3 Ways CPAs Benefit From Using ExpressIRSForms

CPAs are facing a whole new workload this (extended) tax season: ACA forms. With all the sensitive information being handled in CPA offices during the busy season, ExpressIRSForms wants to help make sure CPAs e-filing ACA forms for their clients aren’t met with any avoidable issues. That’s why we’ve included a few features to our ACA e-filing system we think, as a CPA, you’re going to like.

File for Multiple EINs Using One Account
One of the issues with a lot of e-filing software out there is that you can only assign one business or EIN to an account. As a CPA with multiple clients - and therefore multiple EINs - this could mean keeping track of login and password details for each of those clients. Let’s be honest, you’ve got better things to keep track of. With ExpressIRSForms, you can add as many different EINs as you need.

You can even check out and e-file all of your forms at once (rather than transmitting them individually by EIN) to take advantage of our higher volume filing prices.

Multi-user Functionality
Whether you work as part of a team or your clients want to review their returns before you transmit them, we understand there are instances when you’ll need to give others access to your ExpressIRSForms account. That’s why each account comes with multi-user functionality, enabling you to give secure access to your account to whoever you need. From your Account Settings, you can send a secure link to your coworker/boss/client, giving them as much access to the account as is necessary.

Postal Mailing Options
Along with filing 1095 Forms to the IRS for your clients, copies of these 1095 Forms must also be sent to the recipients of their offers of coverage you’re reporting. That adds up to a lot of extra time (and money) spent printing copies, stuffing envelopes, stamping them, and mailing them to the correct people. Unless you use ExpressIRSForms.

Before you transmit your forms, you’ll have the ability to select our Postal Mailing feature. If you opt for this feature, our ACA team in Rock Hill, South Carolina is alerted and sends the recipient copies of the 1095 Forms out in the mail by the next business day after you transmit.


If you have any questions about 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 or by live chat. 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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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!

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Employer Self-Insured Health Plans

Self-insured, or self-funded, health plans selected by employers for their employees are an important part of remaining ACA compliant.

What is a self-insured health plan?
In self-insured health plans, the employer assumes the risk (financially) for providing health care benefits to employees. This means the employer would pay out of pocket for each claim as it occurred rather than paying an insurance carrier a fixed premium.

Why would an employer choose self-insured health plans?
There are various reasons for why an employer opts for a self-insured health plan. Some of the most common reasons cited for using self-insured health plans are:

• Employers can customize the plan to meet workforce-specific health care needs
• Employers maintain control over the health plan reserves, maximizing interest income
• Employers don’t have to pre-pay for coverage, providing improved cash flow
• Self-insured plans are regulated under federal law, so employers aren’t subject to conflicting state health insurance regulations
• Employers are free to contract with providers (or the provider network) best suited for their individual employees

So does that mean self-insured plans are the best for every employer?
Not necessarily. Self-insured employers assume the risk for paying employee costs for health care claims, which means it must have the resources available for unpredictable financial obligations.

Is there any way for an employer to protect itself against unpredicted claims with self-insured plans?
Yes. Most large and applicable large employers will have sufficient enough reserves to cover practically any health care cost. Other self-insured employers can also purchase stop-loss insurance, which will reimburse them for claims above an agreed upon dollar level.

Are there laws on self-insured health plans with which employers need to comply?
Yes, any federal law applicable to self-insured group health plans must be followed by employers, in addition to state-specific laws that may apply. Federal documents that outline self-insured group health plan compliance include:

• Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA),
• Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),
• Civil Rights Act,
• Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA),
• Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA),
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA),
• Pregnancy Discrimination Act, and
• Various budget reconciliation acts, including Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act (TEFRA), Deficit Reduction Act (DEFRA), and Economic Recovery Tax Act (ERTA).

If you’re ready to report the offers of self-insured coverage you made in 2015, ExpressIRSForms is ready to help you e-file! Just create an account to get started. If you need any assistance, we’re in the office Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT, and are available by chat and phone (704-684-4751). We also provide after-hours email assistance at support@ExpressIRSForms.com.



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

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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!

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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!

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