E-file ACA Corrections with ExpressIRSForms

After all that hassle in June, it’s likely the last thing you want to hear about as you’re trying to enjoy the rest of your summer is your ACA return. The forms were sent, the IRS has got ‘em, and they’re not doing penalties this year anyway, right? Why give it another thought before it’s time to do next years?

Well, for one, you probably shouldn’t assume that just because your return has been sent to the IRS that there’s nothing left to do. Because even if the IRS is waiving penalties this year, they’re only doing that for those who prove they made good faith efforts to file correctly.

Even if you’ve sent in your 1094 and 1095 forms, they could be accepted with errors or rejected altogether. And if you don’t do anything to amend them, it doesn’t really look like you made the effort to file correctly.

So, after you e-filed with ExpressIRSForms, you should’ve received an e-mail from us once the IRS processed your forms letting you know the outcome of your return. It would have either said “Accepted,” “Accepted with Errors,” or “Rejected.” If your return was accepted, you’re in the clear; if it was accepted with errors or rejected, you’ve got some work to do.

Thankfully, you initially filed with ExpressIRSForms, so you’ve got access to the easiest correction process in the biz. Just log back into your account and find the ACA return in question. Click the blue Employee(s) box, and you'll see a breakdown of which forms were accepted and which have errors. Click on "View Errors" to see an explanation and link to fix each error.

From there all you have to do is make the necessary corrections and resubmit your return. It’s that easy!

But just in case you have any questions along the way, our all-star customer support team is here to help. You can 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. ET. We’re also happy to help 24/7 via our email support - support@ExpressIRSForms.com!

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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!

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Is Your Small Business Eligible for a Health Care Tax Credit?

Enacted in 2014, there’s a federal law that gives a tax credit to small employers who become eligible by providing health care coverage to their employees. This is something you’ll want to pay attention to for your Affordable Care Act return as well as other IRS filings.

Who Gets the Tax Credit
In order to be eligible for a small business health care tax credit, small employers, including tax-exempt organizations, must:

• have fewer than 25 full-time employees, whose average annual wages are less than $50,000 and
• pay a uniform percentage equal to at least 50% of the premiums for employee-only insurance coverage for all employees.

Keep in mind that your part-time employees add together to make full-time employee equivalents when you’re totaling your full-time employees. You’re also required to contribute toward premiums on behalf of each employee enrolled in the qualified health plan (QHP) you offered through a Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP Marketplace).

Calculating the Tax Credit
When calculating your credit, only premiums paid for your employees by you (the employer) for QHPs offered through SHOP are counted, beginning with the tax year 2014. If you have taxable years 2010 through 2013 to report, you may count premiums paid by you for coverage under a qualifying arrangement. For any tax year, these situations are not counted toward your tax credit:

• Health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) payments,
• Health flexible spending arrangement (FSA) payments,
• Health savings account (HSA) payments, and
• Employee tobacco surcharges paid by the employer under certain SHOP plans.

And a Friendly E-filing Reminder
While figuring up your small business health care tax credit, don’t forget the e-filing deadline for your ACA return is next Thursday, June 30, 2016. Make sure you have your forms transmitted through ExpressIRSForms by June 29 to ensure the IRS receives them on time. If you have any questions, our friendly support staff is here to help! Just 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 to support@ExpressIRSForms.com.

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Reporting Covered Individuals on Form 1095-B

In order to complete Form 1095-B, filers must include information on covered individuals. These are the individuals who were not directly offered an insurance plan but who still benefit from the health care coverage: spouses and dependents.

Form 1095-B: Lines 23-28
Lines 23 through 28 make up Part IV of Form 1095-B, which is where information about the covered individuals is reported. On these lines you’ll include:

• the covered individual’s name,
• their social security number,
• or their date of birth if you don’t have their SSN,
• and indicate which month(s) they were covered.

To help make sure all of your information is present and accounted for before you e-file, get started with ExpressIRSForms today! Our built-in error checks help to make sure you have everything filled out accurately before anything gets filed with the IRS.

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

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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.

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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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How to E-file Form 1095-B with ExpressIRSForms

If you saw our post the other day about e-filing Form 1095-C with ExpressIRSForms and thought, “That seems helpful, but I need to e-file the 1095-B,” then this post is for you. Today we’re going to go over how to e-file Form 1095-B with our program.

Getting Started
This part isn’t too different from Form 1095-C; you’ll still need to create or log into an account on ExpressIRSForms to start the e-filing process. Once you’re logged in, you’ll see a button that says, “Create New Forms.” Click this, then click “Start Now” under the ACA option.

Employer Information
Next, you’ll start the process by entering the employer information for your return. If you’ve already entered employer data before, you can select it from the drop-down menu. You’ll need to indicate if you, the filer, are an employer or the insurer and whether or not you’re a governmental unit. Once all of the employer information is entered and correct, click Next.

Before you enter employee information, the program determines if you’re a member of an aggregated group and which form you’ll need to file based on the type of insurance offered and the amount of employees you have.

Employer Offered Coverage
The next step is to enter the employee data, including the offers of coverage made to them. You can do this individually, entering each employee and his/her information in one at a time, or you can use our bulk upload option. Just download the Excel template we provide and enter your information - or use one of your own - before uploading the information of all of your employees at once.

Summary
Once all of your information has been entered, you’ll see a summary screen that gives you the opportunity to review and edit your return. Once you’re satisfied, click Review, and we’ll perform one last error check to make sure your return is free of any obvious errors before e-filing it to the IRS.

And that’s really all there is to it. If you’re more of a visual learner, have a look at this video we’ve made taking you step-by-step through the 1095-B e-filing process:

If you have any questions about e-filing with ExpressIRSForms, don’t hesitate to reach out to us! We’re available by phone (704-684-4751) and live chat Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT. For assistance 24/7, send us an email to support@ExpressIRSForms.com.


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

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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.

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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.

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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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There's an ACA Deadline This Month! Are You Ready?

As some of ExpressIRSForms’s regular readers may already know, May marks the first month ever with an OFFICIAL IRS DEADLINE FOR ACA FORMS.

This particular deadline was first set to occur at the end of February, following in line with the 1099 and W-2 deadlines to which we’re all accustomed. But since the IRS felt everyone (themselves included) needed a little more time to understand their ACA reporting and get it in order, they extended each deadline by 2-3 months, giving filers more time to prepare.

So while we’ve already had an ACA deadline this year (back on March 31 with the recipient copies), what we haven’t had is a firm, official ACA deadline for filing with the IRS. Until now.

Your recipient copies, due out by March 31 this year and by January 31 in future years, are good practice for getting the IRS copies of your documents correctly filed the first time through (because they’ll need to be correct for your recipients to make any use of them). They’re not, however, a good example of a hard deadline because unless a recipient reports their 1095 missing or not delivered with the IRS, you’re not really held accountable for getting them out on time.

But, seriously, you might want to make sure that doesn’t happen because you could incur some hefty fines, and the IRS will have to launch an investigation into all of your ACA reporting to ensure you’re compliant with the new laws.

If you’re late on this month’s deadline, you can still get a little bit of a break. May 31 is the paper filing deadline (typically it’ll be February 28/29), but the e-filing deadline isn’t until June 30. Since the IRS doesn’t know/care whether you paper file, you’re welcome to e-file if it’s getting close to May 31 and you’re nowhere near ready.

Okay, so that was a bit of a stretch: the IRS does care if you paper file. They care if you e-file. But what the IRS really cares about is if you don’t do either, which you can read about in our ACA penalties blog so we can get back to the matter at hand.

If you do intend to paper file, make sure that 1) you don’t have more than 250 of any one form (1095-B, 1095-C) to file and 2) you have them signed-sealed-delivered on time:

1. Like W-2s, 1099s, and most other IRS information returns, if you have more than 250 forms to file, the IRS requires you e-file them. Which, is kind of a bonus anyway, because it’ll take a lot less time to e-file 250 forms than paper file them, and you get more time to do it!
2. If there’s a chance your paper documents will be late, go ahead and plan to e-file. Most ACA e-filing companies (ExpressIRSForms and our affiliates, ExpressACAForms and ACAwise, included) can help you get your e-forms filled out and submitted based on the information you’ve already gathered. In other words, don’t worry if you miss the May 31 deadline; we’ve got your back on this.

If you have any questions about getting started e-filing your ACA forms (or while in the middle of e-filing them, or even after they’re submitted), you can always reach out to ExpressIRSForms’s friendly, US-based customer support team. We’re available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT, by phone (704-684-4751) and live chat (www.ExpressIRSForms.com). You can also send us an email anytime at support@ExpressIRSForms.com.

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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.

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Ace Adventures: A Confusing Deadline

Ace, standing tall at his podium, began to address the crowd that started to gather ‘round.

“By the last day of this month,” Ace continued, “you must mail the recipient copies of your 1095-Bs and 1095-Cs to all applicable recipients.

“For my ALEs, that means, uh… That means…” Ace trailed off.

“Well? What does it mean??” A voice from behind Ace questioned.

“And I’ve taken everything you know about the March 31st deadline right out of that thing in your head you call a brain,” Confusion said as she broke into another fit of evil laughter, and Ace fell to his knees in soon-to-be defeat.

“Hey, wait!” called a voice from the crowd. “I know about that! Wasn’t Ace talking about it earlier this year?”

“Oh, yeah,” began another bystander. “The recipient deadline that’s usually going to be when all the other forms are due to payees or employees. You know, like the 1099s and W-2s.”

“Right,” continued the first crowd member, “and if you offer your employees healthcare coverage throughout the year, this is the form you report that to the IRS on!”

“Wait, how did you know that?!” Confusion exclaimed. “My spell should still be clouding your mind!”

“Oh, it’s not your fault, Confusion,” Ace said as he stood up. “I’m sure it’s an excellent spell. But you can’t keep this brain down for very long. No, not with all of my brain exercises.

“But your most fatal mistake was made when you decided to attack me here. For knowledge can be shared more easily than you think, especially when one chooses to speak up.

“Thank you, citizens. I couldn’t have done it without you! As for you, Confusion, be gone. Your spread of ignorance is not welcome here!”

Don’t have time to mail your forms? Select the postal mailing option when you e-file your 1094s and 1095s with ExpressIRSForms and we’ll send them out for you! And if you need help e-filing your ACA forms, give us a call. We’re available Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST at (704) 839-2270. We also offer 24/7 email support at support@ExpressIRSForms.com.

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E-filing 1099s for Your Independent Contractors

Did you know that by the year 2020, nearly half of America’s workforce (40%) will be made up of independent contractors? And if you look at the ExpressIRSForms numbers, that’s no surprise: a majority of the forms we process and transmit to the IRS are 1099s (the independent contractor version of a W-2 form). But whether someone is considered an independent contractor or an employee in the eyes of the IRS isn’t always as black and white as it may sound. So sit back and take a listen to what makes your contractors so independent that you have to file a Form 1099.

Independent Contractors: What are They?
There are three categories the IRS looks at when considering whether or not the person you’re filing for is an independent contractor:

• Behavioral: Do you control how, when, and where this person works?
• Financial: Do you provide necessary tools, reimburse expenses, or pay a salary to this worker?
• Relationship: Is this worker essential to daily operations of your business?

If your answers are mostly “yes” to these questions for a certain worker, the IRS considers that worker to be an employee, not an independent contractor. Typically, you’ll establish the status of your worker when you hire him/her, but these questions are good to keep in mind during filing time.

Still Not 1099% Sure?
If you need further classification on the differences between independent contractors and employees, you may need to consult with a tax or legal professional. The IRS also offers Form SS-8, which you can send to the IRS and, within six months, they’ll return it with the classification of your worker(s).

Misclassifying Workers
It’s important to make sure you know the status of your worker before you file anything for him/her, because the IRS isn’t too lenient when it comes to misclassifications. If you classify an independent contractor as an employee (or vice versa), you become liable for any:

• unpaid Federal, State, and Local Income Tax,
• Social Security & Medicare contributions,
• unpaid Workers’ Compensation, and
• Unemployment Insurance Premiums.

Additionally, beginning with the 2015 tax year, anyone with 50 or more employees who misclassified those employees will be assessed an additional penalty of $2,000 per employee.

E-filing Form 1099
So you’ve determined your workers are independent contractors, and you need to file a Form 1099-MISC (the miscellaneous revenue 1099 form) to report their wages. Now, all you need to do is e-file them with ExpressIRSForms, the most user-friendly IRS-authorized e-filing program around! Just log into your free account, select the big, orange Start New Form button, and the program takes you through the steps of quickly and easily transmitting your 1099 forms directly to the IRS.

Uhh...Whoops?
If you realize you filed a W-2 when you should have filed a 1099, then it’s time to act. If it hasn't been long since you hit the Transmit button, click the Correction button next to the incorrect form, and our program will be able to recall your form, which will then show as Unsubmitted on your Dashboard. You can then delete that form and file the correct 1099. If your form was already submitted to the Social Security Administration (SSA), you’ll need to contact the W-2 hotline for cancelations, 1-800-772-6270, and they can direct you on how to proceed.

If you filed a 1099 when you should have filed a W-2, you can try to recall your form like in the example above. If your form has already been sent to the IRS, you can e-file a 1099 correction to void the 1099 before e-filing the correct W-2 form.

The Customer Support Spiel
If you have any questions about e-filing, or employee/independent contractor classifications, you can get in touch with our friendly, US-based customer support team. We’re available by phone (704-839-2270) and live chat (www.expressirsforms.com) Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST. You can also send us an email anytime at support@expressirsforms.com.

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Ace Adventures: The Countdown Begins

Welcome, reader, to another exciting installment of The Adventures of Ace, the World’s First E-filing Superhero!

Ace has gathered the citizens of ExpressIRSForms in Town Square for a very special announcement. Towering behind him is a new clock, which seems to be counting down to March 31st.

“By the end of this month,” Ace continues, “you’ll need to have sent out your 1095-B or 1095-C forms to your recipients and/or employees to be compliant with the ACA and IRS’s extended deadline for these forms.”

“What do you mean by an extended deadline?” yells a member of the crowd.

“Since this is the first year the ACA forms are required to be filed, the IRS decided to give filers a little extra time to learn how to file their ACA forms. They extended the recipient deadline for the 2015 tax year - which is what we file in this, the year of 2016 - from January 31 to March 31. Similarly, they changed the paper filing deadline for the IRS copies from February 28/29 to May 31 and the e-filing deadline for IRS copies from March 31 to June 30.”

“Wait, so I have to file more than one copy of these forms?” questions another citizen.

Ace, sensing he was losing them, decided to try a comparison technique in his explanation.

“Just like how when you run a business and pay employees or contractors, you have to report to the IRS and your employee/contractor on a 1099 or W-2, you now have to do the same thing for anyone you provide health insurance to. Or anyone you offer to provide health insurance to. So like your 1099 or W-2, the 1095-B or 1095-C forms you file with the IRS will be a copy of the same form you send to your recipients.”

“Yeah, I was wondering,” began another crowd member, “I’ve got a lot of recipients. Is there some, like, program or something that’ll help me mail them out? Or mail them out for me?”

“You betcha!” Ace replies. “In fact, I was just about to tell you about them! You see, if you file with my sidekicks over at www.ExpressIRSForms.com, you can e-file your ACA forms with the IRS and also have them send your recipient forms for you, saving you a lot of time as well as a trip to the post office. Plus, you don’t have to worry about any of those other deadlines because your forms have already been filed by the IRS. You could be done filing a full three months early!”

“And speaking of time,” Ace continues, “I’m running out of it. It’s back to protecting the city from mayhem for me, back to filing those ACA forms for you citizens!”

You can get in touch with one of Ace’s sidekicks by phone (704-839-2270) or live chat (www.expressirsforms.com) Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. We’re also available 24/7 at support@expressirsforms.com.

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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.

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EIRSF Presents: The Adventures of Ace and the Recipients

Ahh, what a lovely morning in the land of ExpressIRSForms. The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and it’s finally above freezing.

But, wait! What’s that? A commotion in Town Square! Hopefully, our helpful e-filing superhero Ace is on the way!

“You claim to know everything about the ACA forms-” begins one angry citizen.

“But you only help out our employers!” interjected another angry citizen.

“Yeah and our insurance providers!” added another.

“But we’ve got questions too,” continued the original citizen, clearly the ringleader of the gathering. “Confusion is affecting us just as much as she’s affecting the people who give us our insurance!”

So Ace sat down to answer the questions of the taxpayers who wouldn’t be giving out 1095-B and 1095-C forms, but who would be receiving them. In fact, it sounded a lot like our previous Q&A blog on individual ACA information forms:

“I have to send the ACA forms I get to the IRS with my W-2, don’t I?” asks the ringleader.

“No, not at all,” Ace replies. “Your employer or insurance provider sends a copy to the IRS when they send a copy to you, so the IRS doesn’t need your copy. You’ll just use it to confirm your health insurance compliance on your W-2 -- or 1099 for some of you -- then keep it for your records.”

“So I have to fill out even more information on my tax returns now?”

“Technically yes, but it won’t be as much as you’re probably thinking. All the IRS requires you do is check a new box that states you received health insurance coverage for the full year, so technically you don’t even need your 1095-B or 1095-C if you know you were covered for the full year. If you receive a 1095-A, or didn’t receive coverage for the full year, you can still go ahead and file your W-2 or 1099, but you can also use your ACA form to determine if you qualify for an exemption or have to make an individual shared responsibility payment.”

On and on they go, the ringleader of the angry mob asking questions and Ace patiently answering them. Until, finally, the crowd disperses and Confusion goes along with it.

If you have any questions about ACA e-filing, or Forms 1095-B and 1095-C, give us a call over at ExpressIRSForms. We’re available by phone (704-839-2270) and live chat Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST. We also offer email support anytime at support@expressirsforms.com.

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ExpressIRSForms Presents: A Visit From Ace

As the World’s First E-Filing Superhero, Ace has an important and difficult task on his hands: it is his job to inform the world (well, the United States) of the IRS’s new Affordable Care Act forms and how to e-file them through his favorite website, www.expressacaforms.com (he’s not on the internet that much). But how could Ace inform all the taxpayers of America AND protect them from his arch-nemesis Confusion unless he expanded his reach beyond the city in which he became the greatest superhero ever? (His words.)

While Ace might have a heart of gold, his brain is more a shade of pyrite (with the exception of his ACA knowledge, of course). This is why, getting lost in translation, Ace bypassed the Land of IRS Forms and came instead to the site of ExpressIRSForms.

Once in the “land” of ExpressIRSForms, Ace went about his business of fighting off Confusion wherever she reared her disorienting head. He split up fights over whether the ACA or Obamacare was better and went from taxpayer to taxpayer, telling them the information they needed for the new forms. He even made a public service announcement to try to eliminate Confusion on a larger scale, but now he’s not so sure he had the broadcast set up correctly.

Using his detective-level sleuthing skills, Ace was able to find a way to get in touch with the ExpressIRSForms “government” and tell them all the things he needed to make sure their taxpayers knew before filing for the 2015 year.

After going into further detail about each form, 1095-B and 1095-C, Ace considered his job done and left the ExpressIRSForms office rather abruptly. As he left, however, he did have one final message for the taxpayers:

So if you find yourself bogged down by Confusion’s influence while e-filing, give one of Ace’s “sidekicks” a call here at ExpressIRSForms. We’re available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST for phone (704-839-2270) and live chat support. We’re also here 24/7 to help out via email 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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ACA Forms 1094-B and 1095-B

When we last met around the ExpressIRSForms blog fireplace, we scratched the surface of the new Affordable Care Act forms that are required to be filed beginning in 2016 with the 2015 tax year. As a part of our ACA blog series, we’re going to focus today on Form 1095-B.

Who Needs to File?
Usually when we talk about who needs to file the IRS’s ACA forms, we talk about employers. While most employers will need to file, Form 1095-B is for the providers of insurance who aren’t employers. Form 1095-B is filed by every person that provides MEC to an individual during a calendar year. Health insurance issuers and carriers must file this for most health insurance coverage, including individual market coverage, coverage for employees obtained through the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP), and insured coverage sponsored by employers (this refers to smaller employers who aren’t required to file themselves).

This may seem like a lot, however, there are some instances when you won’t need to report information to the IRS. Insurance issuers and carriers don’t need to report coverage provided under the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), Medicaid, Medicare (including Medicare Advantage), or the Basic Health Program; these types of coverage are reported by the government sponsors of these programs. You also aren’t required to file Form 1095-B to report coverage in individual market qualified health plans that individuals enroll in through Health Insurance Marketplaces.

What Information is Needed?
In order to complete Form 1095-B, you will need the following information:

• The complete name, EIN, address, telephone number, and contact information of the filer (that’s you)
• The total number of Forms 1095-B that you’re filing
• The complete name, SSN or date of birth, and address of each recipient
• If you’re reporting Employer Sponsored Coverage or coverage provided by another issuer, you’ll need their name, EIN, address, and contact information
• What type of coverage was offered to your recipients broken down by month

E-Filing vs. Paper Filing
If you need to file 250 or more 1095-B forms, you will have to e-file. The IRS recommends e-filing anyway because e-filing is generally quicker, easier, and leaves less room for error. Plus, think of all the paper you’ll save. If, however, you must file by paper, Form 1094-B, Transmittal of Health Coverage Information Returns, must be sent to the IRS along with your 1095-B forms. On this form, you’ll include all of your identifying and contact information, as well as the number of 1095-B forms accompanying your Form 1094-B. When you e-file with ExpressIRSForms, we’ll automatically fill out a virtual copy of Form 1094-B based on the information you enter and send it to the IRS with your 1095-B forms.

Form 1095-B Deadlines
Your 1095-B forms will be sent out at the beginning of each year to report on the previous year, similar to income tax returns. Your recipients will need to receive their copies of Form 1095-B by January 31st. In 2016, however, they will be due by February 1st, since January 31st is a Sunday. If you’re paper filing, your Forms 1094- and 1095-B will need to be filed with the IRS by the last day of February; and if you’re e-filing, these forms will need to be sent to the IRS by March 31st.

If you have any other questions regarding Form 1095-B, any of the other ACA forms, or the e-filing process, don’t hesitate to reach out to the ExpressIRSForms support team. We’re available by phone (704-839-2270) and live chat Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. We’re also available 24/7 via email support at support@expressirsforms.com!

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