What you need to know about the ACA reporting deadline extension
A welcome update for employers, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting deadline was extended from January 31, 2020 to March 2, 2020 in IRS Notice 2019-63.
Background
The IRS extended the reporting deadline upon learning that many coverage providers, insurers, and employers were in need of more time to collect, analyze, and prepare the 2019 Forms 1095-B, Health Coverage, and 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage. Under this notice, the IRS also extended the good faith transition relief for incorrect or incomplete reports due in 2020.
While this extension comes every year, new changes include relief for coverage providers and the choice to not prepare 1095-B statements for employees or individuals. For eligibility within this relief, providers must:
- Post a notice on their website stating that Form 1095-B is accessible on request
- Provide the form within 30 days of a request
The IRS will not permit further extensions beyond the March 2 deadline. Additionally, the deadline for filing forms with the IRS was not extended.
Takeaways
What does this mean for you? As the IRS extends the ACA reporting deadline each year, this recent decision is likely not to surprise you. However, as an employer or coverage provider, the extra time to provide these forms to individuals offers a greater opportunity to more closely assemble, examine, and prepare the appropriate items.
We encourage you to send these forms as soon as possible regardless of the extension. If you have questions about your reporting requirements or other ACA matters, please contact our employee benefits experts.
