Healthcare Tax Reporting Requirements

Owned by Dorsey, Alie
Last updated: Feb 11, 2021 by Alvis, Matt
5 min read

In 2015, the Form 1095-C began to be required to eligible participants under the Health Care Reform and the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The ACA mandates that organizations that employ more than 50 people are required to report to the IRS on the health insurance, if any, offered to their full-time employees. The Form 1095-C includes information about the health insurance coverage offered to you and, if applicable, your family. If you worked for multiple applicable large employers in the previous calendar year you may receive multiple Form 1095-Cs.

The deadline to distribute your Form 1095-C has been extended from January 31, 2011 to March 3, 2021 for coverage information for the previous calendar year. Seattle Pacific University will be distributing your Form 1095-C with W-2 Forms by the end of January. Most full-time employees will receive a Form 1095-C for the 2020 calendar year. You may need to submit information from the form(s) as a part of your personal tax filing for 2020, so please keep your copy if it is requested.

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I understand that I may receive a new health care tax statement from my employer to help me prepare my individual income tax return. What is it?

If you worked for SPU 20 hours or more a week and were enrolled on SPU’s Cigna Medical Plan, you may receive:

  • Form 1095-C will be mailed with your W-2 Form to show your Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage.
  • Electronic Form 1095-C through Banner: Employees may choose to receive their 1095-C online at any time by going into your Banner account using the pathname below:

You may also receive:

  • IRS Form 1095-B from a health insurance company, or from a multiemployer plan, if you were enrolled in a multiemployer plan outside of SPU.
  • IRS Form 1095-A from a Marketplace/Exchange, if you enrolled in Marketplace/Exchange coverage.

These forms will provide details as to any health coverage you had in 2020.

If you don’t receive any of these forms, you should check your own records (for example, enrollment materials, confirmations from your employer, and explanation of benefits statements), or call Human Resources at (206) 281-2809.


How are the forms different?

  • IRS Form 1095-A provides information as to any Marketplace coverage you had (if applicable), and any Premium Tax Credits you received.
  • IRS Form 1095-B details the months of coverage that you, your spouse and/or any eligible dependents had for each month. Form 1095-B is sent by your insurance carrier and provides details about the health insurance coverage you elected, including who in your family was covered.
  • IRS Form 1095-C provides information regarding any SPU’s employer-provided health insurance coverage – or offers of coverage. It may also detail the months of coverage you and any spouse and/or eligible dependents had during each month.


What do I do with the Form 1095-C?

Keep this form with the materials you give to your tax preparer. If you prepare your own taxes, you may need to refer to this information as you prepare your return.


Under what circumstances would I need the information on Form 1095-C to file my U.S. Individual Income Tax Return?

Only if:

  • You received an advance premium tax credit or wish to take the premium tax credit on your return; or
  • You had a gap in coverage of more than three consecutive months.


Do I need to attach Forms 1095-A, 1095-B, or 1095-C to my federal tax return?

No, do not submit these with your tax return. However, you may need to refer to them in order to complete your tax return. 


How will I receive these forms?

You may receive these forms with your SPU W-2 Form, US Mail or by Banner Self-Serve.


When will I receive these forms?

Normally, by January 31st of the year following coverage (for 2020 statements, the date is March 3rd).


Who do I contact if I have a question about the form that I receive?

Please contact Human Resources at (206) 281-2809 for benefit plan coverage and effective dates. For tax related questions, please contact your tax advisor.


What should I do if I think the form I received has an error?

You may want to review IRS Form 8965, Health Coverage Exemptions, and Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit (PTC), and related instructions for information. If you still think that there may be an error, contact Human Resources at (206) 281-2809.


If I worked full time for more than one employer this year, should I get a Form 1095-C from each of them?

Not necessarily. Only large employers are required to furnish Forms 1095-C. SPU will be providing Forms 1095-C. If you worked for another employer, please contact them directly if you are unsure about their status.


What IRS resources are available to help me if I had gaps in health coverage and possible exemptions?

If you had gaps in coverage of three consecutive months or more during 2020, you may need to apply for an affordability exemption (if available) from the individual mandate for any months in which you, your spouse (if filing jointly), and/or your eligible dependents did not have health coverage on IRS Form 8965 (DRAFT), Health Coverage Exemptions, and related instructions (DRAFT).

If you think this might be the case, you should refer to your records to determine whether you, and if applicable, your spouse and any eligible dependents had health coverage for each month. (The IRS considers you to have had health coverage in any month in which you had coverage for at least one day during the month.)

For those months in which you did not have health coverage, you may need to know whether employer-sponsored coverage was offered to you and the cost of the least-expensive, self-only employer-sponsored coverage that was offered.


What IRS resources are available to help me report any Premium Tax Credit?

If you, your spouse, and/or your eligible dependents had health coverage through a Marketplace/ Exchange and received a Premium Tax Credit, or are claiming the premium tax credit on your tax return, you will generally need to complete IRS Form 8962 (DRAFT), Premium Tax Credit (PTC). You may need to report whether you, your spouse, and/or any eligible dependents were offered employer-sponsored health coverage that was affordable and provided minimum value in the months for which you, your spouse, and/or your eligible dependents received/are claiming the Premium Tax Credit. See IRS Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit (PTC) and related instructions (DRAFT) for details.

Additional Resource:  Affordable Care Act Tax Provisions for Individuals and Families