Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund fee (IRC 4375, 4376 and 4377): Questions and answers

Affordable Care Act Provision 6301

Note: Additional information on the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund fee is available on the PCORI page.

New research trust fund fees are due July 31 from issuers of specified health insurance policies and the plan sponsors of applicable self-insured health plans. The fee is paid annually using Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return. The payment, paid through the Electronic Federal Tax Payment System (EFTPS), should be applied to the second quarter (in EFTPS, select Q2 for the Quarter under Tax Period on the "Business Tax Payment" page).

10-Year extension of Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund fee

The Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020 (Pub. L. 116-94), signed into law on December 20, 2019, has extended the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund fee imposed by Internal Revenue Code sections 4375 and 4376 for 10 years. As a result of this extension, the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund fee will continue to be imposed through 2029.

Q1. What is the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund fee?

A1. The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund fee is a fee on issuers of specified health insurance policies and plan sponsors of applicable self-insured health plans that helps to fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI). The institute will help patients, clinicians, purchasers and policymakers make better-informed healthcare choices by advancing clinical effectiveness research.

Q2. When did the PCORI fee go into effect?

A2. The PCORI fee applies to specified health insurance policies with policy years ending after September 30, 2012, and before October 1, 2029, and applicable self-insured health plans with plan years ending after September 30, 2012, and before October 1, 2029.

Q3. How much is the PCORI fee? (updated May 14, 2024)

A3. The amount of the PCORI fee is equal to the average number of lives covered during the policy year or plan year multiplied by the applicable dollar amount for the year. The applicable dollar amount is adjusted yearly to reflect inflation in National Health Expenditures, as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services. For policy and plan years ending:

• after September 30, 2023, and before October 1, 2024, the applicable dollar amount is $3.22;
• after September 30, 2022, and before October 1, 2023, the applicable dollar amount is $3.00;
• after September 20, 2021, and before October 1, 2022, the applicable dollar amount is $2.79;
• after September 30, 2020, and before October 1, 2021, the applicable dollar amount is $2.66;
• after September 30, 2019, and before October 1, 2020, the applicable dollar amount is $2.54;
• after September 30, 2018, and before October 1, 2019, the applicable dollar amount is $2.45;
• after September 30, 2017, and before October 1, 2018, the applicable dollar amount is $2.39;
• after September 30, 2016, and before October 1, 2017, the applicable dollar amount is $2.26;
• after September 30, 2015, and before October 1, 2016, the applicable dollar amount is $2.17;
• after September 30, 2014, and before October 1, 2015, the applicable dollar amount is $2.08;
• after September 30, 2013, and before October1, 2014, the applicable dollar amount is $2;
• after September 30, 2012, and before October 1, 2013, the applicable dollar amount is $1.

Q4. How does an issuer of a specified health insurance policy or plan sponsor of an applicable self-insured health plan determine the average number of lives covered under the policy or plan in order to calculate the PCORI fee for the year?

A4. The PCORI fee is imposed on an issuer of a specified health insurance policy and a plan sponsor of an applicable self-insured health plan based on the average number of lives covered under the policy for the policy year or the plan for the plan year.

The PCORI fee final regulations were published on December 6, 2012. The final regulations require issuers of specified health insurance policies to use one of four alternative methods — the actual count method, the snapshot method, the member months method or the state form method — to determine the average number of lives covered under a specified health insurance policy for a policy year. The final regulations require plan sponsors of applicable self-insured health plans to use one of three alternative methods — the actual count method, the snapshot method or the Form 5500 method — to determine the average number of lives covered under the applicable self-insured health plan for a plan year.

The final regulations explain the available methods in detail.

Q5. Which individuals are taken into account for determining the lives covered under a specified health insurance policy or applicable self-insured health plan?

A5. Generally, all individuals who are covered during the policy year or plan year must be counted in computing the average number of lives covered for that year. Thus, for example, an applicable self-insured health plan must count an employee and his dependent child as two separate covered lives unless the plan is a health reimbursement arrangement (HRA) or flexible spending arrangement (FSA).

Q6. If an employer provides COBRA coverage or otherwise provides coverage to its retirees or other former employees, do covered individuals (and their beneficiaries) count as 'lives covered' for purpose of calculating the PCORI fee?

A6. Yes. These covered individuals and their beneficiaries must be taken into account in calculating the average number of lives covered.

Q7. Who is responsible for reporting and paying the PCORI fee?

A7. Issuers of specified health insurance policies and plan sponsors of applicable self-insured health plans are responsible for reporting and paying the PCORI fee.

Q8. What form will be used to report and pay the PCORI fee?

A8. Issuers of specified health insurance policies and plan sponsors of applicable self-insured health plans will file annually Form 720, Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return, to report and pay the PCORI fee. The Form 720 will be due on July 31 of the year following the last day of the policy year or plan year. Electronic filing is available but not required. Payment will be due at the time the Form 720 is due. Deposits are not required for the PCORI fee.

Issuers and plan sponsors who are required to pay the PCORI fee but are not required to report any other liabilities on a Form 720 will be required to file a Form 720 only once a year. They will not be required to file a Form 720 for the other quarters of the year.

Issuers and plan sponsors who are required to pay the PCORI fee as well as other liabilities on a Form 720 will use their Form 720 for the 2nd quarter to report and pay the PCORI fee that is due July 31. Only one Form 720 should be filed for each quarter.

Use the most current revision of the Form 720 quarterly return when reporting and paying the PCORI fee. Typically the second Form 720 revision released in the spring of each year has the updated rates for the annual filing due by July 31.

Q9. What exceptions to the PCORI fee apply?

A9. The PCORI fee does not apply to exempt governmental programs, including Medicare, Medicaid, Children's Health Insurance Program and any program established by federal law for providing medical care (other than through insurance policies) to members of the Armed Forces, veterans and members of Indian tribes (as defined in section 4(d) of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act).

Also, health insurance policies and self-insured plans that provide only excepted benefits, such as plans that offer benefits limited to vision or dental benefits and most flexible spending arrangements, are not subject to the PCORI fee. Further, health insurance policies or self-insured plans that are limited to employee assistance programs, disease management programs or wellness programs are not subject to the PCORI fee if these programs do not provide significant benefits in the nature of medical care or treatment.

The PCORI fee applies only to policies and plans that cover individuals residing in the United States. Thus, the PCORI fee does not apply to policies and plans that are designed specifically to cover employees who are working and residing outside the United States.

Q10. Are health insurance policies or self-insured health plans for tax-exempt organizations or governmental entities subject to the PCORI fee?

A10. Yes. Unless the health insurance policy or self-insured health plan is an exempt governmental program described above, the policy or plan is a specified health insurance policy or applicable self-insured health plan subject to the PCORI fee and, accordingly, the health insurance issuer or plan sponsor is responsible for the PCORI fee.

Q11. When does the PCORI fee expire?

A11. The PCORI fee is effective for policy and plan years ending after September 30, 2012, and before October 1, 2029.

Q12. Does the PCORI fee apply to an applicable self-insured health plan that has a short plan year?

A12. Yes, the PCORI fee applies to a short plan year of an applicable self-insured health plan. A short plan year is a plan year that spans fewer than 12 months and may occur for a number of reasons. For example, a newly established applicable self-insured health plan that operates using a calendar year has a short plan year as its first year if it was established and began operating beginning on a day other than January 1. Similarly, a plan that operates with a fiscal plan year experiences a short plan year when its plan year is changed to a calendar year plan year.

Q13. What is the PCORI fee for the short plan year?

A13. The PCORI fee for the short plan year of an applicable self-insured health plan is equal to the average number of lives covered during that plan year multiplied by the applicable dollar amount for that plan year. Thus, for example, the PCORI fee for an applicable self-insured health plan that has a short plan year that starts on April 1, 2019, and ends on December 31, 2019, is equal to the average number of lives covered for April through December 31, 2019, multiplied by $2.54 (the applicable dollar amount for plan years ending on or after October 1, 2019, but before October 1, 2020).

Q14. What is the PCORI fee due date for the short plan year?

A14. The due date for the PCORI fee is July 31 of the year following the last day of the plan year (including a short plan year).

Q15. Can a plan sponsor or policy issuer that overpaid the PCORI fee due July 31 reduce the PCORI fee due the following July 31 for the amount of the prior year's overpayment?

A15. No. Plan sponsors and policy issuers cannot reduce the PCORI fee due July 31 for any overpayment from a prior year. If a plan sponsor or policy issuer overpaid the PCORI fee reported on a previously filed Form 720, it should file Form 720-X, Amended Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return, for an overpayment of a previously filed PCORI liability. Form 720-X is available on IRS.gov.

Q16. How should corrections to a previously filed Form 720 be made, for example one that determined a fee using an incorrect applicable dollar amount?

A16. A plan sponsor or policy issuer should make corrections to a previously filed Form 720 by filing a Form 720-X, Amended Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return, including adjustments that result in an overpayment. Form 720-X may be filed anytime within the applicable limitation period. Form 720-X is available on IRS.gov.

Related items:

• Application of the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund fee to common types of health coverage or arrangements
• Forms and publications