Businesses Face Learning Curve on new IRS Rules for Affordable Care Act Reporting for 2015

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Oct. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- While businesses are preparing to issue W-2s and 1099s for the past year, they'll also need to start learning about IRS forms 1094 and 1095 in preparation for the 2015 tax year and beyond.

Greatland, one of the country's leading providers of W-2 and 1099 products for business, is offering information about the forms, reporting requirements and suggestions on how to avoid penalties once filing is required next year.

According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), the Affordable Care Act requires employers to file annual information returns with the IRS and furnish statements to employees on health plan coverage information beginning in 2016 (for reporting on calendar year 2015).

Information is reported by insurers and self-insured employers to individuals using Form 1095-B or, if the employer is also subject to the employer shared responsibility provisions due to its status as an applicable large employer, Form 1095-C. The employer must also provide all Forms 1095-B or 1095-C, as applicable, to the IRS in packages using the appropriate transmittal form.

"We expect to see an increase in enforcement next year and failure to comply may result in reporting penalties," said Bob Nault, Greatland's CEO. "These forms will essentially serve as a proof of coverage for employees, so it's imperative for businesses to be familiar with this change and ready for next year."

Below is a summary of each new form related to the Affordable Care Act:

• Form 1095-B—Health Coverage
  Insurers and self-insured employers that provide health plans are required to report on the individuals who are covered by their health plans. These providers will furnish each primary insured with Form 1095-B that will indicate the months during the calendar year that the insured and his or her family members had coverage under the plan.
• Form 1094-B—Transmittal of Health Coverage Information Returns
  Form 1094-B is the transmittal form for Form 1095-B.
• Form 1095-C—Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage
  Employers with 50 or more full-time employees (including full-time equivalent employees) are required to report whether or not they offered health coverage to their employees by providing each full-time employee with Form 1095-C. This form asks for information such as whether the employee was offered coverage and for which months and the employee's share of the lowest cost monthly premium for self-only minimum value coverage. A large employer with a self-insured plan will only be required to submit Form 1095-C, as the information in Form 1095-B can be included in Form 1095-C.
• Form 1094-C—Transmittal of Employer-Provided Health Insurance offer and Coverage Information Returns
  Form 1094-C is the transmittal form for Form 1095-C.

To avoid penalties, businesses must be aware of timing for this new requirement. Form 1095-B or Form 1095-C, as applicable, must be provided to employees by January 31, similar to W-2s. This means that statements for 2015 must be provided no later than February 1, 2016 (because January 31, 2016 is a Sunday).

For more information or to order these forms, please visit Greatland's Affordable Care Act website.

About Greatland
Greatland (www.greatland.com) is the W-2 and 1099 specialist, focused on providing guidance, products, and solutions for small to mid-size businesses and accountants.  Through Greatland's subsidiaries – Greatland, Nelco, and Broker Forms – the company offers an extensive array of specialized products for business: W-2 forms, 1099 forms, W-2 and 1099 software, online filing, business checks and check writing software, presentation materials, income tax preparation supplies, and mortgage forms.  Greatland is an employee-owned company with locations in Grand Rapids, Mich. and Green Bay, Wis.  Greatland has an extensive W-2 & 1099 fact center located on its website with answers to many of the top filing questions.  Follow us on Facebook or Twitter: @GreatlandCorp

SOURCE Greatland