Draft Versions of IRS Forms for Health Coverage Information Reporting by Employers and Insurers (Employer Mandate)

The IRS has posted the draft forms at IRS.gov/draftforms as information only, and will post final versions for actual filing at a later date. Most unhelpfully, the IRS did not also publish any instructions for these forms, but those are expected to be issued later in the year.

On the good news front, the first reporting isn't required until early in 2016 for the 2015 calendar year, however employers are encouraged to voluntarily report coverage information in 2015 for the 2014 calendar year.  Don't all beat down my door.  I know you are just itching to do some voluntary, early IRS reporting!

This is from CIGNA:  

Reporting on the Individual Mandate 

Insurers and employers of self-insured plans (regardless of size) must report annually to both the IRS and any individual named in the report whether the individual had minimum essential coverage. It is the means by which the IRS can confirm such individuals have complied with the “individual mandate.” When employers self-insure their plans, they may report on compliance with both the individual and employer mandates on one form. 

Reporting on the Employer Mandate 

Employers with 50 or more full-time employees (including full-time equivalents) need to report on all of the employees offered coverage during the prior calendar year. This information must be provided to the IRS and all employees identified as being offered employer-sponsored health coverage.

From the IRS:

On July 24, 2014, the IRS released draft forms that employers will use to report on health coverage that they offer to their employees. In accordance with the IRS’ normal process, these draft forms are being provided to help stakeholders, including employers, tax professionals and software providers, prepare for these new reporting provisions and to invite comments from them. We anticipate that draft instructions relating to the forms will be posted to IRS.gov in August. Both the forms and instructions will be finalized later this year.

Here are the forms, from Timothy Jost at Health Affairs with a hat tip to BenefitsLink for posting them here as well:

Insurers and self-insured health plans will provide a Form 1095-B to each of their enrollees and members, and file these forms, together with a transmittal form 1094-B with the IRS. Large employers must provide a form 1095-C to each employee, and transmit these, together with a transmittal form 1095-B to the IRS. Exchanges will provide their enrollees a form 1095-A. Individuals who receive premium tax credits will file a form 8962 with the IRS, while individuals claiming an exemption from the individual mandate will file a form 8965. Though the forms are not accompanied by instructions, they are quite straightforward and track closely the earlier released rules.