IRS Publishes ACA Resource for Employers

A new Internal Revenue Service (IRS) resource helps employers understand the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA).

The new ACA Information Center for Applicable Large Employers page features information and resources for employers of all sizes on how the health care law may affect them if they fit the definition of an applicable large employer (ALE).

The web page includes the following sections:

• What’s Trending for ALEs;
• How to Determine if You are an ALE;
• Resources for Applicable Large Employers; and
• Outreach Materials.

Visitors to the new page will find links to detailed information about tax provisions including information reporting requirements for employers; questions and answers; and forms, instructions, publications, health care tax tips, flyers and videos.

The IRS notes that an employer is an ALE for 2015 if it averaged at least 50 full-time employees, including full-time equivalent employees, during 2014. Employers with fewer than 50 full-time employees may be considered an applicable large employer if they share a common ownership with other employers. As ALEs, employers should be taking steps now to prepare for the coming filing season.

In 2016, applicable large employers must file an annual information return—and provide a statement to each full-time employee—reporting whether they offered health insurance, and if so, what insurance they offered their employees.

In addition, if an employer will file 250 or more information returns for 2015, it must file the returns electronically through the ACA Information Reports system.