IRS limits PPACA group tax credit relief

A few U.S. counties might have a slightly easier time using the federal health insurance tax credit next year.

The Internal Revenue Service has temporarily eased the qualification rules for the tax credit – but only for employers in five counties in Wisconsin and 37 of the 39 counties in Washington state.

The IRS will let small employers in those counties use the tax credit in 2014 without offering a health plan from a public health insurance exchange, according to IRS Notice 2014-6. 

Carriers in the affected counties won’t be offering any small-group exchange plans in 2014, officials say.