First the “bad news”…
Employers hoping that the IRS will relax ACA employer requirements may find the recent release of the draft 2017 employer reporting forms disheartening.
Many had hoped that President Trump’s Executive Order directing the Department of the Treasury to review tax regulations to reduce the tax regulatory burdens would include ACA’s employer reporting requirements and attendant penalties. However, the Treasury Department’s Notice 2017-38 regarding the review of regulations to identify regulatory burdens notably did not include any reference to ACA compliance.
Now the “good news” (sort of)…
The draft 2017 reporting forms have few changes. Sections related to expired transition relief have been deleted. Consistency in the forms from last year is good news for employers who have figured out how to complete the forms from the prior years. Changes may still be in the offing once instructions for the forms are published and the forms are finalized.
The draft forms are:
And, the “no news”…
There still haven’t been any signs that the IRS is sending notices to employers that they owe penalties under the “pay or play” provisions of the ACA. Some pundits believe that employers may see any demands for payments before the close of 2017.
In the meantime…
Employers should continue to comply with the requirements of the ACA.
Compliance NOW! 