IRS extends some PPACA reporting requirements for employers

The U.S. Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said they are extending some Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) reporting deadlines to help companies meet the requirements.

Employers will have two more months past Feb. 1 to give individuals forms for reporting on offers of health coverage and the coverage provided. The deadlines to report this information to the IRS are extended by three months past the previous Feb. 29 due date for paper filings and the March 31 date for electronic returns, the Treasury said in a statement Monday.

The extension affects the 1095-B health coverage issuer form, the 1095-C employer coverage offer form, and the 1094-B and 1094-C transmittal forms, according to IRS Notice 2016-04.

“The vast majority of individual taxpayers will not be affected by this extension,” Treasury said. “Like last tax filing season, most individuals will simply check a box on their tax return indicating they had health coverage for the entire year.”

See also: PPACA Form 1095-B: CMS to put off full Medicare compliance

The Obama administration has repeatedly extended deadlines for implementation and insurance enrollment under the PPACA, sometimes drawing criticism from opponents. Last year, Republicans sued the administration, saying the president exceeded his authority by delaying a requirement that most employers provide insurance to workers.

President Barack Obama said in 2013 that employers wouldn’t have to comply with the requirement until 2015. Then in 2014 Obama further delayed the rule until 2016 for companies with fewer than 100 workers. A federal judge in Washington declined in September to dismiss the lawsuit.