The House of Representatives Repeals “Cadillac tax”
The 419-6 vote delivered a victory to labor unions and employers that teamed up against the tax. On the losing side: deficit hawks and health economists who worry about distortions caused by favorable tax treatment of employer-sponsored insurance.
The tax is a 40% levy on health insurance above certain thresholds—about $11,200 for individuals and $30,100 for families, starting in 2022. It counters the tax law that says employees must pay individual income taxes on wages but not on the value of their health policies.
Read More: Wallstreet Journal on “Cadillac Tax”
PCORI Fees Deadline is July 31, 2019
The Deadline for Employers to Pay PCORI Fees is July 31, 2019. Employers that sponsor self-insured group health plans, including health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs) and level-funded plans, have until July 31st to pay their fees that fund the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (“PCORI fees”).
Additional details can be found at here.
Ease Continues to Integrate with Payroll Providers
Heartland Payroll, a Global Payments company, which supports payroll and other HR functions for businesses today, has teamed up with Ease, creating an integrated Benefit/Payroll platform.
With payroll from Heartland, companies can now take advantage of an affordable tool that reduces administrative burden while remaining compliant with labor laws and payroll tax regulations.
Other payroll integrations include:
- ADP
- BenefitMall
- Paylocity
- TraxPayroll
Please contact us for additional information or what like to discuss payroll provider options.
Final Rule Issued Allowing HRAs to be Used for Individual Coverage
On June 13, the U.S. Departments of the Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services (tri-agencies) issued a final rule allowing employees to use the dollars in employer-funded Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs, also called Health Reimbursement Accounts) to purchase individual coverage both on and off the public Marketplace (or Exchange). The rule also creates a new excepted benefit HRA (EBHRA) to enable employees to be reimbursed for excepted benefit costs. This finalizes a proposed rule issued in Oct. 2018 largely as proposed, but with some modifications. The rule follows through on an Executive Order that directed the tri-agencies to consider ways to expand the flexibility of HRAs.
Department of Labor issues opinion letter on FMLA designation and use
EEOC Proposes Sept. 30 Deadline for 2018 EEO-1 Pay and Work-hour Data
Tax Deadline April 15 & Covered California 1095
Monday, April 15 is the deadline to file 2018 taxes. Consumers may be rushing to access their IRS Form 1095-A. The ONLY way to access their Form 1095-A before the deadline is by downloading it from their Covered California online account. There will not be enough time for Covered California to mail their form unless a consumer has filed for an extension with the IRS.
Please Note: Consumers who enrolled in a Catastrophic plan in 2018 will not receive a Form 1095-A from Covered California, but may have received Form 1095-B from their health insurance company. Remind consumers to keep this form for their records, but it is not required to file their taxes.