IRS Releases 2019 ACA Reporting Forms, Instructions

The IRS released the 2019 Affordable Care Act (ACA) forms and instructions. The forms for tax year 2019 are largely unchanged. These are available in the Resource Library on the APA website:

• 1094-B, Transmittal of Health Coverage Information Returns
• 1095-B, Health Coverage
• 2019 Instructions for Forms 1094-B and 1095-B
• 1094-C, Transmittal of Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage Information Returns
• 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage
• 2019 Instructions for Forms 1094-C and 1095-C

Extended deadline to give forms to employees. On December 2, the IRS extended the due date for furnishing 2019 Forms 1095-B and 1095-C to employees from January 31 to March 2 (IRS Notice 2019-63, 12-2-19). Because of this automatic extension, the IRS will not grant an additional extension to furnish these forms.

Penalty relief for furnishing Form 1095-B only. The IRS will not assess a penalty under IRC §6722 against employers for failing to furnish 2019 Form 1095-B to individuals in cases where two conditions are met:

1. The reporting entity posts a notice prominently on its website stating that responsible individuals may receive a copy of their 2019 Form 1095-B upon request, accompanied by an email address and a physical address to which a request may be sent, as well as a telephone number that individuals can use to contact the reporting entity with any questions.
2. The reporting entity furnishes a 2019 Form 1095-B to any responsible individual upon request within 30 days of the date the request is received.

Filing deadline not extended. The deadline to file these returns with the IRS remains February 28, if filing on paper, or March 31, if filing electronically. The automatic extension of the filing deadline remains available and may be requested by filing Form 8809, Application for Extension of Time to File Information Returns.

Good faith penalty relief extended. The IRS also extended to the 2019 tax year the good-faith transition relief from IRC §§6721 and 6722 penalties for failure to timely furnish and file the information returns.

To learn more about federal and state laws, regulations, and information to keep your company's payroll operations in compliance, check out Payroll Source Plus!

Jyme Mariani, Esq., is Managing Editor of Payroll Currently and Payroll Information Resources for the APA.