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Employers subject to the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) employer mandate must furnish Form 1095-C to all full-time employees and employees with health coverage. It provides information about the health insurance coverage offered to full-time employees and is used by the IRS to ensure compliance with ACA requirements.
What is Form 1095-C?
Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage, is filed by Applicable Large Employers (ALEs), which are organizations with 50 or more full-time or full-time equivalent employees. It contains the following information:
- The type of health coverage offered to employees.
- Whether the coverage meets minimum essential coverage and affordability standards.
- The months during which coverage was available to each employee.
Each ALE must furnish a copy of Form 1095-C to its full-time employees and submit the form to the IRS.
Purpose of Form 1095-C
The IRS uses Form 1095-C to determine whether an ALE complied with the employer mandate under the ACA by offering adequate and affordable coverage to full-time employees. It also helps the IRS identify employees who may be eligible for premium tax credits if they did not receive an appropriate offer of coverage.
What Does Line 16 Show?
Line 16 of Form 1095-C provides additional details about the coverage offered, specifically whether an employer met ACA requirements for affordability or had valid reasons for not offering coverage in a given month. This line uses a different set of codes (Code Series 2) to indicate:
- Whether the employee enrolled in the offered coverage.
- Whether the coverage was affordable based on IRS affordability standards.
- Whether certain safe harbor provisions or other exemptions applied (e.g., the employee was not full-time or in a waiting period).
Understanding the Codes for Line 16
The codes for Line 16 (Code Series 2) provide context for the information in Line 14 and help the IRS determine whether the employer is subject to penalties. These codes may indicate:
- That the employee enrolled in coverage offered by the employer.
- That the coverage offered was affordable under one of the IRS affordability safe harbors.
- That the employee was in a waiting period, was not full-time for the month, or was otherwise not eligible for an offer of coverage during that period.
Each code conveys specific circumstances, such as whether the employer met its obligations through a safe harbor or whether an employee’s circumstances exempted the employer from certain requirements.
Tips for Accurately Completing Line 16
- Review Employee Status: Confirm whether each employee was full-time, part-time, or in a waiting period for each month of the tax year.
- Document Affordability Standards: Ensure you have records to demonstrate how the coverage met affordability standards, if applicable.
- Use Safe Harbor Codes Correctly: Familiarize yourself with the IRS’s safe harbor provisions and apply the appropriate codes when they apply.
- Align with Line 14: Ensure consistency between the codes used on Line 14 and Line 16 to accurately reflect the employer’s compliance with ACA requirements.
- Consult IRS Instructions: Refer to the IRS’s detailed guidance for Form 1095-C to correctly interpret and apply Code Series 2.
Final Thoughts
While Line 16 of Form 1095-C may be challenging to complete, understanding the codes and their meanings is critical for demonstrating ACA compliance and avoiding penalties. Employers are encouraged to consult with tax professionals or use IRS resources to ensure accurate reporting. By carefully reviewing employee statuses and applying the correct codes, you can fulfill your reporting obligations with confidence.
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