HHS, IRS Announced that 800,000 Americans Were Sent Incorrect 1095-A Forms / Under ACA, Individuals Receiving Tax Credit Must File 1095-A; Incorrect Forms Could Impact Pennsylvanians’ Ability to File Their Taxes Correctly
Washington, DC - Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that he has sent a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Sylvia Mathews Burwell, pressing the Department on the steps it is taking to ensure that the significant number of Pennsylvanians affected by the incorrect 1095-A forms sent out by HHS are given all possible assistance. Approximately 800,000 individuals were sent 1095-A tax forms with incorrectly-generated data. This form, required for the first time when filing taxes this year under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), is vital for taxpayers to ensure they are able to file their 2014 taxes correctly and adjust the amount they owe or the refund they receive.
“I am troubled that a large number of Pennsylvanians received tax forms with incorrect data,” Senator Casey said. “HHS should immediately take steps to help affected Pennsylvanians and ensure that this error doesn’t occur next year.”
The full text of Casey’s letter is below:
Dear Secretary Burwell:
I write today to request your assistance in ensuring that the significant number of Pennsylvanians affected by the incorrect 1095-A forms sent out by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are given all possible assistance.
I am deeply distressed that approximately 800,000 individuals were sent 1095-A tax forms with incorrectly-generated data. This form, required for the first time when filing taxes this year, is vital for taxpayers to ensure they are able to file their 2014 taxes correctly and adjust the amount they owe or the refund they receive. My office has already heard from many constituents who are confused and worried about the implications of this problem, and I seek your assurance that HHS is taking every available step to correct this issue as swiftly as possible.
Please answer the following questions regarding the Department of Health and Human Services’ response to the discovery of the incorrect forms:
- How many Pennsylvanians have been affected?
- How are you reaching out to taxpayers to ensure they are given updated 1095-A forms? What is the timeline for getting this information out?
- Have Navigators and healthcare.gov call center operators been appropriately trained in how to assist taxpayers in determining whether or not their 1095-A is correct, and what to do if their form is incorrect?
- Have you done any outreach to tax preparers so that they are also aware of the need to check their clients’ 1095-A forms for accuracy?
- What training are you providing for Congressional constituent services staff who are the front-line workers fielding calls from constituents who have concerns about the incorrect 1095-A data?
- Have you consulted with the Department of the Treasury to ensure that individuals who file their 2014 taxes based off of incorrect 1095-A data are not subject to additional tax liabilities or penalties?
- What steps are you taking to ensure that all taxpayers who receive 1095-A forms in future years are given the correct data?
Given the sensitivity of this issue, and for the benefit of my constituents, I would appreciate receiving the answers to these questions within two weeks. If you have further questions, please contact my staff.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
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