EXCISE TAX

Notice 2015–17, page 845. Notice 2015–17 provides transition relief from the assessment of excise tax under section 4980D for small employers (in particular, employers who are not applicable large employers) who reimburse or pay a premium for an individual health insurance policy for an employee. Notice 2015–17 also addresses the treatment for federal tax and for market reform purposes of arrangements reimbursing premiums of 2%-shareholder employees of S corporations. Finally, Notice 2015–17 addresses application of the market reforms to certain employer arrangements to fund Medicare premium payments or to provide a TRICARE-related health reimbursement arrangement (HRA).

T.D. 9714, page 831. This document contains final rules that amend the regulations regarding excepted benefits under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, the Internal Revenue Code, and the Public Health Service Act related to limited wraparound coverage. Excepted benefits are generally exempt from the requirements that were added to those laws by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.