Compliance March 10, 2014

Resources for Small Business Health Care Tax Credit

March 10, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is encouraging small employers that provide health insurance coverage to their employees to check out the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit.
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The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit page contains information and resources designed to help small employers see if they qualify for the credit and then figure it correctly. These include a 2013 tax credit estimator, examples of typical tax savings under various scenarios and answers to frequently asked questions.

Additionally, the IRS shares a number of health care tax tips, designed to provide useful information to employers, families and individuals. These tips cover the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit and provide important information regarding other Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (or ACA) topics.

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The Small Business Health Care Tax Credit was included in the ACA, enacted in 2010. Under the ACA, eligible small employers can claim the credit for 2010 through 2013 and for two additional years beginning in 2014. For 2010 through 2013, the maximum credit is 35% of premiums paid by eligible small businesses and 25% of premiums paid by eligible tax-exempt organizations. In 2014, the maximum credit rate rises to 50% for small businesses and 35% for tax-exempt organizations.

Small employers that pay at least half of the premiums for employee health insurance coverage under a qualifying arrangement may be eligible for this credit. The credit is specifically targeted to help small businesses and tax-exempt organizations provide health insurance for their employees.

Depending upon how they are structured, eligible small employers are likely subject to one of the following three tax-filing deadlines:

  • March 17: Corporations and S Corporations that file on a calendar year basis can figure the credit on Form 8941 attached to the income tax return.
  • April 15: Partnerships and individuals have until April 15 to complete and file their income tax returns (partnerships on Form 1065 and individuals on Form 1040). Sole proprietors can figure the credit on Form 8941 attached to the individual income tax return. Individuals who have business income and credits reported to them on Schedule K-1—covering partners in partnerships, S corporation shareholders and beneficiaries of estates and trusts—will report the credit amount directly on Form 3800, with no Form 8941 required. The resulting credit is entered on Form 1040, Line 53.
  • May 15: Tax-exempt organizations that file on a calendar year basis can use Form 8941 and then claim the credit on Form 990-T, Line 44f.

Taxpayers needing more time to determine eligibility should consider obtaining an automatic tax-filing extension, usually for six months. Form 4868 for individuals, Form 7004 for businesses and Form 8868 for tax-exempt organizations can be used for such extensions.

Businesses that have already filed and later find that they qualified in 2013 or an earlier year can still claim the credit by filing an amended return for the affected years. Corporations use Form 1120X, individuals use Form 1040X and tax-exempt organizations use Form 990-T. A three-year statute of limitations normally applies to these refund claims. See the instructions to these forms for details.

Some businesses and tax-exempt organizations that are already locked into health insurance plan structures and contributions may not have had the opportunity to make any needed adjustments to qualify for the credit for 2013 or earlier years. These employers can still make changes so they qualify to claim the credit on future returns.

To learn more about the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit and view tips about other ACA topics, visit the health care tax tip page on www.irs.gov/aca. Newly added tips cover the following:

  • How to determine eligibility for the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit; 
  • What to know about the amount of health insurance reported on Form W-2; and
  • What to know about the health care law for 2013 tax returns. 

To receive copies of IRS tax tips via email, subscribe at www.irs.gov/uac/Subscribe-to-IRS-Tax-Tips.

Benefits March 10, 2014

ACA Having Greater Impact on Employee Benefits

March 10, 2014 (PLANSPONSOR.com) – The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (or ACA) is beginning to have more of an impact when it comes to employee benefits, according to a recent report.
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With ACA deadlines occurring in 2014 and 2015, “The Prudential Insurance Company of America’s (Prudential’s) Eighth Annual Study of Employee Benefits: Today & Beyond,” finds that nearly half (49%) of employers report they are extremely or very likely to make a high-deductible health plan their only health insurance option in the foreseeable future.

“Although employers anticipate scaling back benefit offerings due to cost considerations, there’s great opportunity for them to offer voluntary benefits in order to continue providing attractive benefits to their employees,” says Vishal Jain, vice president of strategy, planning and business insights for Prudential Group Insurance, based in Newark, New Jersey. “The Affordable Care Act could very well usher in a new era for and emphasis on voluntary benefits. More employers are utilizing them for recruiting and retaining talent and employees increasingly view them as a cost-effective way to protect their families’ financial futures.”

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According to the study, 73% of employers say the law is having an impact on benefits service and support, and 69% report there is an impact on benefits communications. “With a shifting benefits landscape, carriers are now focused on being a trusted resource for employers while offering a full spectrum of services such as enrollment communications, benefits education, recordkeeping and administrative services,” says Jain.

In addition to highlighting the law’s potential impact on voluntary benefits, the report also suggests the provisions on health insurance exchanges considered central to the legislation are top of mind for employees. Other key findings include:

  • Employees are increasingly confident more Americans will be covered under the ACA (43% believe this, up 7 points from 2012). An expanding number feel fewer employers will offer health insurance (44%, a 13% increase from 2012), and 38% of those employees believe their employer will drop coverage.
  • Most employees report having neither a favorable nor unfavorable opinion toward both public and private exchanges.
  • About one-third of employees report they have heard of, but know little about, public or private exchanges. One in five say they have never heard of either type of exchange.

“As employers evaluate the implications of public and private exchanges, the importance of their partnerships with carriers will continue to grow. Employers will look for carriers that provide value, make benefits administration easier, help employees make better benefit decisions, and provide excellent customer service,” says Jain.

Research for the study was conducted via the Internet during August and September of 2013, and consisted of three distinct surveys—one for plan sponsors, another for benefits brokers and consultants, and a third for plan participants.

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