Although employers are not required to offer coverage during 2014, individuals are generally required to have health coverage during 2014 and must report on that coverage through their 2014 federal income tax return. In many cases, the employee will be able to simply state through a “yes/no” question on their federal income tax form that all individuals claimed on the tax form had minimum essential coverage during all of 2014. Individuals will not be required to attach proof of coverage, and employers and insurers are not required to supply proof of coverage provided during 2014. Individuals may wish to maintain evidence of coverage (such as pay stubs showing deductions for premiums or explanations of benefits) in case they are audited, but this is not required.
Individuals who did not have the needed coverage for the entire year, or who are claiming an exemption from the individual mandate, must use Form 8965 to claim an exemption or determine their penalty (which is determined on a month-by-month basis). The penalty for failing to have coverage in 2014 is the greater of 1% of income and $95 per person or $295 per family.
Individuals who received a premium tax credit/subsidy will need to complete Form 8962. Both state and federally-run Marketplaces will provide all individuals who had coverage through the Marketplace with a Form 1095-A. This form will include information the person will need to complete the Form 8962, including the employee’s monthly premium and tax credit received, so that the employee can reconcile the premium tax credit already applied toward premium payments with the tax credit amount that they are actually due. Individuals who have not received their full premium tax credit will receive the balance as a tax refund, while those who have received a larger estimated subsidy than they were entitled to will owe additional taxes. The amount that must be repaid is capped, and the IRS has said it generally will waive penalties that may be due for late payment of the amount owed or for failing to pay estimated taxes.
Although employers are not obligated to help employees with these new requirements, for those that wish to do so, the IRS has created a summary and issued Publication 5187 to explain the individual mandate requirements and premium tax credit rules.
