Second PPACA tax season rumbles to a close

The intensity of individual taxpayers’ worries about Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) coverage forms may have peaked in late March and early April.

The H&R Block (NYSE:HRB) tax forum has been getting an average of 1.2 questions about PPACA coverage forms this week for every question about the 1099 form, a well-established miscellaneous income reporting form.

During the previous three weeks, users were posting an average of 1.6 questions about PPACA forms for every question about 1099 forms, according to a LifeHealthPro.com analysis of those forum posts.

Earlier in the year, the board received one question about PPACA forms for every question about the 1099 forms.

Unlike previous years when Tax Day is on April 15, the individual income tax filing season for the 2015 calendar year ends on Monday, April 18, due to the celebration of Emancipation Day (which is on April 16, but this year is being celebrated a day before by the Federal government).

The PPACA forms included in the analysis are the 1095-A form, which exchanges use to report on exchange use; the 1095-B form, which insurers and other coverage issuers send to enrollees; the 1095-C form, which “applicable large employers” (ALEs) send to current and former employees; and the 8962 form, which families use to report on use of PPACA exchange premium tax credits.

Consumers may receive and file about 250 million to 350 million PPACA-related coverage forms this year.