New Rules Simplify ACA Employer Shared Responsibility Reporting Obligations

Under the Affordable Care Act's (ACA) employer shared responsibility provisions, applicable large employers (ALEs) must either offer minimum essential coverage that is "affordable" and that provides "minimum value" to their full-time employees (and their dependents), or potentially make an employer shared responsibility payment to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). These rules, and which entities must comply, are summarized below. The rules are complicated and demanding. Thankfully, compliance is now easier due to two recently passed laws:

1. The Employer Reporting Improvement Act (HR 3801) (link here).
2. The Paperwork Burden Reduction Act (HR 3797) (link here).

Together, these bills modify provisions of the ACA that require employers and health insurance providers to prepare tax forms showing proof of minimum essential coverage (Forms 1095-B and 1095-C tax forms) and IRS enforcement of the ACA rules.