You may still be working on your 1095 forms, knowing the IRS gave you an extension until March 31 to send the 1095-Cs to employees, as required under the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Some of your employees, however, are doing their taxes now and don’t understand why you haven’t sent this new form they’ve been hearing about. Below is a quick sample communication to let your employees know they won’t get the form until later and they don’t have to wait for it before doing their 2015 taxes.

Sample Employee Message for 1095-C Delay:

You’ve already received your W-2 form, but many of you are wondering when you’ll get your 1095-C and why you don’t have it yet. You may be wondering if you have to wait for your Form 1095-C before you can file your taxes.

Even though in future years we will be sending your 1095-C by January 31, this year the IRS gave employers additional time to send these forms out because it is the first time we have to do this.

We will mail your 1095-C form to you by March 31. If you do not receive it by then, please contact our human resources department.

It’s OK to file your taxes before receiving your 1095-C. There will be questions on your tax form asking if you had health insurance coverage each month in 2015. You can answer based on your own knowledge or look at your records such as wage statements showing health insurance deductions, insurance cards, or explanation of benefits statements.

You will not have to send in a copy of your 1095-C to the IRS, at least not for 2015. However, you should store it with the rest of your important tax information, like W-2s and interest statements, when you do receive it.

Ask your tax preparer or advisor if you have specific questions while filing your taxes. Everyone’s family structure and income situation is different, and we in human resources are not able to give you tax advice.

Look over these IRS questions and answers for useful information on 1095s, such as what they are for, why you might or might not receive them, and what to do with them.

Lois Mathis-Gleason, CEBS
Manager, Reference/Research Services at the International Foundation

The International Foundation will keep you up to date—Keep an eye on resources found on ACA Central, ACA University and Regulatory Updates.