The Affordable Care Act: How will it affect your 2014 taxes?

Staggered start dates. Exceptions. Waivers. Are you still trying to determine how the health care laws will affect your 2014 personal and business federal income tax returns? We can help. Here’s an overview we’ve put together of some current rules. Here’s an overview of some current rules.

Individual penalty. The 2014 Form 1040 has a new line for reporting the “individual responsibility payment.” You’ll owe this penalty if you or your dependents did not have health insurance during the year and don’t qualify for an exemption schweizer-apotheke.de.

• The amount you’ll report on your 2014 tax return is the greater of $95 per adult and $47.50 per child, up to a maximum family penalty of $285, or 1% of your “household income formula.”

Individual premium credit. Depending on your income, you may be eligible for a reduction in the cost of your health insurance premium during the year.

• When you signed up for insurance on the health insurance exchange, you had the option to use the reduction to offset your premiums as you paid them. Alternatively, you can apply for the credit when you file your 2014 federal income tax return.
• The amount of the credit depends on your income and family size.

Net investment income surtax. You may be familiar with this 3.8% surtax from last year’s return. It applies to net investment income – income such as dividends, interest, and capital gains, less related expenses – when your adjusted gross income (AGI) exceeds certain levels.

• Those levels have not increased for 2014. When you are married filing jointly, the surtax applies if your AGI exceeds $250,000. When you’re single or filing as head of household, the AGI threshold is $200,000.

Medicare surtax on wages. As in 2013, this 0.9% surtax applies to wages, compensation, and self-employment income when your AGI exceeds $250,000 and you’re married filing jointly. When you’re single or filing as head of household, the AGI threshold is $200,000.

Business health insurance premium credit. Did you pay at least 50% of the health insurance premium costs for your employees during 2014? If you employed fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees and paid them wages of less than $50,800, you may be able to claim a credit of up to 50% of the premiums you paid.

• The credit is available even if you claimed it in prior years. Tax-exempt organizations can also benefit.

Business fee. When you self-insure your business health care expenses, you may have to pay a fee to help fund a healthcare research institute. The fee may also apply to your health reimbursement arrangement or health flexible spending arrangement.

Employer penalties. Depending on the number of workers you employ, you may be penalized for not providing health insurance and/or not providing affordable health insurance.

• Neither penalty applies for tax year 2014. However, you’ll want to review your workforce to determine whether the penalty will affect you in the future.
• Beginning January 1, 2015, the penalty will apply when 100 or more full-time employees work in your business. The penalty applies in 2016 when your business employs 50 or more full-time workers. When you employ fewer than 50 workers, you’re not subject to the penalty.

• Employer reporting. The health care laws included a requirement for reporting on Forms W-2 the cost of the health insurance coverage you provide to your employees. However, reporting is optional for 2014 when you file fewer than 250 Forms W-2.

Obamacare: What is the Latest on Health Care Reform?

Taxes and government spending are going to be on the agenda in Washington during 2013. Where does that leave health care reform, the legislation passed in 2010 overhauling the health care system in this country?

Here’s a quick update that covers provisions in the health care legislation that went into effect prior to 2013 and those that, absent any changes made in the coming months, go into effect in 2013 and thereafter.

The following provisions have already taken effect:

• A 10% tax is assessed on indoor tanning services.
• Small businesses with fewer than 25 full-time employees may qualify for a tax credit for the cost of purchasing health insurance for their employees.
• Children can remain on their parents’ insurance policies up to age 26. Private lending for student loans is replaced with loans directly from the federal government, cutting loan fees.
• A 50% discount on brand-name drugs for those with Medicare drug coverage helps to offset costs  in the “donut hole.”
• Over-the-counter medications can no longer be paid for with funds in health savings accounts (HSAs), flexible spending accounts (FSAs), and health reimbursement accounts (HRAs).
• The additional tax on nonqualified distributions from health savings accounts (HSAs) increases from 10% to 20%.

The provisions that will take effect in 2013 include the following:

FSA limits

• The amount that can be contributed to a health flexible spending account (FSA) is limited to $2,500 per year, indexed annually for inflation.

Medical expense deduction

• The 7.5% income threshold for deducting unreimbursed medical expenses increases to 10% for those under age 65. Those 65 and older may continue to take an itemized deduction for medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of adjusted gross income through the year 2016.

Executive pay limit

• The compensation deduction for certain health insurance companies is limited to $500,000 per year for high-level executives.

Medicare tax increase

• The payroll Medicare tax will increase from 1.45% of wages to 2.35% on amounts above $200,000 earned by individuals and above $250,000 earned by married couples filing joint returns. The income threshold levels are not indexed for inflation.
• A new 3.8% Medicare tax will be imposed on unearned income for single taxpayers with income over $200,000 and married couples with income over $250,000. Examples of unearned income: interest, dividends, royalties, rental income.

Medical device tax

• A 2.3% excise tax is imposed on the sale of certain medical devices.

Provisions scheduled to take effect in years after 2013 include the following:

Coverage required starting in 2014

• Individuals who are not covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or other government health insurance are generally required to maintain health insurance coverage or pay a penalty. Penalties are calculated using a percentage of the taxpayer’s income or a flat dollar amount. Subsidies and tax credits are available to help lower-income taxpayers pay for coverage.
• Health insurance exchanges are established by states to enable people to comparison shop for coverage.
• Large employers generally must provide coverage for employees or face penalties.
• Tax credits increase from 35% to a maximum 50% of premiums paid by qualifying small businesses that provide coverage for their workers. The credit available to nonprofit employers increases from 25% to 35%.

Health industry fee in 2014

• An annual fee is assessed on the health insurance industry, starting at $8 billion in 2014 and increasing over the following years.

Tax on “Cadillac plans” in 2018

• Insurance companies will be assessed a 40% excise tax on health insurance plans with annual premiums exceeding $10,200 for individual coverage and $27,500 for family coverage. An increase in the threshold amount is allowed for retired persons who are age 55 or older (an additional $1,650 for single coverage and $3,450 for family coverage). These increased thresholds also apply for plans that cover those engaged in high-risk occupations.

Certain provisions in the original health reform legislation have already been changed or repealed. For example, the law originally required Form 1099 reporting for payments over $600 made to corporations. That requirement has been repealed, and reporting is again generally required only for payments over $600 made to unincorporated businesses.

Congress may amend or repeal provisions in the health care reform law, either before their scheduled effective date or retroactively. Or the law may survive largely intact. Clearly, the massive law will affect every taxpayer. For guidance in your individual and business tax planning under the often-complicated health reform legislation, contact our office at 516-280-8363.

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