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Missed the ACA Deadline? Find out what to do now.

Robyn Carlini • April 18, 2023

Missed the ACA Deadline? Find out what to do now.


ACA forms were due to the IRS by March 31, 2023, if filed electronically. Penalties for filing late can increase over time, however, failing to file at all will result in severe penalties. Moreover, if the IRS finds that failing to file was an intentional disregard, penalties are increased exponentially.
If an organization files within 30 days of the deadline, the penalty for late filing will be reduced by the IRS from $280 to $50 with the total capped at $571,000.

Filing after 30 days past the deadline but before August 1 will result in a penalty of $110 per return, with a maximum of $1,713,000.


Organizations had until the filing deadline on March 31st  to submit Form 8809 and obtain a 30-day extension automatically. Nevertheless, if the deadline has passed, filing late is still preferable to not filing at all, as it will incur a lower penalty.



There is no “good faith effort” relief for failing to file in a timely manner.


The IRS is actively pursuing Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) who failed to file their Forms 1094-C or 1095-Cs in tax years 2015 – present (Letter 5699) and ALEs (or non-ALEs with self-funded plans) who failed to timely file Forms 1094 or 1095, had incomplete or inaccurate information in their Forms 1094 or 1095, or failed to electronically file their forms 1094 and 1095 (if they have more than 250 employees). 



The IRS has stated that penalties for noncompliance with the Employer Shared Responsibility Tax have no statute of limitations on when the IRS can impose them. This means that employers are never “safe” or “out of the woods” from receiving penalty letters, even from the very first reporting season, which happened in the spring of 2016. 


SyncStream is experienced with clients that need to file late or for any past year.



About SyncStream

SyncStream removes the burden of ACA compliance and reduces your company’s risk of high IRS fines and penalties. Subject matter experts utilize SyncStream’s user-friendly compliance software to track employee hours, auto-populate forms, audit forms, and e-file for thousands of ALEs.


SyncStream can help simplify the process with their Full Service Total ACA solution, which includes tracking employee hours, auto-populating forms, auditing forms, and e-filing for thousands of ALEs. Don't risk high IRS fines and penalties; trust SyncStream to handle your ACA compliance needs.



Have Questions or Need More Information?

Avoid Penalties: Understanding ACA Reporting Mistakes and the Different Types of IRS Penalty Letters

Register for March 20th - Avoid Penalties: Understanding ACA Reporting Mistakes and the Different Types of IRS Penalty Letters Before the March 31st Deadline

By Natalie Frantz • February 14, 2025
Join us to ensure you’re avoiding common mistakes that could lead to costly penalties. With the ACA filing deadline on March 31, 2025, fast approaching, this is your chance to ensure your reporting is error-free and penalty-proof. Join us as our Director of ACA Services, Ashley Pope, disusses how to get ahead of the curve and avoid the pitfalls that many organizations face during filing season.
ACA for Dummies: Back to the Basics of ACA Reporting for 2025

Register for April 24th - ACA for Dummies: Back to the Basics of ACA Reporting for 2025

By Natalie Frantz • February 14, 2025
Join us as SyncStream kicks off 2025 ACA Reporting year with going back to the beginning. This webinar is designed to provide a beginner-friendly approach that revisits the fundamentals of ACA Reporting. Whether you are new to ACA, seeking a refresher, or feeling bewildered by ACA regulations, this webinar is tailored just for you!
Download | 2024 Employer's Guide to ACA Reporting

2024 Employer's Guide to ACA Reporting

By Stacy Barrow J.D • January 30, 2025
As part of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) individual mandate penalty was repealed effective January 1, 2019; however, the TCJA did not repeal the employer mandate nor its reporting requirements. Employers should be prepared to respond to IRS Employer Shared Responsibility Provision (ESRP) penalty letters and continue to prepare for 2024 reporting, which will occur in the first quarter of 2025.

Missed the ACA Deadline? Find out what to do now.


ACA forms were due to the IRS by March 31, 2023, if filed electronically. Penalties for filing late can increase over time, however, failing to file at all will result in severe penalties. Moreover, if the IRS finds that failing to file was an intentional disregard, penalties are increased exponentially.
If an organization files within 30 days of the deadline, the penalty for late filing will be reduced by the IRS from $280 to $50 with the total capped at $571,000.

Filing after 30 days past the deadline but before August 1 will result in a penalty of $110 per return, with a maximum of $1,713,000.


Organizations had until the filing deadline on March 31st  to submit Form 8809 and obtain a 30-day extension automatically. Nevertheless, if the deadline has passed, filing late is still preferable to not filing at all, as it will incur a lower penalty.



There is no “good faith effort” relief for failing to file in a timely manner.


The IRS is actively pursuing Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) who failed to file their Forms 1094-C or 1095-Cs in tax years 2015 – present (Letter 5699) and ALEs (or non-ALEs with self-funded plans) who failed to timely file Forms 1094 or 1095, had incomplete or inaccurate information in their Forms 1094 or 1095, or failed to electronically file their forms 1094 and 1095 (if they have more than 250 employees). 



The IRS has stated that penalties for noncompliance with the Employer Shared Responsibility Tax have no statute of limitations on when the IRS can impose them. This means that employers are never “safe” or “out of the woods” from receiving penalty letters, even from the very first reporting season, which happened in the spring of 2016. 


SyncStream is experienced with clients that need to file late or for any past year.



About SyncStream

SyncStream removes the burden of ACA compliance and reduces your company’s risk of high IRS fines and penalties. Subject matter experts utilize SyncStream’s user-friendly compliance software to track employee hours, auto-populate forms, audit forms, and e-file for thousands of ALEs.


SyncStream can help simplify the process with their Full Service Total ACA solution, which includes tracking employee hours, auto-populating forms, auditing forms, and e-filing for thousands of ALEs. Don't risk high IRS fines and penalties; trust SyncStream to handle your ACA compliance needs.



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