IRS

Posted October 30th, 2015 in Producers, Employers

PCORI Fees

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Notice 2015-60 on October 9, 2015.  The notice includes information on the payable amounts that are due for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute fees (PCORI fees). The fee will increase from $2.08 to $2.17 per covered life for plan years ending on or after October 1, 2015 and before October 1, 2016. The next round of PCORI fees will be due by July 31, 2016 for plan years ending in 2015. The payment schedule will be as follows:
Posted August 14th, 2015 in Producers, Employers
It appears that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is having some trouble with formulating guidance as it relates to the Excise Tax on High Cost Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage, also known as the Cadillac Tax. Earlier this year the IRS released Notice 2015-16 which sought public comment on the types of coverage that should (or shouldn’t) be included when calculating the value of coverage.  
 
Posted June 19th, 2015 in Producers, Employers, Individuals

What happens to Health and Dependent Care FSAs when a merger or acquisition occurs?  

 
Of course the Cafeteria Plan regulations do not specify how this should be treated, but the IRS has provided some guidance in the form of Revenue Ruling 2002-32. Fortunately, for employees, the IRS has taken a position that employees should not be punished as a result of a merger or acquisition, and the guidance suggests two possible options that would be acceptable in their eyes. Both options maintain the salary reduction of the employee and preserve the annual election.
Posted May 15th, 2015 in Producers, Employers
The third installment of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fees will be due on July 31, 2015. As its name suggests, PCORI is a research institute, and it was created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as a way to improve clinical effectiveness. It is partially funded by fees charged to health plans. Here is information and some reminders about the upcoming fee that is due.
 
  • The fee is paid on the average number of covered lives for the plan year ending in 2014.
Posted May 8th, 2015 in Producers, Employers, Individuals
On May 4, 2015, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released Revenue Procedure 2015-30 which details the inflation-adjusted amounts that impact qualified high deductible health plans and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) for the 2016 calendar year, as outlined below:
 

These limits are updated annually and reflect cost-of-living adjustments.

Posted March 16th, 2015 in Producers, Employers

The IRS has released Notice 2015-17 with some new information about Employer Payment Plans, which are plans that are used to reimburse employees with pre-tax dollars for individual market coverage (e.g. HRA). Previous guidance had essentially eliminated Employer Payment Plans as an option for actively employed workers because they would not be able to comply with all of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) market reforms. Notice 2015-17 elaborates on the IRS’ position of Employer Payment Plans.

Posted March 6th, 2015 in Producers, Employers
The IRS released Notice 2015-16 which describes potential approaches that may be used in developing future regulatory guidance for the Excise Tax on High Cost Employer-Sponsored Health Coverage (a.k.a. Cadillac Tax). The Cadillac Tax would apply a tax of 40% to health coverage values that exceed certain thresholds starting in 2018.
Posted January 23rd, 2015 in Producers, Employers, Individuals

The IRS has released the maximum penalties that are payable by individuals who are without minimum essential coverage in 2015 and who do not qualify for an exemption from the Individual Mandate.

The maximum penalties for this year are the greater of:

  • $325 per uninsured adult or $162.50 per uninsured child under age 18. The maximum penalty using this method is capped at $975.

Posted January 9th, 2015 in Producers, Employers
The IRS has issued proposed regulations that will introduce a new excepted benefit available to some employees who purchase individual market coverage. Excepted benefits are exempt from most of the requirements and obligations under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  
 
Posted July 25th, 2014 in Producers, Employers

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) created the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) as a way to help improve clinical effectiveness. The research institute is partially funded by fees charged to health plans, including some Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) and some Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs). The fees are payable over a seven year time period and started for the first time last year.

The next round of PCORI fees are due to the IRS by July 31, 2014 and are payable via Form 720 by applicable employers for plan years ending in 2013

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