The Internal Revenue Service has issued a notice that provides some relief this tax season from tax penalties for taxpayers who find out when they file their taxes that they received an overpayment of premium tax credits for buying health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.
Specifically, the notice provides relief from the penalty under Section 6651(a)(2) of the Tax Code for late payment of a balance due and the penalty under Section 6654(a) for underpayment of estimated tax. To qualify for the relief, however, taxpayers must meet certain requirements. The relief applies only for the 2014 taxable year.
The IRS noted that the relief does not apply to any underpayment of the individual shared responsibility payment resulting from the application of Section 5000A because those underpayments are not subject to either the Section 6651(a)(2) penalty or the Section 6654(a) penalty.
Section 6651(a)(2) imposes a penalty on a failure to pay (on or before the due date for payment, including any extension of time for payment) an amount shown as tax on any return. However, the 6651(a)(2) penalty is not imposed if the taxpayer shows that the failure was due to reasonable cause and not willful neglect. Section 6654(a) imposes a penalty in the case of an underpayment of estimated tax by an individual.
Beginning in 2014, an eligible individual who is covered, or whose family member is covered, under a qualified health plan through an Affordable Insurance Exchange, also called a Health Insurance Marketplace, is allowed a premium tax credit. A taxpayer can receive assistance in paying premiums for coverage in a qualified health plan through advance payments of the premium tax credit. Advance credit payments are made directly to the insurance provider. The amount of the advance credit payments is determined when an individual enrolls in a qualified health plan through an exchange and is based on projected household income and family size for the year of coverage. A taxpayer claims the premium tax credit on the income tax return for the taxable year of coverage. The amount of the credit is based on the actual household income and family size for the year reflected on the tax return.
Taxpayers are required to reconcile, or compare, the amount of premium tax credit allowed on the tax return with advance credit payments. Changes in the circumstances on which the advance credit payments are based could result in a difference between the amount of advance credit payments and the premium tax credit to which the taxpayer is entitled, the IRS noted.
If the advance credit payments are more than the premium tax credit allowed on the return, the difference (that is, the excess advance payments) is treated as additional tax and could result in either a smaller refund or a larger balance due (or, if the premium tax credit allowed is more than the advance credit payments made, the excess credit amount may result in a larger refund or lower balance due). Tax year 2014 is the first year for which taxpayers are required to reconcile advance credit payments with the premium tax credit.
Some taxpayers who have a balance due on their 2014 income tax returns attributable to the reconciliation of their advance credit payments and the premium tax credit calculated on their returns may not be able to pay by the due date for payment, which is generally April 15. Taxpayers who do not pay their entire tax liability by the due date for payment generally would be liable for the Section 6651(a)(2) penalty for failure to pay, unless they requested and were granted relief due to reasonable cause. In addition, some taxpayers may discover when they reconcile their advance credit payments with the premium tax credit that their estimated tax payments were understated, potentially making these taxpayers liable for the Section 6654(a) estimated tax penalty.
Therefore, in consideration of these factors, the IRS said it would abate the Section 6651(a)(2) penalty for taxable year 2014 for taxpayers who (i) are otherwise current with their filing and payment obligations; (ii) have a balance due for the 2014 taxable year due to excess advance payments of the premium tax credit; and (iii) report the amount of excess advance credit payments on their 2014 tax return timely filed, including extensions (Line 46 of Form 1040 or Line 29 of Form 1040A).
In addition, the IRS will waive the Section 6654 penalty for taxable year 2014 for an underpayment of estimated tax for taxpayers who have an underpayment attributable to excess advance credit payments if the taxpayers (i) are otherwise current with their filing and payment obligations; and (ii) report the amount of the excess advance cr edit payments on a 2014 tax return timely filed, including extensions.
For purposes of the notice, taxpayers will be treated as current with their filing and payment obligations if as of the date they file their 2014 income tax returns, they (i) have filed, or filed an extension for, all currently required federal tax returns, and (ii) paid or have entered into an installment agreement (which is not in default), an offer in compromise, or both to satisfy a federal tax liability.
The IRS noted that if a taxpayer has not paid a tax due because there is a genuine dispute between the taxpayer and the IRS that has not been finally determined as to the existence or amount of the correct tax liability under the law, then the amount of tax in dispute will be treated as being current during the pendency of the dispute.
The IRS pointed out that taxpayers should be aware that the notice does not extend the time to file a return. To obtain an automatic extension of time to file, a taxpayer should file Form 4868, “Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File U.S. Individual Income Tax Return,” on or before April 15, 2015.
Additionally, Section 6601 imposes interest on amounts of tax not paid by the due date, determined without regard to an extension of time for payment. Taxpayers will be required to pay interest on the balance due from the original deadline to pay, which is generally April 15, 2015, even if they qualify for penalty relief under the notice.
Generally, the IRS automatically assesses the Section 6651(a)(2) penalty against taxpayers and sends a notice demanding payment. When responding to such a notice, taxpayers should submit a letter to the address listed in the notice that contains the statement: “I am eligible for the relief granted under Notice 2015-9 because I received excess advance payment of the premium tax credit.”
Taxpayers who file their returns by April 15, 2015 will be entitled to relief under the notice even if they have not fully paid the underlying liability by the time they request relief. Taxpayers who file their returns after April 15, 2015 will need to fully pay the underlying liability by April 15, 2016 to be eligible for relief under the notice. Interest will accrue until the underlying liability is fully paid.
To request a waiver of the Section 6654(a) penalty, taxpayers should check box A in Part II of Form 2210, complete page 1 of the form, and include the form with their return, along with the statement: “Received excess advance payment of the premium tax credit.”
Taxpayers do not need to attach documentation from the exchange, explain the circumstances under which they received an excess advance payment, or complete any page other than page 1 of the Form 2210, according to the IRS. Taxpayers also do not need to figure the amount of penalty for the penalty to be waived.
Notice 2015-09 will be published in Internal Revenue Bulletin 2015-6 on Feb. 9, 2015.
