IRS Issues Guidance on Health Care Reporting Requirements for 2017

by Joshua A. Diveley

The IRS issued guidance October 17, 2017, indicating Forms 1040 for the 2017 tax year will not be accepted if the taxpayer does not report on the health coverage reporting requirements of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). For prior tax years, returns that did not report required ACA information were delayed for processing, but it did not prevent the return from ultimately being processed and any applicable refund from being issued.

In general, the ACA requires taxpayers to obtain minimum essential health insurance coverage for themselves and any dependents. If sufficient coverage is not obtained, the ACA imposes a penalty. Form 1040 directs taxpayers to report the existence or non-existence of essential coverage or whether an exemption from coverage applies.

The IRS guidance is available at: https://www.irs.gov/tax-professionals/aca-information-center-for-tax-professionals.

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