ACA information center for applicable large employers (ALEs)

Summary

Two provisions of the Affordable Care Act apply only to applicable large employers (ALEs): the employer shared responsibility provision and the employer information reporting provision for offers of minimum essential coverage. In addition, self-insured ALEs – that is, employers who sponsor self-insured group health plans – have additional provider information reporting requirements.

Employers must determine their ALE status each calendar year based on the average size of your workforce during the prior year. Employers that had at least 50 full-time employees, including full-time equivalent employees, on average last year, are most likely an ALE for the current year.  

• How to determine if you are an ALE
• Resources and outreach materials for applicable large employers

What's trending for ALEs

IRS extends due date for employers and providers to issue health coverage forms to individuals

The IRS announced Nov. 29, 2018, that it extended the 2019 due date for certain entities to provide 2018 health coverage information forms to individuals.

Insurers, self-insuring employers, other coverage providers, and applicable large employers now have until March 4, 2019, to provide Forms 1095-B or 1095-C to individuals, which is a 30-day extension from the original due date of Jan. 31.

Insurers, self-insuring employers, other coverage providers, and applicable large employers must furnish statements to employees or covered individuals regarding the health care coverage offered to them. Individuals may use this information to determine whether, for each month of the calendar year, they may claim the premium tax credit on their individual income tax returns.

This 30-day extension is automatic. Employers and providers don’t have to request it. The due dates for filing 2019 information returns with the IRS are not extended. For 2018, the due dates to file information returns with the IRS are:

• Feb. 28 for paper filers
• March 31 for electronic filers

Because of these extensions, individuals may not receive their Forms 1095-B or 1095-C by the time they are ready to file their 2018 individual income tax return. While information on these forms may assist in preparing a return, the forms are not required to file. Taxpayers can prepare and file their returns using other information about their health coverage. They do not have to wait for Forms 1095-B or 1095-C to file.

More information is in Notice 2018-94.

How to determine if you are an ALE

If an employer has at least 50 full-time employees, including full-time equivalent employees, on average during the prior year, the employer is an ALE for the current calendar year. However, an employee will not be counted toward the 50-employee threshold for a month in which the employee has medical care through the military, including Tricare or Veterans’ coverage. For more details see this page.

Back to top

Resources and outreach materials for applicable large employers

Questions and answers

• Employer health care arrangements
• Employer shared responsibility
• Information reporting by employers on Form 1094-C and Form 1095-C
• Information reporting by health coverage providers (Section 6055)
• Information reporting of offers of health insurance coverage by employers (Section 6056)
• Reporting value of employer-provided health coverage on Form W-2

Forms and instructions for applicable large employers

• Form 1094-C and Form 1094-C Instructions, Transmittal of Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage Information Returns
• Form 1095-C and Form 1095-C Instructions, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage

Legal guidance and other resources

Bookmark the ACA Legal guidance and resources page, where you can find the latest

• Health Care Tax Tips, Flyers, Publications, Trifolds and Additional Materials
• Social Media, YouTube Videos, Webinars and Podcasts
• News Releases and Fact Sheets
• ACA Filing Season Statistics
• Legal Guidance – Announcements, Regulations, Treasury Decisions, Notices, Revenue Procedures, and Revenue Rulings

General information on ACA tax provisions for employers

The Tax provisions for employers page provides guidance on the following topics that may affect applicable large employers, as well as other topics for all employers:

• Employer Shared Responsibility Provision – Section 4980H
• Information Reporting on Health Coverage by Employers –Section 6056
• Information Reporting on Health Coverage by Insurers – Section 6055 (applies to self-insured ALEs)

Employer Shared Responsibility Provision Estimator

The Employer Shared Responsibility Provision Estimator helps employers understand how the provision works and learn how the provision may apply to them.

ACA Information Returns (AIR) Program 

ALEs that file 250 or more information returns with the IRS must file the returns electronically. For information on the communication procedures, transmission formats, business rules and validation procedures for returns transmitted electronically through the ACA Information Returns (AIR) program, see AIR user guides & publications.

Back to top