Form 1095-C Changes for the 2016 Tax Year

It’s almost time to start filing those ACA Forms for 2016!

And for all you applicable large employers (ALEs) out there planning to file Form 1095-C, have we got some news for you:

Form 1095-C is going through a few changes for the 2016 tax year, specifically to the code series used for lines 14 and 16.

Code Series 1 Changes
On line 14 of Form 1095-C, filers use Code Series 1 to indicate information about the coverage they offered to their employees. Last year, this series was coded 1A through 1I for each option, but for 2016 codes 1J and 1K have been added.

So it’s important to note that since code 1I only applied for 2015 transitional relief options, it’s been marked as “reserved” by the IRS and should not be used on any future 1095-C Forms.

The new codes, codes 1J and 1K represent the following scenarios:

• Code 1J: Minimum essential coverage (MEC) providing minimum value (MV) was offered to the employee; at least MEC was conditionally offered to the employee’s spouse; nothing was offered to the employee’s dependent(s).
• Code 1K: MEC providing MV was offered to the employee and his/her dependent(s); at least MEC was conditionally offered to the employee’s spouse.

Code Series 2 Changes
On line 16 of Form 1095-C, filers use Code Series 2 to indicate the safe harbor relief that applies to the employee’s scenario, if applicable. Similar to Code Series 1, Code Series 2 initial had codes for 2A through 2I to describe different safe harbor relief options. This year and for future years, code 2I has been “reserved” by the IRS and may no longer be used as it only applied to tax year 2015.

Deadline Changes
Initially, the ACA Forms deadlines were the same as other information return deadlines:

• January 31, recipient/employee copies must be mailed out
• February 28/29, IRS copies that are being paper filed must be mailed
• March 31, IRS copies that are being e-filed must be transmitted

However, last year, the IRS extended the deadlines to give filers a bit of a break with the new forms. That timeline looked like this:

• March 31, 2016: recipient/employee copies must be mailed out
• May 31, 2016: IRS copies that are being paper filed must be mailed
• June 30, 2016: IRS copies that are being e-filed must be transmitted

This year, for 2016 tax year filing, the deadlines look like this:

• February 28, 2017: IRS copies that are being paper filed must be mailed
• March 2, 2017: recipient/employee copies must be mailed out
• March 31, 2017: IRS copies that are being e-filed must be transmitted

Stay tuned with ExpressACAForms for all of your up-to-date ACA information! And don’t forget to sign up with us to e-file your ACA Forms accurately and on time!

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Form 1095-B Information Requirements

We’ve been talking about Form 1095-C for a while, so why don’t we switch gears and talk a bit about the other ACA Form that’s due in the next couple months: Form 1095-B.

Form 1095-B
Form 1095-B, Health Coverage, is one of the forms created by the Affordable Care Act and the IRS for reporting coverage. Anyone who provides minimum essential coverage to individuals during the calendar year must file a Form 1095-B to report the coverage offered. Of course, this is anyone providing coverage who is not an Applicable Large Employer (ALE), because, as we all know, they file on Form 1095-C.

As with Form 1095-C, a copy of Form 1095-B should be filed with the IRS and a copy should be sent to the individual who received the offer of coverage.

Information Needed for Form 1095-B
So before you dive into working on Form 1095-B, make sure you have the following information:

• Part I: Responsible Individual. For each recipient of an offer of coverage, you’ll need to have their
• Name,
• Social security number,
• Date of birth (if their SSN is unavailable),
• Address, and
• The Origin of the Health Coverage code.
• Part II: Employer-Sponsored Coverage. If you provided employer-sponsored coverage, use Part II to enter information about the sponsoring employer. You’ll need to have their
• Name,
• Employer Identification Number (EIN), and
• Address.
• Part III: Issuer or Other Coverage Provider. Part III provides information about the coverage provider. For this section, you’ll need the provider’s
• Name,
• EIN,
• Address, and
• Contact number.
• Keep in mind that this phone number should be that of someone who can answer questions regarding the coverage information reported.
• Part IV: Covered Individuals. If your coverage offer extends to the recipient’s spouse and/or dependent(s), you’ll need the following information on them:
• Name,
• SSN,
• Date of birth (if their SSN is unavailable), and
• The months they were covered.

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Affordable Care Act Transmittal Forms 1094-B and 1094-C

Did you know that there’s more to your Affordable Care Act return than just Form 1095-B or 1095-C? That’s right: your ACA forms must be sent with a transmittal return, either Form 1094-B or 1094-C, each year.

Form 1094-B
Submitted with Forms 1095-B is Form 1094-B, Transmittal of Health Coverage Information Returns. The majority of Form 1094-B consists of basic information about the filer, including name, EIN, and contact information. On Form 1094-B, the filer also needs to report the number of Forms 1095-B submitted with the transmittal form.

Form 1094-B also requires the filer’s signature, title, and date before it can be submitted with the complete ACA return.

Form 1094-C
Form 1094-C, Transmittal of Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage Information Returns, which is submitted with 1095-C Forms, is a bit more complex than Form 1094-B. Because it requires more information, Form 1094-C is split into three parts:

• Part I: Applicable Large Employer Member (ALE Member)
• Part I includes all the basic information about the ALE whose ACA report this 1094-C belongs to, including the name, EIN, address, and person of contact.
• Lines 9-16 of Part I are filled out if the filer is a Designated Governmental Entity (DGE) filing on behalf of an employer. So in some instances, these lines will need to be left blank.
• On line 18 of Part I, the total number of 1095-C forms accompanying the 1094-C is included.
• And lastly, if this Form 1094-C is the authoritative transmittal for an ALE member in a group return, the box on line 19 should be checked. There can only be one authoritative transmittal filed for each employer.
• Part II: ALE Member Information
• In Part II of Form 1094-C, the filer will provide information on whether or not they’re a member of an Aggregated ALE Group. They’ll also need to include the total number of 1095-C forms filed by and/or on behalf of the ALE member and indicate if they apply for any Certifications of Eligibility.
• If the filer has multiple returns, they only need to fill out Part II on the authoritative transmittal Form 1094-C (as indicated by line 19).
• Part III: ALE Member Information - Monthly
• In Part III, filers indicate how many full-time employees and total employees they had each month of the year.
• Part IV: Other ALE Members of Aggregated ALE Group
• If the filer is a part of an Aggregated ALE Group and checked “Yes” on line 21 of Form 1094-C, they’ll need to complete Part IV.
• In Part IV, the filer lists the names and EINs of other ALE members of the Aggregated ALE Group.

Questions?
So there you have it: Forms 1094-B and 1094-C. If you have any further questions about these forms or how to e-file them, don’t hesitate to contact us here at ExpressACAForms! You can give us a call (704-839-2270) or send us a live chat Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET. Can’t make it then? Just send us an email to support@ExpressACAForms.com and we’ll get back with you as soon as possible!

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Brush Up on Your ACA Knowledge

There’s no better time than the present to brush up on your ACA knowledge. Mostly because, at this present moment, you’ve come across the ExpressACAForms blog on the subject!

Listen, we figure you’re in one of three situations with your ACA filing: 1. You’re done with your 2015 filing and are trying to forget about 2016’s until it’s time to file 2016’s.; 2. You’re still making corrections and trying to complete your 2015 return.; or 3. You’re just blowing it off altogether.

In all of these situations, you stand to benefit from a little ACA know-how. That’s where we come in.

Below are a few tips about ACA filing that you’ll want to keep in mind - yes, even now, in late August. January will be here before we know it, and the filing period for ACA will be shorter than it was this year. So you’ll want to make sure you’re prepared by staying up-to-date on ACA info.

• For starters, to elaborate on our last point there, for the 2015 tax year, the IRS extended the due dates of ACA Forms 1094 and 1095 by two or more months. So far, for the 2016 tax year, they have no plans to do so, so your forms will have to be e-filed by March 31, three months earlier than this past year. Additionally, your recipient copies will need to be sent out by January 31, along with your 1099s and W-2s.
• Applicable Large Employers, those with 50 or more full-time employees, are still required to offer health insurance coverage to those employees. This coverage must meet the minimum essential coverage (MEC) requirements as stated by the ACA, and you’ll have to pay a penalty for each uncovered employee. This penalty is slated to increase each year from here on out, so you may want to set up a plan sooner rather than later.
• If you have more than 250 forms to file, you’re required by the IRS to e-file. You’ll need to make sure you have a system or program in place (like ExpressACAForms!) to handle getting your forms to the IRS.
• If you file late or not at all, the IRS is issuing penalties in the coming year. They were lenient this past year, forgiving late fees for those who could prove they made the effort to file on time. That won’t be their policy anymore, however, as we’re past the first year of filing.

And if you filed with ExpressACAForms last year, the good news is you’re already a few steps ahead! Since our program is online and cloud-based, rather than a software you have to download and update each year, all of your filing information is saved from year to year. So, when it’s time to file again, all you need to do is update any changes from the year and transmit your return. It’s that simple!


As always, if you have any further questions regarding ACA e-filing, feel free to give us a call! We’re in the office Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET, at (704) 839-2270 and on live chat through our website. We also offer 24/7 customer assistance through our email, support@ExpressACAForms.com.

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ACA Form Correction Frequently Asked Questions

As if the Affordable Care Act forms you’ve just finished filing weren’t stressful enough, now you’ve got to do them all over again because they’ve been rejected. Or accepted with errors? Can they even do that?

They can, and you’re still expected to make sure each form is corrected. Read on to find out more about this and more answers to your ACA correction FAQs:

Which ACA forms can I correct?
When correcting a return, you can correct Forms 1094-C and either Forms 1095-B or 1095-C. Because Form 1094-B doesn’t have any additional information on it that would cause a return to be rejected, it won’t ever need to be corrected.

What information can be corrected on my forms?

• On Form 1094-C, you can correct the employer details (name, EIN, address, DGE details) and the ALE member information (total number of forms, ALE group details).
• On Form 1095-B, you can correct the responsible individual or employee details, employer details, issuer details, and covered individual details.
• On Form 1095-C, you can correct the employee details and coverage information, as well as the covered individual details.

Do I need to re-issue the corrected forms to my recipients?
If you need to make corrections on a Form 1095-B or 1095-C, you are required to furnish a corrected copy to the recipient of the original form. If you’re correcting a Form 1094-C, you’ll only need to send the correct copy to the IRS.

The IRS rejected my forms. What should I do now?
If the IRS rejected your ACA return, you’ll need to identify the error that caused the rejection as soon as possible. If the entire return was rejected, it’s likely an error on the Form 1094-C or among the employer or issuer details on Form 1095-B. Once you’ve identified the error, you’ll have to file a corrected return as soon as possible. You may need to reissue forms to your employees or recipients in addition to the forms you send the IRS.

The IRS accepted my return, but with errors. How do I fix the errors?
To fix the errors in an accepted return, you’ll need to identify the individual errors that caused each rejected form. In this case, the error is usually a TIN mismatch. Make the appropriate corrections and send the new forms to the IRS and your recipient(s), if applicable.

How is ACA form correction done through ExpressACAForms?
Quickly and easily! No, seriously: if your return was rejected, or accepted with errors, the best place to e-file your corrections is ExpressACAForms. All you do once you create your account is upload a document of your corrected information, we’ll put it all together, let you review it, and send it off to the IRS with an error-free guarantee.

If you have any questions about e-filing your corrections through ExpressACAForms, we’re happy to help! Just give us a call at (704) 839-2270 or send us a live chat through our website. We’re available Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT. We also offer 24/7 email assistance through support@ExpressACAForms.com!

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Reporting Offers of Coverage on Your ACA Return

Welcome to an unofficial part two for frequently asked questions on offers of coverage and how to report them for Applicable Large Employers (ALEs). Since the rest of what’s reported on a 1094-C or 1095-C is your standard identifying information (name, address, SSN, etc.), we’ve found most of the questions we answer on the ExpressACAForms support lines have to do with reporting the offers of coverage codes.

It makes perfect sense: this is the first year anyone is dealing with these Affordable Care Act forms and codes. So let’s get started with answering the questions you have.

How should an ALE report an offer of coverage made to an employee for a specific calendar month?
To report an offer of coverage made to an employee, an ALE will use line 14 of Form 1095-C, under Part II, Offer of Coverage. Consult the offer of coverage codes to see which code best defines the offer provided for the employee for whom you’re filing this Form 1095-C. If one code applied for all 12 months of the year, you could enter it in the first box, “All 12 Months” and leave the remainder of line 14 blank. However, if you need to report an offer code for one or more specific months, you’ll just put the code in the appropriately marked box(es), Jan-Dec.

How should an ALE report the offer of coverage for the first month an employee was hired?
For the first month an employee was hired, ALEs should enter code 1H (no offer of coverage) unless the employee was offered (and accepted) coverage that applied each day of the month, even if they began work on a later day than the first. Keep in mind, though, that ALEs who use code 1H for the first month of employment may be entitled to relief under section 4980H liability if limited non-assessment period conditions apply. But more on that later.

How should an ALE report the offer of coverage for the last month a recipient was employed?
Like the first month of hire, unless your offer of coverage (or the coverage itself) extends to every day of the month someone’s employment was terminated, you’ll enter code 1H on line 14 for their last month. If the offer of coverage would have extended to the last day of the month had the employee not terminated his/her employment, you’ll still need to enter code 1H, however, you’ll be eligible for relief under section 4980H liability. You can indicate this by entering code 2B on line 16 for that month.

Are ALEs required to enter a code on line 16 of Form 1095-C?
No. The codes entered on line 16 of Form 1095-C indicate certain situations for employees (as in, their first or last month) or the type of safe harbor relief an ALE is eligible for under section 4980H. If any of the codes for line 16 apply for the employee for whom you’re filing, you’ll need to enter them in the appropriate month(s). Otherwise, you can leave line 16 blank.

E-filing with ExpressACAForms
Time is running out to e-file with ExpressACAForms before the ACA e-filing deadline tomorrow, June 30, 2016. If you need help with your account or have any questions about your forms, give us a call between 9:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. ET at (704) 839-2270. If you need us after hours, we provide 24/7 email assistance via support@ExpressACAForms.com.

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ACA Form 1095 Corrections Made Easy with ExpressACAForms

A lot of ACA filers are finding out the hard way that the IRS’s AIR e-filing system isn’t the most user-friendly, especially when it comes to making any corrections your ACA return may require. Now, ExpressACAForms is here to tell you about an easier way, because the last things you need to deal with are even more errors due to confusing IRS jargon.

ExpressACAForms Fixes the Way You Fix Your ACA Forms
If you use the IRS’s AIR e-filing system to e-file your 1095 Forms and make an error, you may need a decoder to fix it - and that’s not an exaggeration. If your form is rejected for even the simplest of errors, your entire return will be sent back in one large file, leaving you to sift through the IRS coded document for the error in question. THEN, you have to figure out how to fix it and retransmit it.

If you e-file with ExpressACAForms and your form is rejected, we’ll intercept this IRS document and decipher it for you, delivering you easy-to-follow instructions to fix the error(s) causing your rejection. You can then retransmit your return at no additional cost to you. Do this as many times as you need, although if you’re e-filing with ExpressACAForms, you shouldn’t need too many.

So What Can You Fix on Form 1095?
With ExpressACAForms, even if you didn’t e-file your original return with us, you can correct employee information, offer and coverage details, and the details of other covered individuals on Forms 1095-B and 1095-C.


There’s no time like the present to get started e-filing your ACA return (it is due June 30, after all), and the easiest way to do that is with ExpressACAForms. Create an account today, and if you have any questions, give us a call at (704) 839-2270 or send us an email to support@ExpressACAForms.com.

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ExpressACAForms E-filing Features

When you choose to e-file your ACA return with ExpressACAForms, you’re choosing to file with the best of the best. As ExpressTruckTax, ExpressTaxExempt, and ExpressIRSForms have proven, the team behind the Express e-filing line knows what we’re doing, and we can help get your first ACA return filed as easily and quickly as possible.

Our experience as IRS-authorized e-file providers has provided us with some ideas that help make quick and easy e-filing happen. When you sign up to e-file with ExpressACAForms, you automatically have access to all of these amazing features:

• Full-service ACA Filing: In other words, with the exception of you providing your ACA information then reviewing and approving your return, we take care of everything else (creating the forms, transmitting them to the IRS, checking for errors, etc.).
• Automatic TIN Verification: As ExpressACAForms generates your return based on your ACA information, it’s also double checking your data against IRS records to make sure the Taxpayer Identification Numbers (EINs, SSNs, etc.) in your forms match the person or business with whom they're associated.
• Bulk Upload: With ExpressACAForms, you upload all of your ACA data at once, exactly as you have it, whether that’s in an Excel spreadsheet or on completed IRS-created PDFs. Then sit back as the program puts together your 1094 and 1095 forms for you.
• ACA Corrections and Re-transmittals: If for any reason your return comes back rejected, ExpressACAForms will take you step by step through the process of fixing the errors and retransmitting your return as quickly as possible to keep you from incurring any IRS fines.
• Printable ACA Forms: Once your return has been transmitted to the IRS, you’ll have the option to print recipient copies of your completed 1095 forms to mail out, as well as any other forms from your return to keep for your records.

So what are you waiting for? Get started e-filing with ExpressACAForms today to see how easy it is! If you have any questions along the way, we’re here Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EDT at (704) 839-2270 and 24/7 at support@ExpressACAForms.com.

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ACA Recipient Deadline Extended

But that doesn’t mean you should delay your filing!

Yes, it’s true that the IRS has extended the deadlines for the Affordable Care Act (or Obamacare) forms. And recipient forms, which would normally be due in less than a week (on January 31), now need to be in the hands of your employees or insurance recipients by March 31, 2016.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that the people you send a Form 1095-B or 1095-C to need this form to complete their 1099 or W-2 when filing their individual tax returns. So while your filing procrastinators may not care if you wait until the last minute to send out your forms, your recipients who want to go ahead and file won’t be able to until they receive their Form 1095.

So you can wait until the last minute to file, just know you may have some disgruntled employees if they don’t get their form until March 31 when their deadline is April 15.

Of course, the easiest way to get your copies to your recipients is to e-file with ExpressACAForms. Instead of having to print and mail (or hand out) your forms yourself, let us do it for you. Before you check out and transmit, select the Postal Mailing option. Then, in addition to federally e-filing your forms, a dedicated member of our team will send out your recipient forms within 1-2 business days.

Filing your ACA forms doesn’t have to be a long, complicated process. And with ExpressACAForms, you’ll feel like an expert in no time at all -- the same amount of time it’ll take to e-file your forms through our program!

If you have any questions while you’re filing, or need some help transmitting, feel free to get in touch with our friendly customer service team. We’re available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, by phone (704-839-2270) and live chat; and we also offer 24/7 support through email at support@expressirsforms.com.

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Q & A: Individual ACA Information Forms

We’ve been talking a lot lately about the importance of Forms 1095-B and 1095-C for employers and insurance providers who need to file them with the IRS. But what about the other journey copies of Form 1095 will take to the health insurance recipients? What information do recipients need to know about the Form 1095 they’ll get in the mail?

To answer that, we’ve put together a little Q & A for individuals expecting to receive a Form 1095-B or Form 1095-C this year:

Will I get any new health care tax forms in 2016 to use on my tax return?
Yes, beginning in 2016, you’ll receive either a Form 1095-A, B, or C, depending on who your insurance comes from (your employer or elsewhere). Similar to 1099s and W-2s, you’ll receive one or more of these forms from the provider(s) of your insurance to summarize the coverage you were offered during the prior year.

When will I receive these health care tax forms?
Typically, you’ll receive these forms around the same time you get your 1099 or W-2: Form 1095 is due to recipients on January 31st as well. However, this year the IRS extended the deadline for 1095-B and 1095-C recipient copies to March 31st, so you may receive those later. Keep in mind though that this won’t affect your return as an individual, and you should file as you normally would.

How will I receive these forms?
Whoever you received your insurance from last year (the Marketplace, a health coverage provider, or your employer) will mail or hand deliver your form(s) to you. If you’ve agreed to accept tax forms from them electronically, you may receive them that way.

Will I get more than one form?
It’s possible. You may get more than one form if:

• you had coverage from more than one provider,
• more than one employer you worked for offered coverage,
• you changed employers or coverage during the year, or
• other members of your family received coverage from another provider.

Check out question 8 of this IRS FAQ for examples of what to do if you receive more than one form.

Will I get a Form 1095-C from each of my employers?
Again, it’s possible. You’ll receive a Form 1095-C from each employer you worked full-time for if they had 50 or more full-time employees.

Can I file my return if I haven’t received any/all of these forms?
That depends: if you’re receiving Form 1095-B or Form 1095-C, then yes. If you and your family were covered for the entire year, check the full-year coverage box on your return. If not, you can claim an exemption or make a payment with your return.

If you received coverage from the Marketplace, you’ll need information from Form 1095-A to accurately complete and file your tax return. You can get a copy of your Form 1095-A by going to www.HealthCare.gov or your state Marketplace website, or calling your Marketplace call center.

No matter which form you receive, you do not need to send it to the IRS as proof of your health coverage with your tax return. A copy is already filed with the IRS by the provider of your forms. It is good, however, to keep the forms as documentation of coverage with your other tax records.

You can find out more about the ACA forms by visiting our website. And filers of Forms 1095-B and 1095-C: if you have any e-filing or ACA-related questions, just send our expert support team an email, live chat, or call! We’re available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, at (704) 839-2270, and 24/7 at support@expressirsforms.com.

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Dare to Care: 68 Healthy Office Lunches

How are those New Year’s Resolutions to get healthier holding up? Are you already seeing progress in 2016, or are you ready to throw in the towel? Well, don’t give up hope just yet because ExpressACAForms has got another edition of Dare to Care to help you through the hardest first months for keeping resolutions.

While eating healthy doesn’t seem hard, in theory, the alternative can definitely seem easier, especially when it comes to lunch. Most of us don’t get to go home and cook lunch each day, and if you’re not already in the habit of making healthy lunches ahead of time, this usually means deciding between leftovers, a microwave meal, or eating out -- not typically your healthiest options. 

So since we’ve recently learned that it takes a lot longer than 21 days for a habit to form (try around 66 days), we’ve compiled a list of over two months worth of easy-to-prepare, delicious meals to help turn your healthy lunches into a lifelong habit:

Sandwiches                      Soups
1. Chicken & Hummus Wraps                         13. Chunky Moroccan
2. Mashed Chickpea Salad Sandwich             14. Roasted Carrot-Coconut
3. French Tuna Salad Sandwich                      15. Spicy Tomato
4. Mediterranean Turkey Wrap                      16. Pasta e Fagioli
5. Thai Chicken Roll-Ups                                  17. Tortilla with Black Beans
6. The World’s Easiest Falafel                          18. Slow Cooker Chili
7. Curried Chicken Salad                                  19. Chicken Noodle
8. Chicken Bánh Mí                                           20. Chickpea, Vegetable, & Pesto
9. Little Italy Chicken Pitas                               21. Easy Minestrone
10. Thai Chicken Lettuce Wrap                       22. Chunky Turkey & White Bean
11. Eggplant Pita Pizza                                      23. Easy Veggie Chili
12. Asian Chicken Lettuce Wrap

Salads                               Pastas
24. Warm Steak, Feta, and Artichoke             42. Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta Salad
25. BLT Lettuce Wrap                                       43. Chili-Spiked Orzo Salad w/ Pinto Beans
26. Avocado, Corn, and Cilantro                     44. Spicy Sesame-Soy Soba Noodles
27. Cannellini Bean and Escarole                   45. Steak Noodle Salad
28. Solie’s Signature Salad                               46. Zucchini & Almond Pasta Salad
29. Persian Shirazi Salad                                  47. Tuscan Bow Ties
30. Mediterranean Garden Wraps                 48. Orzo Salad w/ Tomatoes, Basil, & Feta
31. Greek Tuna Salad                                        49. The Healthiest Lasagna Ever
32. Arugula w/ Roasted Chicken & Quinoa   50. Three-Bean Pasta Salad
33. Mason Jar Salads                                         51. Chicken, Corn, & Tomato Pasta Salad
34. Chickpea, Cherry Tomato, & Feta             52. Roasted Pepper-Corn Pasta Salad
35. Asian Green Bean Salad                             53. Greek Orzo Salad
36. Neiman Marcus Chicken Salad                 54. Chilled Sesame Soba w/ Cashews
37. Wheat Berry Salad                                      55. Pasta w/ Quinoa Meatballs
38. Radish & Pecan Grain Salad                      56. Teriyaki Soba Salad
39. Spinach and Persimmon Salad
40. Kale w/ Lentils & Apricot Vinaigrette
41. Tabbouleh w/ Chicken & Red Pepper

Everything Else
57. Baked Quinoa Casserole                            63. One Pot Kale & Quinoa Pilaf
58. Tomato Basil Quinoa                                  64. Homemade Chipotle Burrito Bowl
59. Louisiana-Style Red Beans & Rice             65. Heart-Healthy Potato Salad
60. Breakfast Fried Rice                                     66. Fuss-Free Frittata
61. Mexican-Style Sweet Potatoes                   67. 20-Minute Kale & Quinoa Bowl
62. Veggie Rice Bowls                                         68. Miso Sweet Potato & Broccoli Bowl

For more healthy recipes and well-being tips, check out our sister product, HealingRadius! And for help with your Affordable Care Act e-filing, stay tuned for our other blogs, or visit www.expressacaforms.com. We’ve also got friendly, expert customer service if you need any help along the way. Just give us a call (704-839-2270) or send us a live chat Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, or send us an email at any time at support@expressirsforms.com.

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The Adventures of Ace: Filing to Recipients

It’s been a while since we last caught up with Ace, our local (and first ever) e-filing superhero, mostly because he’s been “incredibly busy” playing with his new time machine.

Having travelled far and wide with Trucker B, and now to the past and future with a new sidekick, Doc, Ace is confident he can return to the taxpayers of America with all the information they need regarding the Affordable Care Act forms.

Okay, so Ace’s methods may be a little out there, but at least his knowledge is sound. Although, he does say the same thing about Doc…

“I know, I know, of all the things to talk about now, why those?” Ace continues. “Well, as you probably don’t know, there are consequences to non-irradiated minds knowing EVERYTHING, so I’ll have to share this knowledge with you in bits and pieces.”

Ace continues his announcement by saying that all filers of Form 1095-B or Form 1095-C must send a copy of these forms to their health insurance recipients as well as to the IRS. Their employees or insurance clients need these forms to complete their federal tax return.

“In the future,” Ace says with a new fervor, “these Forms 1095-B and 1095-C will be due to your recipients at the same time as their 1099s and W-2s, which is the last day of January. But for the 2015 tax year,

“Oh, and for those of you also filing 1099s and W-2s,” Ace adds, “these forms’ due dates have not changed. The recipient copies are still due by February 1, 2016 -- my powers of perception tell me that January 31 will be a Sunday this year. Check out our friends at ExpressIRSForms to e-file those.”

As Ace flies off, he shouts out his usual reminder to call upon his sidekicks at ExpressACAForms (“Where they’ll even mail your recipient copies for you!”) for any help with e-filing the ACA forms. We’re here and available by phone (704-839-2270) and live chat Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, and offer 24/7 email assistance at support@expressirsforms.com.

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ExpressACAForms: The Features

At ExpressACAForms, we’ve worked hard to create the best program for e-filing your Affordable Care Act forms. After all, this is the first time anyone’s filing these forms, and you only get one time to make a first impression, right?

Part of what makes ExpressACAForms such a user-friendly program are all of the great features we’ve included to help you e-file with unprecedented ease. Allow us to take this blog post to tell you a little more about some of those features…

Cloud-Based Filing
At ExpressACAForms, our program is entirely cloud-based, which means there’s no need to download any software or forms. You can access your account and information anywhere you have access to an internet connection, through your desktop, tablet, or phone. But don’t think that means we’re any less safe - we’ve taken every precaution to make sure your information is secure and shared only with the IRS.

Bulk Uploading
Got a lot of recipients? Already have all of your recipients’ information in a spreadsheet? You really don’t wanna enter your information individually? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. When it comes time to enter your recipients into your forms, you’ll have the option to bulk upload all of their information at once. Use your own spreadsheet, or download the template we’ve made available.

Postal Mail
Before you start printing forms and stuffing envelopes one by one, why not use ExpressACAForms’s postal mail feature? For a small postal fee, you can have your recipient forms mailed for you by a member of our attentive support team.

Help Text and Videos
In the program, we’ve included a Help Text section to explain the ins and outs of the ACA forms. This text updates as you make your way through the forms so all the information you need is at your fingertips. We’ve also created a series of videos to help clear up any confusion you may have as you begin filing. You can check them out on our Youtube channel!

Customer Support
When we say we’re here for you, we mean it. At ExpressACAForms, we don’t just want to help you file your forms, we want to help you understand them. If you have any questions or need help along the way, give us a call. Or a live chat. Or an email. Our phone (704-839-2270) and chat support is available live Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST; and email support is available 24/7 at support@expressirsforms.com.

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Dare to Care: A Healthy Start to 2016

Nobody’s perfect: we all have plenty of things we could do to improve our day-to-day lives and overall health. So why not take the new year to start improving? Sure, it’s a little cliché, but if you keep the improvements going past January, haven’t you technically beaten the cliché?

That’s what ExpressACAForms is here to challenge you to do: follow these 5 simple steps for a healthier you in 2016. Make the Affordable Care Act as unnecessary as some people claim it is by being so healthy that you don’t even need that health insurance you’re now required to have!

Sleep
The CDC has announced that insufficient sleep is a public health problem. Across all ages, it’s been found that Americans aren’t getting enough good sleep to function at our best everyday. When this happens, not only does our work suffer, our health suffers. A Norwegian study found that the risk of a heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases can increase anywhere from 27%-45% if you’re getting too poor or too little sleep.

• Start Healthy: In 2016, try to get 7-8 hours of sleep each night. Try also getting into the good sleep habits of going to bed at the same time each night and avoiding large meals, caffeine, and alcohol close to bedtime.

Diet Before Exercise
One of the keys to a healthy lifestyle is the balance between a good diet and sufficient exercise. However, taking on an entirely new diet with a new fitness regime can shock the system and send you reeling back to the couch and your Oreos. 

• Start Healthy: In 2016, focus on improving your diet without over thinking it: add some fruits and veggies here, cut back on dessert and processed foods there. When you start seeing results, start moving more (you’ll have the energy to!) but make sure to keep that healthy eating going too.

Drink More
Water. Drink more water, and drink more tea. Staying hydrated helps keep you full, energized, and focused, and helps boost the immune system. Tea has been regarded for thousands of years as a key to good health, and research today helps support this. Studies have found that some teas may help with cancer, heart disease, diabetes, high cholesterol, and mental alertness.

• Start Healthy: In 2016, focus on making water and tea your default drinks. Instead of reaching for a soda, focus on increasing your water and tea intake. Drinking water and tea can help cut craving, making it easier to stick to your goal to get healthier.

Quit Smoking

If you need a sign, here it is. By this point, we’re sure you’ve heard the dangers of smoking and how quitting can add up to 14 years onto your life. And while this one’s definitely the hardest on our list, the beneficial effects start to set in almost immediately. After:

• 20 minutes: heart rate drops toward normal levels
• 2 hours: heart rate and blood pressure decrease to near normal levels
• 12 hours: carbon monoxide levels decrease and blood oxygen levels increase to normal
• 48 hours: nerve endings start to regrow, enhancing smell and taste
• 3 days: the nicotine will be completely out of the body
• Unfortunately, this means withdrawal symptoms will peak around this time. Check out this post on managing nicotine withdrawal if it gets to be too much.
• 2-3 weeks: circulation and lung function improve greatly
• 1-9 months: the lungs will begin to repair themselves and function properly again
• 1 year: risk for heart disease is lowered by 50% compared to smokers
• 5 years: risk for stroke lowers to that of non-smokers
• 10 years: risk of lung cancer decreases to half that of a smoker’s; risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, bladder, kidney, and pancreas also significantly decrease
• 15 years: risk of heart disease is back to the same level as non-smokers
• Start Healthy: In 2016, commit to smoking fewer cigarettes. Remember: baby steps. Which brings us to...

Start Small
A big reason a lot of resolutions don’t work out is because people try to make too big of a change at one time. As humans, we’re just not programmed for that. We’ve tried to compile a list of easy ways to get healthy in 2016 so you might be able to take them all on. But that doesn’t mean you have to make all of these changes all at once (or even make them at all). So even if the only change you make until June is to commit to getting a full night’s sleep every night, that’s improvement.

• Start Healthy: Make one small change and then another. You’ll get used to each change until it becomes your new normal. And when you look back and see how far you’ve come through small steps, you’ll be glad you abided by that old cliché about this new you.

For more tips on getting healthy in the new year, check out ExpressACAForms's sister programs, Healing Radius and communEATi! And for help with your ACA forms and information returns, give us a call at 704-839-2270, or visit our site at www.ExpressACAForms.com.

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Happy New Year from ExpressACAForms!

And if you haven’t heard, it’s a New Year’s Miracle: the IRS has announced they are extending the deadlines for the 2015 Affordable Care Act filings from their original due dates.

Now, before we give you the new dates, we have to put on our “mom voice” and tell you that just because this means you have more time to file, it doesn’t mean things couldn’t go wrong at the last minute. So don’t procrastinate. And since this extension only applies to the 2015 filing year, it might even be beneficial to get in the habit of filing by the original deadlines so that you’re prepared for future years.

Okay, so now that the Voice of Reason has spoken, it’s time for those new deadlines:

• Recipient copies, which were initially due by February 1, 2016, now have to be mailed out by March 31, 2016.
• The paper filing deadline for IRS copies has been moved from February 29, 2016 to May 31, 2016.
• The e-filing deadline for IRS copies have been moved from March 31, 2016 to June 30, 2016.

So the choice is yours: will you celebrate tonight, then get a jump start on these forms next week? Or will you wait until summer to file your tax documents?

But maybe that’s a question for 2016. Either way, the ExpressACAForms support team will be here to help throughout the entire filing season (and the rest of the year) -- beginning January 4th. That’s right: we’re out of the office today and tomorrow for New Year’s, but we’ll be back to answer phone calls bright and early Monday morning. In the meantime, we’ll be offering limited email support at support@expressirsforms.com.

Have a Happy New Year everyone!

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The Adventures of Ace: To the Future!

While the ExpressACAForms office took a break this past weekend, the sounds of tinkering and the three Back to the Future movies could be heard coming from the apartment of Ace, the E-Filing Superhero.

And by “apartment,” I of course mean the “ultra-secret hideout” that he could “totally afford without a roommate,” he just “likes having someone around.”

Oh, what’s this? It appears as if Ace has broken his absence and is making another of his public service announcements:

The crowd is stunned silent, but it’s hard to tell whether it’s because of the possibility of a time machine in their presence or because they’re trying to figure out if Ace thinks the Doc is a real person. Either way, Ace goes forward with his speech, too excited to notice any confused looks.

“Yes, citizens!” He says while removing the sheet and revealing his surprisingly impressive time machine. “In an effort to bring you the most accurate information about the Affordable Care Act forms before anyone else, I am going into the future -- 2016, as a matter of fact -- to find out when these forms are due!”

No one was able to grab him in time to let him know that the IRS has already revealed the dates that the 2015 ACA forms are due. But no matter: his entire excursion took roughly one minute, for all the same reasons you’ve heard in other time travel stories.

A little shaken, Ace resumes his address to the public: “Wow. Early 2016 does NOT look good for Donald Trump. Anyway, I have the dates you taxpayers need! And they’ve been extended! But to make sure everything else about 2016 is a surprise, that’s all I’ll tell you about.

“All filers of Forms 1095-B and 1095-C must supply copies of these forms to their recipients by March 31, 2016. (PS, ExpressACAForms will mail those for you if you don’t feel like stuffing all those envelopes.) Paper filers must submit their 1095 forms to the IRS by May 31, 2016, and e-filers will need to have those in by 11:59 PM (your time zone), June 30, 2016.”

Get in touch with one of Ace’s sidekicks here at ExpressACAForms. We’re available by phone (704-839-2270) and live chat (through our site) Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. We also offer 24/7 email support at support@expressirsforms.com.

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Happy Holidays from Ace and ExpressACAForms!

Happy holidays from ExpressACAForms! However you celebrate this season, we hope your time is filled with comfort and joy in the company of friends and family.

We’ve been over a lot in preparation for the upcoming ACA filing, but for the next few days, we invite you to take a break from all that. Mainly because we are! Ace and his sidekicks will be taking today (12/24) and tomorrow (12/25) off for the holidays, so phone and chat support will be unavailable until Monday (12/28) at 9 a.m. EST.

If you need us in the meantime, email support (support@expressirsforms.com) will be available in case of ACA-related emergencies (but if the stockings were hung a little too close to the fire, you should probably call 911).

Have a great holiday weekend, everyone! We’ll see you next week!

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2015 Filing Is Almost Here!

Since we’re sure you’ve got other things on your mind this week, we’ll keep this post short, sweet, and to the point: filing for the 2015 tax year is almost upon us, and ExpressACAForms is here to help! After you read this blog, feel free to take a break from thinking about your taxes for this week; you’ve earned it. But, for now, take our crash course on preparing yourself for the new Affordable Care Act forms due this coming tax season.

Who?
Anyone who provided at least the minimum essential coverage of health insurance to individuals during any month of the year 2015. This means insurance issuers and carriers, most employers, and designated government program sponsors.

What?
Form 1094-B or 1094-C and Form 1095-B or 1095-C. Insurance issuers and carriers, small employers, and government program sponsors will file Forms 1094-B and 1095-B to report information on the coverage they provided each recipient. Applicable Large Employers (ALEs with 50 or more full-time employees) file Forms 1094-C and 1095-C to report their health care coverage details.

When?
You’ll need to get the copies of your forms to your recipients by February 1, 2016. Normally, these forms are due January 31, but in 2016 that day falls on a Sunday. If you paper file your forms with the IRS, you’ll need to send them in by February 29, 2016; and if you choose to e-file, your forms need to be transmitted to the IRS by March 31, 2016.

Where?
At ExpressACAForms.com, of course! It’s the easiest and quickest way to file your ACA forms. And if you need any help on the way, you’ve got access to the best customer service in the biz: we’re available by phone (704-839-2270) and live chat Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, and offer 24/7 email support at support@expressirsforms.com.

So go celebrate the holidays; we’ll see you when it’s time to file!

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What You Need to Know for Form 1095

With 2015 winding to an end, it may feel like the time you have to prepare yourself for the new Affordable Care Act forms is rapidly swirling down the drain. And it kind of is, but that’s okay! That’s why ExpressACAForms is here to help, with an explanation! After all, a great way to prepare yourself for the task at hand is with as much information as you can get.

So, exactly what information do you need before you dive head first into these forms?

Form 1095-B, Health Coverage
Form 1095-B is filed by every person who provides at least the minimum essential coverage (MEC) of health insurance to an individual during a calendar year. To complete this form, you will need the following information:

• the complete name, EIN, address, telephone number, and contact information of the filer (that’s you),
• the total number of Forms 1095-B that you’re filing,
• the complete name, SSN or date of birth, and address of each recipient,
• what type of coverage was offered to your recipients broken down by month, and
• if you’re reporting Employer Sponsored Coverage or coverage provided by another issuer, you’ll need their name, EIN, address, and contact information.

Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage
Form 1095-C is completed by Applicable Large Employers (ALEs), or employers with 50 or more full-time employees in a calendar year. These ALEs are required under the ACA to offer MEC of health insurance to their full-time employees. A representative of an ALE will complete this form with the following information:

• the name, SSN, and complete address of the employee,
• the name, EIN, complete address, and contact number of the employer,
• the Plan Start Month for the specific employee,
• the Offer of Coverage code applicable to this employee,
• the amount of the Employee Share of Lowest Cost Monthly Premium per month,
• the names and SSNs or birth dates for all covered individuals (spouse, dependents, etc.) and the months in which they were covered,
• and, if applicable, a Section 4980H Safe Harbor code.

Form 1094, Transmittal Form
In case you’ve heard of a Form 1094 and are wondering why we haven’t mentioned that yet in this post, it’s because that form is only used when paper filing. Form 1094-B or 1094-C essentially acts as a cover sheet and summary of the included 1095 forms. When you e-file, this form isn’t necessary.

So file with ExpressACAForms: you’ll be filing a few less forms! We’ve also got outstanding customer support waiting to help you through these new forms. Give us a call at (704) 829-2270 or send us a live chat Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. Need help outside of those hours? We also offer 24/7 email support through support@expressirsforms.com.

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Dare to Care: Yoga to Boost the Immune System

It’s been a while since our last Dare to Care post, so let’s start off with a small refresher for why the fun and exciting ACA tax info you’re used to seeing is decidedly absent from this blog post:

While filing more with the IRS than you already do might not be the obvious answer to keeping you healthy (seriously, does the IRS not know what stress levels can do?), the reason the ACA is now law relates directly to your healthcare coverage and, ultimately, your health.

There’s still some debate over whether having health insurance will help you become physically healthier, but researchers do seem to agree that having it is better overall for you mentally. Additionally, with coverage, you’re more likely to take advantage of preventative care, like cholesterol screenings or mammograms. So getting covered might not automatically make you an Olympic athlete, but it definitely comes with some health benefits.

That said, we’ve long been in the primetime of cold and flu season. Sniffles and coughs are more abundant than reminders to wash your hands and get your flu shot, and your immune system may be feeling it. When the temperatures outside dip, the first line of immune defenses in your nose become significantly weaker. Combine this with more people trying to share the warmth of enclosed spaces, and you’ve got situations ripe for getting sick.

So, while ‘tis the season to feel sickly, you don’t have to be a part of the low-immunity crowd. Simple things like laughing, a spoonful of honey, or just a good night’s sleep can help boost your immune system. And if you really want to kick your immune system into overdrive, consider adding the following (easy!) yoga poses to your daily routine!

The following poses encourage relaxation, reduce stress, and facilitate circulation throughout your whole body, the three most effective things yoga can do to support your immune system:

Legs-Up-the-Wall Pose (Viparita Karani)
I used to have a yoga teacher who would say, “If it’s a virus, go to the doctor for an antibiotic. Anything else, legs up the wall!” In other words, get in the habit of making this pose your go-to cure because a majority of the time, it’ll clear you right up. There isn’t much direction to this pose, simply lie on the floor and raise your legs to create a 90 degree angle with your body. To get the most out of it for your immune system, use the wall for support and hold your pose for 10-15 minutes while keeping your breath steady. If your hamstrings are tight, you can bend your knees and bring your seat away from the wall to allow your body to relax into the pose.

Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)
Feeling overwhelmed? Try downward dog. Feeling stressed and sickly? Downward dog. Feeling sleepy? Have a headache? You see where we’re going with this. To begin, lie on your stomach, place your palms near your ears, and point your toes downward so that your heels are facing the ceiling. Exhale, using your back and stomach muscles to straighten your arms, legs, and lift your hips. Typically, this pose is held for five long breaths, but you can hold it for as long as is comfortable to you. Keep your knees slightly bent if your hamstrings are tight. Rest your forehead on a block or other prop for a feeling of calm, restoration, and grounded energy. Bonus perk: this pose drains congested sinuses, helping you to breathe a lot easier.

Fish Pose (Matsyasana)
Fish pose is unique in that it opens up your entire upper body, the heart, and the lungs. It also stimulates the thymus, which plays a significant role in the endocrine and lymphatic systems and, ultimately, your immune system and long-term health. To come into this pose, lie flat on the floor with your legs straight and arms at either side. Raise your hips, one side at a time, and place your hands under each hip. Exhale as you bend your elbows and push your upper body off the floor, raising your chest, and tilting your head backwards. Hold this pose for five counts and inhale as you rest your back on the floor.

Child’s Pose (Balasana)
Just by inwardly folding your body and placing your forehead to the ground in child’s pose, you send a signal to your brain to slow down, immediately calming the mind and body. This pose also normalizes circulation throughout the body, which allows new blood to flow and cleanse your body of toxins and pollutants. Begin by kneeling with your hands on your knees. If you have knee or lower back issues, consider placing a blanket under your knees or spreading them farther apart while keeping your toes together. Slowly exhale and slide your hands down and forward until your torso is flat against your legs (or between them) and your arms are completely straight. If you can, place your forehead against the ground and roll your head back and forth for a soothing sinus massage.

If you enjoyed this wellness-focused blog, stay tuned for more Dare to Care installments, or check out the blogs of our other programs, communEATi, Healing Radius, and Healing Radius Pro, for more weekly health and wellness info! In the meantime, another ACA and tax-filled blog will be back Tuesday; and the ExpressACAForms support team will be here (as always) Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, to answer your phone calls (704-839-2270) or live chats. We’re even here over the weekend for 24/7 email support at support@expressirsforms.com, so feel free to contact us at anytime for help or assistance e-filing.

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