099 Forms due by this Friday (well, except for the 1099-MISCs reporting nonemployee compensation that were due January 31), your Affordable Care Act Forms 1094 and 1095 are due as well! And this is the e-filing deadline so, if for some reason, you were thinking of sending in paper forms: don’t. They’ll be counted as late, you’ll incur a late-filing penalty, and you’ll be making the whole ordeal a lot more difficult for yourself - especially since e-filing is the easier, more secure option for filing anyway.

You may remember last year and years before when W-2 Forms were due March 31 as well. Unfortunately - and we tried to warn you! - the IRS changed the W-2 deadline for 2016 tax year forms to January 31, 2017. If you missed the memo, try to get these forms in as soon as possible, but remember there’s a chance you’ll receive IRS penalties anyway.

At any rate, this year for the 2016 tax year, Forms 1099 and ACA Forms 1094 and 1095 are due this Friday, March 31, 2017.

Of course, ExpressIRSForms is here to help you get those forms e-filed correctly and securely on time, but if you’re still a little hesitant, we’ve also got another card to play: Form 8809. Form 8809 is the extension form for information returns like Forms 1099 and 1094/1095 and when you apply, you get an automatic 30-day extension to get your forms to the IRS. Don’t even have to have an excuse or anything! You can e-file Form 8809 and get your extension confirmation email all in just a few hours - and for only $3.55 - with ExpressIRSForms!

You can even go ahead and e-file a Form 8809 and if you still get your other forms in on time, you’re golden! The IRS doesn’t care if you apply for an extension and don’t use it, but they do very much care if you don’t apply for an extension and end up being late.

So, to get started, just log into your ExpressIRSForms account, click the big, orange Start New Form button, and get going on your 8809, 1099, and/or ACA Forms! And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our support team: we’re available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST by phone (704-684-4751) and live chat. And we also provide 24/7 assistance at support@ExpressIRSForms.com!

Read More »

The New ACA Form 1095-C Codes

Let’s switch gears here for a post and talk about the Affordable Care Act Forms. More specifically, Form 1095-C and the changes it’s gone through to be ready for 2016 filing early next year.

If you filed 1095-C Forms this past year, you may recall on lines 14 and 16 you were required to enter codes that corresponded with the type of coverage you offered and the safe harbor relief for which you were eligible. These codes were chosen from Code Series 1, Offer of Coverage, and Code Series 2, Section 4980H Safe Harbor Codes and Other Relief for ALE Members, respectively.

Code Series 1 Changes
This past year, Code Series 1 provided a variety of codes, numbered 1A to 1I, to indicate more information about the coverage offer you provided to the employee. But for 2016 filing, this code is a little different.

For one thing, code 1I, which only applied for 2015 transitional relief options, is no longer available and is marked as “reserved” by the IRS. In other words, don’t use it on any future forms.

For another, codes 1J and 1K were added to the list. Codes 1J and 1K address conditional offers of spousal coverage. A conditional offer refers to an offer of coverage that is subject to one or more objective conditions, which must be found reasonable to the IRS. An example of an appropriate conditional offer would be an offer to cover an employee’s spouse only if the spouse is not eligible for coverage under a group health plan sponsored by another employer or Medicare.

Code 1J: Minimum essential coverage providing minimum value is offered to the employee and at least MEC is conditionally offered to the spouse. MEC is not offered to the dependent(s).
Code 1K: MEC providing minimum value is offered to the employee and dependent(s) and at least MEC is conditionally offered to the spouse.

Code Series 2 Changes
Code Series 2 was a little bit different than the first series because not everyone would necessarily use it. Code Series 2, with codes 2A to 2I, is used to indicate the safe harbor relief for which you may be eligible.

This coming year, for the 2016 filing season, code 2I is no longer applicable. Similar to code 1I, code 2I only applied for a 2015 safe harbor relief option, so, naturally, it can’t be used past the tax year 2015.



We’ll be sure to keep you updated on any major ACA changes in the coming months to help make sure you’re as prepared as possible for the 2016 filing season. And if you have any questions in the meantime or need to e-file Form 1095-C, don’t hesitate to give ExpressIRSForms a call! We’re available by phone (704-684-4751) and live chat (through our site) Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST. We also provide 24/7 customer support via email at support@ExpressIRSForms.com.

Read More »

The Forms of ExpressIRSForms

Boy, oh boy, has it been a big year for ExpressIRSForms! Growing from the simple, dependable e-filing base ExpressTaxFilings created with its 2012 launch, ExpressIRSForms had a booming first season, providing you with more e-filing capabilities than ever before.

The expansion into ExpressIRSForms brought with it e-filing support for twice as many IRS forms as before. To catch you up on all the forms we’ve added, here’s a bit about all the forms you can e-file at ExpressIRSForms.

Form 1099
The Form 1099 is a classic, used to report when a taxpayer has received income from sources other than a wage-paying job. That means it needs to be filled out by you (the employer) for all of the independent contractors and other non-employees you paid more than $600 to throughout the year for work related to your business.

Depending on how the payee received that moolah is which 1099 form you need to complete. Luckily, ExpressIRSForms supports four of the most commonly used 1099 forms, as well as their correction and transmittal forms:

• Form 1099-MISC, used to report payment for services performed for a business by people who aren’t employees, like subcontractors, renters, or prize recipients
• Form 1099-INT, which summarizes income of at least $10 from interest income
• Form 1099-DIV, used by banks and financial institutions to report dividends and other distributions over $10 received
• Form 1099-R, which reports distributions of retirement benefits over $10

W-2 Forms
For the people you hired as actual employees, we’ve got Form W-2 generation and e-filing. And when you e-file your W-2s with ExpressIRSForms, a digital copy of Form W-3 (the W-2 transmittal form) is automatically sent to the IRS along with your return. And while we try to make sure your return is sent off without any errors, making corrections to rejected W-2s is a breeze through ExpressIRSForms.

Affordable Care Act Forms
One of the biggest changes from ExpressTaxFilings to ExpressIRSForms was the addition of ACA Forms 1094-B, 1094-C, 1095-B, and 1095-C. Starting with the 2015 tax year (which was filed this past tax season), these forms became required to be filed by certain business owners and health insurance providers. ExpressIRSForms was one of the first IRS-authorized e-filing programs to have software capable of filing ACA forms, and we work every day to make sure we stay the best option for it.

Form W-9
Form W-9 isn’t a form you need to file with the IRS, but it is a form you need to complete to be able to complete the forms you need to file with the IRS. Typically when you hire someone, you’ll have them fill out and sign a Form W-9 to have a record of the information you’ll need to fill out their tax information returns each year, whether that’s a 1099, W-2, or ACA form. ExpressIRSForms gives you the ability to handle getting all that information and e-signature through a secure portal within your account. How simple does that sound?

Wanna Know More?
We get it, August isn’t a big time to think about your information returns. Or the upcoming tax season. That’s why we aim to make everything about your information return e-filing easier. So take a minute, check out our site, create an account, give us a call if you have a question. Then, go enjoy the rest of your summer, and come back in January when we’ll have everything ready for you to complete your 2015 return!

Read More »

Miss the ACA E-filing Deadline?

Now that we’re almost halfway through July, the dust is finally starting to settle from the Affordable Care Act e-filing deadline that was June 30. If your return has come back with errors and you need to make corrections, ExpressIRSForms is the place to be. We’ve been on top of the ins and outs of ACA reporting since Day One.

Hm, what’s that? You haven’t filed yet at all?

Well, while we can’t really say that’s okay, there’s no need to start fretting over being late now. You may not be at the corrections stage like most filers, but ExpressIRSForms can still help!

First Off, There Are No Late Filing Penalties for the 2015 Tax Year
Although the IRS extended the actual deadlines for ACA Forms 1094 and 1095 (from March 31 to June 30) for the 2015 tax year, they realized there would still be many businesses that needed more time to power through the confusion of these new regulations and forms.

That’s why the IRS also announced earlier this year that if you can provide evidence that you made attempts to file on time but were delayed for whatever reason, they’ll forgive any late-filing fees you would have otherwise incurred. The big thing here though is that you still need to submit a completed (or as close to completed as possible) return to the IRS to show your good faith efforts.

Which is Where ExpressIRSForms Comes In
As an online, cloud-based program authorized by the IRS to e-file information returns, ExpressIRSForms is up, running, and able to be used anytime you need to access your account. That means that even weeks after a deadline, you can e-file your forms directly with the IRS. Additionally, our expert customer support team is available throughout the year, not just during tax season, to answer your questions from our base in Rock Hill, South Carolina.

To e-file your ACA Forms 1094 and 1095 with ExpressIRSForms, simply create an account on our website. From there, select the ACA forms option in the “Create New Forms” section. The program will then guide you through, step by step, until you’ve filed your return with the IRS.

If you have any questions or need help getting started, give us a call! We’re in the office Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET, where we’re available by live chat through www.ExpressIRSForms.com or at (704) 684-4751. Have a question after hours? We respond to questions sent via email 24/7! Just send a message to support@ExpressIRSForms.

Happy filing!

Read More »

What is the Origin of Policy for ACA Reporting?

There’s a lot of important information reported to the IRS on your 1095-B Forms regarding the offers of health care coverage you made throughout the year. Included in the information you’re required to provide is the origin of the policy, which is entered on Line 8 of Form 1095-B.

When you come to Line 8 of Form 1095-B, you’ll enter a letter (A-F) to indicate where the health insurance policy you offered your recipients originated:

• A. Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP)
• B. Employer-sponsored coverage
• C. Government-sponsored program
• D. Individual market insurance
• E. Multiemployer plan
• F. Other designated minimum essential coverage (MEC)

ExpressIRSForms helps make sure you have the right information in the right places on all of your ACA Forms, including 1094 and 1095-C Forms. So get started e-filing your ACA forms through your ExpressIRSForms account today - you only have a little over a week left to get them e-filed to the IRS!

If you have any questions, we’re available by live chat and phone (704-684-4751) Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT. We also offer 24/7 assistance through support@ExpressIRSForms.com.

Read More »

Unique ACA Challenges Employers with Multiemployer Plans Face

ALEs, or Applicable Large Employers, who contribute to a multiemployer health coverage plan will face some unique challenges when reporting their offers of coverage to the IRS on Forms 1094-C and 1095-C. Multiemployer plans - so we’re all on the same page here - are plans that cover employees of unrelated companies as settled upon in a collective bargaining agreement.

Internal Revenue Code Section 6056 indicates multiemployer plan administrators may prepare their return for employees eligible for the multiemployer plan, reporting information on the plan and the ALE member. However, when the Forms 1094-C and 1095-C were finalized and published by the IRS, the instructions didn’t appear to provide any way for a plan administrator to do this. In other words, it appears that ALE members must report full-time employees eligible for a multiemployer plan and that ALE member is responsible for any incorrect reporting and subsequent penalties incurred.

It is true that ALE members must file a Form 1095-C for each full-time employee and provide information regarding the offer of health coverage. However, in the case of multiemployer arrangements, ALEs typically don’t make the direct offer of coverage. This means you’ll need to get details of the offer(s) from your coverage provider.

As for reporting your data on Forms 1094-C and 1095-C, the Preamble to the Code Section 4980H has included interim guidelines for employers who contribute to a multiemployer plan:

• On Form 1094-C, Part III, column (a), treat all the employees you contribute to the multiemployer plan as if they have been offered minimum essential coverage (MEC), even if they haven’t, for the months you’re eligible to use interim guidance.
• On Form 1095-C, Part II, line 14, enter the code of health coverage that corresponds with the coverage actually offered to the employee, even if it contradicts what you included on Form 1094-C in Part III.
• On Form 1095-C, complete lines 15 and 16 as usual, including the premium amount (line 15) and any applicable Safe Harbor relief code (line 16).
• If you’re completing multiple 1094-C Forms for one ALE member, one of the forms must be marked as the authoritative transmittal copy. This copy must include aggregate employer-level data for all full-time employees.
• Sponsors or insurers of multiemployer plans are required to furnish information about health coverage to any enrolled employees on Forms 1094-B and 1095-B. ALE members should not complete Form 1095-C, Part III for these employees.

ExpressIRSForms works to make sure you’re reporting everything correctly the first time around. Create an account today to get started e-filing ACA forms for your multiemployer plans! And if you have any questions, we’re available by phone (704-684-4751) and live chat Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT. Have questions after hours? Send us an email to support@ExpressIRSForms!



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

Read More »

How to E-file Form 1095-C with ExpressIRSForms

Hello, and welcome to ExpressIRSForms! Today we’re going to take you step by step through the process of e-filing a Form 1095-C with ExpressIRSForms. If you’ve e-filed your 1099s or W-2s with us before, things may look a little familiar. If you’re just stopping by for the first time, sit back, relax, and see how easy it is to e-file with ExpressIRSForms:

Getting Started
First things first, you’ll need to either create an account at www.ExpressIRSForms.com, or log into your existing one. Select either the “Register” or “Sign In” button on the top right corner of our home page, as it is applicable to you. Once you’ve logged into your account, you’ll see a button that says “Create New Forms.” Click this, and select the ACA forms option.

Employer Information
After you’ve indicated you’d like to e-file ACA forms, you’ll be taken to a screen to enter the employer information needed for your ACA return. Enter your employer by either selecting their name from the drop-down menu of your existing employers, or filling in the boxes to add a new employer. Once you’ve confirmed all of your information is correct, click Next.

Next, the program will determine if your employer is a member of an aggregated group, what type of insurance is sponsored by the employer, and the amount of full-time employees (FTEs) your business has by asking a few simple questions. Before completing the next part of your form, you’ll come to a checkpoint screen that summarizes the type of ACA form you’re filing along with your employer information. Click Continue to go to the next part.

Employer Offered Coverage
Now onto what the ACA forms are all about: your employees and the coverage you offered them. You’ll see on the first screen for this section that you have the option to add employees individually or bulk upload them using our Excel template or one of your own. Select which option you’d like, and either enter your employees’ data individually, or upload your ACA data spreadsheet.

Authoritative Transmittal
Once you’ve either entered or uploaded your employee data, click Next to indicate whether or not this return will be considered the Authoritative Transmittal for your complete ACA return. If this is your only transmittal, it automatically becomes the Authoritative Transmittal (AT).

After indicating the AT, the program will ask about any transition relief your organization or business qualified for during the tax period. The next pages will ask you to confirm you offered minimum essential coverage (MEC) throughout the year and your total number of FTEs as well as total number of employees overall.

Summary
Lastly, you’ll come to your summary screen. Look over everything to make sure your employer and employee info is entered correctly and click Review. The program then performs one last error check to make sure your return is free of any obvious errors before it’s transmitted to the IRS. If there are no errors, just click through to add your payment information for the one-time transmittal fee, and transmit your return to the IRS.

See, wasn’t that simple?

If you have any questions about e-filing with ExpressIRSForms, give us a call! We’re available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT, at (704) 684-4751. We also provide 24/7 email assistance at support@ExpressIRSForms.com.



Looking for something a little less hands on? Try ExpressACAForms, our full-service ACA e-filing solution!

Read More »

TIN Matching: Your FAQs Answered

One of the most talked about features among ACA filers using ExpressIRSForms is the TIN Matching and Verification Process.

What is TIN Verification?
TIN Verification is the process your forms go through in ExpressIRSForms before your return is e-filed with the IRS. It checks to make sure the Social Security Numbers (SSNs), Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), and any other Taxpayer Identification Numbers (TINs) entered in your return match the person or business with whom they’re associated according to the IRS’s records.

What format should names and TINs be in?
If you’re entering the names and TINs individually in ExpressIRSForms, the program will make sure all your names and TINs are formatted correctly. If you’re bulk uploading using ExpressIRSForms’s Excel template, the column headers will indicate what information needs to be in which box. If you’ve got your own template, list your recipient names by first then last name and the TIN without any dashes or other characters.

Is there an additional charge for TIN matching?
When you e-file with ExpressIRSForms, we perform a TIN verification to ensure TIN matching automatically as a part of your form generation process at no cost to you.

What should I do if a TIN in my return fails?
If we’ve caught the TIN mismatch before your return is transmitted (which would likely be the case), all you’ll need to do is verify the TIN with the person or entity in question, then make the necessary correction(s) in your account before e-filing.

If for any reason the IRS finds a TIN mismatch on your forms, your return will more than likely be rejected or accepted with errors. Once your return has been processed, you can go back into ExpressIRSForms, correct your return, and retransmit it at no additional cost.

You can get started e-filing your ACA return through ExpressIRSForms today! If you have any questions, just let us know. We’re available by live chat and phone at (704) 684-4751 Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT. We’re also available to answer questions 24/7 at support@ExpressIRSForms.com.



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

Read More »

Reporting Safe Harbor & Affordability on Line 16 of Form 1095-C

A couple of slots down from Line 14 on Form 1095-C is Line 16, as is usually the case with sequential numbers. The thing about Line 16 is that not everyone will fill it out. Read on to learn more about this reporting requirement.

Form 1095-C, Line 16
The thing to keep in mind about Line 16 is that you’ll only fill it out if certain situations apply for the employee (i.e., the employee not being full-time or employed at all) or for you, as the employer (i.e., Safe Harbor relief eligibility), during any month of the year.

ACA Code Series 2
The following Safe Harbor Codes are used on Line 16 of Form 1095-C:

• 2A: Employee was not employed during this month.
• If the employee worked even one day that month, Code 2A is not applicable.
• Code 2A may not be used for the month an employee resigns.
• 2B: Employee is not a full-time employee.
• Use Code 2B for a non-FTE who didn’t enroll in coverage that month (if offered).
• Use Code 2B for FTEs whose coverage ended before the last day of the month because the employee resigned (otherwise, the coverage would’ve continued).
• Use Code 2B for January 2015 if you offered MEC with MV to the employee no later than the first day of the first payroll period beginning that month.
• 2C: Employee enrolled in coverage offered.
• Code 2C should be used even if another code might apply (other than 2E).
• Don’t use Code 2C if Code 1G is entered in the “All 12 Months” box on Line 14.
• Don’t use Code 2C for any month a terminated employee is enrolled in COBRA (use Code 2A instead).
• 2D: Employee in a section 4980H(b) Limited Non-Assessment Period
• Use Code 2D for any month the employee is in a Limited non-Assessment Period for section 4980H(b).
• If Code 2E is also applicable, use that instead of Code 2D.
• 2E: Multiemployer interim rule relief.
• Use Code 2E for any month the multiemployer arrangement interim guidance applies to the employee.
• Code 2E should be used regardless of any other code that may apply.
• 2F: Section 4980H affordability Form W-2 safe harbor.
• Use Code 2F for any month you used the section 4980H Form W-2 safe harbor to determine affordability for the employee’s coverage.
• 2G: Section 4980H affordability federal poverty line safe harbor.
• Use Code 2G for any month you used the section 4980H affordability federal poverty line safe harbor to determine affordability for coverage.
• 2H: Section 4980H affordability rate of pay safe harbor.
• Use Code 2H for any month you used the section 4980H affordability rate of pay safe harbor to determine affordability.
• 2I: Non-calendar year transition relief applies.
• Enter Code 2I if non-calendar year transition relief under section 4980H(b) applies to this employee for any month.

At ExpressIRSForms, we help make sure you have the right codes in the right places. With built-in error checks, we’ll make sure no obvious errors are sent in your forms to the IRS. And if you have any questions along the way, our support team will be happy to help! Give us a call Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT, at (704) 684-4751. Filing in the middle of the night? We offer 24/7 assistance via email at support@ExpressIRSForms.com.



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

Read More »

What's So Important About Line 14 on Form 1095-C?

Understandably, Line 14 on Form 1095-C is causing hesitation for many filers. Just look at it:

What, so now you’ve got to come up with a code for each month the recipient was covered? Close: the IRS has already come up with the code (1A through 1I), you just need to enter the appropriate one for the recipient listed either in the “All 12 Months” box (if the code’s the same all year) or in each applicable month.

Offer of Coverage
So just what are you reporting with these codes? Well, Form 1095-C Line 14 indicates to the IRS what coverage was offered to the person for whom you’re filing the Form 1095-C. The code you use will tell the IRS if the coverage you offered met the ACA-required minimum essential coverage (MEC) and minimum value (MV) regulations, as well as if coverage was offered to the spouse and dependent(s) of the employee. Additionally, there’s a code to use in the event coverage wasn’t offered or if the employee only worked part-time.

ACA Line 14 Code Series 1

• 1A. Qualifying Offer: MEC providing MV offered to FTE; employee premium less than or equal to the 9.5% mainland single federal poverty line; MEC offered to spouse and dependent(s)
• 1B: MEC providing MV offered to FTE only
• 1C: MEC providing MV offered to FTE; MEC offered to dependent(s)
• 1D: MEC providing MV offered to FTE; MEC offered to spouse
• 1E: MEC providing MV offered to FTE; MEC offered to dependent(s) and spouse
• 1F: MEC not providing MV offered to FTE, dependent(s), or spouse
• 1G: Offer of coverage made to non-FTE who enrolled in self-insured coverage
• 1H: No offer of coverage made
• 1I: Offer made (or lack thereof) falls under Qualifying Offer Transition Relief for 2015

At ExpressIRSForms, we help make sure you have the right codes in the right places as you navigate these new ACA forms. Just create an account to get started e-filing your 1095s one of the easiest ways possible! And if you have any questions on the way, we’ll be happy to help. Just give us a call Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT, at (704) 684-4751. If you miss us, send us an email to support@ExpressIRSForms.com, and we’ll reply as soon as possible!



Looking for something a little less hands on? Check out our full-service e-filing program for Forms 1094 and 1095, ExpressACAForms!

Read More »

What You Should Know About ACA Reporting Penalties

We recently spoke about the penalties and fees you could face from the IRS if you fail to comply with the new reporting requirements as outlined by the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Today, we’re going to dive a little deeper into how an employer can become liable for paying these compliance or reporting fees.

What puts you at risk for a penalty?
The main penalty to watch out for as an employer is the Employer Shared Responsibility Payment (ESRP). You become liable for this payment if you either

• (a) don’t offer health coverage to at least 95% of your full-time employees (and their dependents), and at least one of them receives a premium tax credit from the Marketplace, or
• (b) you do offer health coverage to at least 95% of your full-time employees but at least one is still able to receive a premium tax credit to help pay for coverage from the Marketplace (meaning your coverage didn’t meet Minimum Essential Coverage and Minimum Value regulations).

So, keeping in mind what we learned in our last post, you can avoid these penalty risks by providing the right amount of coverage to the right amount of employees as defined by the ACA, and by reporting this coverage to the IRS each year on Form 1094 and Form 1095.

The IRS is offering transition relief for employers who need it for the 2015 tax year, which you can read more about on the IRS’s website here.

How do you know if the coverage you offer is affordable and provides minimum value?
Coverage is considered affordable if the employee’s share of the premium is less than 9.5% of the employee’s annual household income. Since employers generally don’t know their employees’ entire household incomes, you can determine if the employee’s share is affordable based on:

1. the wages on their W-2,
2. their rate of pay, or
3. the federal poverty line.

You’ll know if a plan provides minimum value if it covers at least 60% of the total cost of benefits expected to be incurred under the plan.

A good way to avoid any filing penalties is to make sure to e-file ACA Forms with ExpressIRSForms; we’ll make sure everything you fill out is correct and in place before you file your return with the IRS. To get started, just create a free account!

Have questions? That’s what we’re here for - from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT, Monday through Friday, at (704) 684-4751, or 24/7 at support@ExpressIRSForms.com.



Looking for something a little less hands on? Check out ExpressACAForms, our full-service e-filing software for Forms 1094 and 1095.

Read More »

Employer Shared Responsibility FAQs, Part 2

And we’re back! Let’s jump right into part two of our Employer Shared Responsibility FAQs:


Are companies with employees working outside the US subject to the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions?
Typically, for determining whether or not you’re an ALE (Applicable Large Employer), you’ll only take into account the work performed in the United States. In other words, if a foreign employer has a large workforce worldwide but doesn’t have at least 50 workers in the US, they wouldn’t be subject to the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions.

Are companies that employ US citizens working abroad subject to the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions?
If you employ US citizens abroad, you’d typically only be subject to Employer Shared Responsibility provisions if you have at least 50 FT employees performing work in the US. Generally, US citizens working only abroad will not be taken into consideration when determining ALE status.

How does an employer that wasn’t in existence throughout the preceding calendar year determine if it employs enough people to be subject to the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions?
If your business wasn’t in existence any day in the previous calendar year, you’d only be considered an ALE (and therefore need to file) if in the current year you’re expected to hire/employ an average of 50 or more full-time employees. To determine next year’s status (a.k.a. the year after the first year your business was in existence), you’ll use the same general rules as everyone else: counting up your full-time employees to determine if there are more than 50 of them.

If two or more companies have a common owner (or are otherwise related), are they combined to determine whether they employ enough people to be subject to the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions?
Yes, according to Section 4980H, in order to determine ALE status, you would need to combine the number of employees for any groups with a common owner, or that are otherwise related. If the combined total is more than 50 full-time employees, each employer is subject to the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions.

Do the Employer Shared Responsibility provisions apply to employers in states where a federally-facilitated exchange (or Marketplace) has been established on behalf of the state?
Yes. As an ALE, you’re subject to an Employer Shared Responsibility payment if at least one (1) of your FT employees receives a premium tax credit, which is only available to eligible individuals who receive coverage through a Marketplace.


So now that your questions have been answered, are you ready to get started e-filing your ACA return? Just log into your ExpressIRSForms account to create your forms, or let us do it for you over at ExpressACAForms!

Didn’t see your question in either of our posts? Just reach out to our friendly customer service center and we’ll try to help any way we can! We’re available by phone Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT, at (704) 684-4751 and by email 24/7 at support@ExpressIRSForms.com.

Read More »

Affordable Care Act Compliance Penalties

If an ALE (Applicable Large Employer), or anyone else who has to file information returns under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), fails to comply with this new ACA reporting requirement, they may be subject to IRS penalties and fines. And remember: penalties apply to both the forms that were supposed to be sent to the IRS but weren’t and forms that were supposed to be sent to your employees/recipients but weren’t.

Your potential penalty is determined by when your forms are received by the IRS (or your recipients) without any errors. If you send your completed return

• within 30 days of the deadline, you’ll be charged up to $50 per form.
• after 30 days after the deadline but before August 1, you’ll be charged up to $100 per form.
• after August 1 or not at all, you’ll be charged up to $250 per form.

There are regulations in place to cap the total amount you can be charged each year (the largest limit being $3,000,000), however, the IRS does reserve the right to increase these charges if they find evidence of willful intent not to file.

The IRS is offering exemption from these filing penalties for the 2015 filing year, which is completed this year (in 2016) if you can prove you made every effort to file your return correctly and on time.

You can avoid these penalties by filing on time and correctly, which is where ExpressIRSForms comes in. While we can’t make you file on time, it is our policy to remind you of any upcoming deadlines, and all of the bonus features we pack into our program will help make sure your return is error-free. So give it a try today!

For help getting started e-filing your ACA forms, or if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to our customer support team. We’re available by phone (704-684-4751) and live chat Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT, and by email (support@ExpressIRSForms.com) 24/7.



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

Read More »

How to Report COBRA on ACA Forms

When you’re working on your ACA Forms 1094 and 1095, you might run into a situation where you’ll need to report COBRA coverage information for your employee and/or their spouse and dependent(s). COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act, the federal law that provides workers with the right to continued coverage in a group health plan.

How you report this COBRA coverage will depend on whether your employee enrolls in the coverage and whether the employee was offered coverage because of termination or a reduction in hours. If the employee doesn’t enroll in COBRA coverage, that’s easy enough: you’ll report no offer of coverage beginning with the month the employment was terminated throughout the remainder of the year on Form 1095-C, Part II. In order to avoid penalties for those months, you’ll code the former employee as not a full-time employee (Code 2B).

Now, if your former employee does enroll in COBRA coverage, you’re going to have to indicate that you made an offer of coverage for all the months the employee was covered, those under the original group plan and the ones the employee enrolled in COBRA. Use the same code indicator for all of these months. Your cost of coverage should change in this section from the lowest cost employee-only premium to the COBRA single premium.

If the individual is still employed and they’ve accepted your offer of COBRA coverage as a result of a reduction in hours, you’ll still report that an offer of coverage was made for all the months under the original group plan and COBRA. Even if the ongoing employee didn’t enroll in the COBRA coverage, you’ll need to report your offer. Your indicator codes - which will be different for the months the employee’s hours were reduced - will alert the IRS as to why the COBRA single premium is listed for the months COBRA was offered.

You can e-file your 1095-C Forms (COBRA offers and all!) with ExpressIRSForms. Just log into your account and select the ACA Forms option to get started. If you have any questions, you can give us a call Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT, at (704) 684-4751; 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 solution.

Read More »

Health Care Coverage: Self-Insured v. Fully-Insured

There are two main types of health plan employers need to consider when setting up the coverage they’ll over their employees: self-insured (or self-funded) and fully-insured.

The big difference between the two is in self-insured health care coverage plans, the employer assumes financial risk for the employees’ benefits, paying the claims out of pocket rather than a fixed premium to the insurance carrier, like fully-funded plan providers do. Read on to learn a little more about the more specific differences between the two plans.

Self-Insured Plans
Rather than purchasing a fully-insured plan from an insurance carrier, employers who choose a self-insured plan are opting to operate their own health plan. These employers are generally larger ones and benefit from this type of plan because it allows them to save on the premiums insurance companies charge for fully-funded plans. It can be risky, though, because the employer will end up paying more out of pocket if more claims than are expected need to be paid.

Fully-Insured Plans
A fully-insured health plan is the more traditional option for employers, especially if you’re on the smaller end of the ALE scale. For this type of plan, the employer agrees on a fixed premium each year, paid to the insurance company based on the amount of employees the employer has enrolled. The insurance carrier will then pay any health care claims throughout the year, and employees are responsible for any deductibles or co-pays required for services.

Now that you’ve got your ACA-compliant health care coverage, do you know how you’re filing your forms? ExpressIRSForms now offers e-filing for ACA Forms 1094 and 1095, or you can check out ExpressACAForms for our full-service e-filing option.

Read More »

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.

Read More »

ExpressIRSForms Offers Free TIN Matching!

Did you know that when you e-file with ExpressIRSForms, your forms are put through a series of in-depth error checks to ensure your forms get accepted at no additional cost to you? Naturally, this applies to the new ACA Forms 1094 and 1095 available in your ExpressIRSForms account.

A Little Bit of ACA Background Info
Before we get going, it’s important to be aware of the forms to which we’re referring. Forms 1094-B, 1094-C, 1095-B, and 1095-C are now available to be e-filed at ExpressIRSForms, and it’s every bit as easy to file them here as it is your 1099s or W-2s.

Like other information returns, the ACA forms must be filled out in a certain way and require various pieces of information on the people for whom you’re filing. And like the other IRS forms, it’s easy to make a mistake if you’re paper filing or even when staring at the computer screen too long inputting data. That’s why the IRS recommends e-filers like ExpressIRSForms: to cut down on these common errors that cause rejections.

For the ACA forms, the most common rejection error is mismatching TINs. ExpressIRSForms has the aptly titled solution: TIN Matching.

What is TIN Matching?
With the ACA forms, you’re dealing with a lot of IRS Tax Identification Numbers (TINs). Not only do you have your EINs, but you've also got the SSN of every person for whom you’re filing. And each of these TINs is made up of nine very specific numbers in a very specific order. Getting the idea of why mixing up a few of these numbers is a common occurrence now? We thought so.

That’s why ExpressIRSForms prides itself on our TIN matching feature: we’ve taken our extensive experience with the IRS and e-filing and made it almost impossible for your ACA forms to get rejected because of a TIN mismatch.

Want to Know More?
Our customer support team is happy to answer any questions you have! Just give us a call Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT, at (704) 684-4751, or send us an email anytime at support@ExpressIRSForms.com.

Read More »

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.

Read More »

Ace Adventures: We're Just Getting Started

“Boy, it was nice of Ace to throw us this bar-b-que!”

“Yeah, he sure does go all out for the end of filing season, huh?”

Weeks ago, when he was helping to mail out ACA Forms 1095-B and 1095-C for ExpressIRSForms, Ace took it upon himself to also mail out invitations for his Post-March-31st-Deadline Bar-b-Que to everyone in the city. So here we are today, celebrating the IRS deadline for 1099s and W-2s and the recipient copy deadline for ACA forms for payers and employers.

“Great cook-out, Ace,” a taxpayer Ace helped out earlier this year came up to the grill to say.

“Thanks, it was Alex’s idea,” Ace replied. “I just couldn’t figure out what to do that could include the entire city, but I just had to do something now that that March 31st deadline is over.”

“Yeah, about that,” the taxpayer began. “I thought March 31st was the ACA deadline, but my buddy over there was saying that that’s not until June 30. I don’t get it...why’d I send out all those forms by March 31 if the deadline isn’t until June 30?”

“You see,” Ace continued, “March 31st was the deadline to have your 1095-B and 1095-C forms furnished to your employees or recipients. The deadline to e-file with the IRS is June 30. There’s also a paper filing deadline on May 31, but I don’t want to bring that up too loudly. It could attract Paper Cut!”

“Wait, so the IRS deadline for ACA forms wasn’t last week? I could have sworn it was.”

“And typically it will be. In fact, the IRS announced initially that March 31st would be the e-filing deadline for this year, but in the early days of the 2015 filing season, they decided to extend each of the deadlines so filers had time to clear up any confusion before submitting their forms. But, in future years, recipient copies are due January 31 and IRS copies are due March 31.

“Hey, so Ace,” a taxpayer who picked up on part of their conversation began, “I had my forms sent to my employees through ExpressIRSForms, and they made me transmit them to the IRS to have that done. So I don’t need to do anything else before June 30?”

“That’s correct, other citizen!”

“You had someone send your forms for you?”

“I sure did! And you can, too!”

The 1099 and W-2 filing season may be over, but with ACA, we’re just getting started! Head on over to www.ExpressIRSForms.com to set up your free account. And if you have any questions along the way, give us a call. We’re available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT, at (704) 839-2270. We’re also available 24/7 at support@ExpressIRSForms.com.

Read More »

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.

Read More »