Dive Brief:
- The IRS announced a 30-day extension of the deadline for providing some individual health coverage information forms under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
- Certain large employers and self-insuring employers (as well as insurers and other coverage providers) completing either Form 1095-B or Form 1095-C now have until March 2 to issue the forms to individuals.
- The extension is automatic, meaning employers and others don't have to request it. Due dates for filing information returns with the IRS remain unchanged. Print filers must do so by Feb. 28, and digital filers by April 2.
Dive Insight:
It's a short respite for those struggling to meet compliance deadlines at the beginning of the new year. But ACA reporting duties are especially important for employers, considering a stern warning issued by the IRS last summer. Expect the agency to issue non-compliance penalties for the first time since the ACA's reporting provisions were made mandatory in 2015.
There are a few other important ACA-related changes that will affect most large employers in 2018, namely a decreased affordability standard and changes involving coverage of preventative care items, like breast cancer screening for women. For a comprehensive list of what to expect in ACA compliance this year, view our recap.
