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Level 5
December 6, 2019
Solved

Employer reimburses employee for health insurance payment that employee pays. Still tax free benefit to employee?

  • December 6, 2019
  • 20 replies
  • 80 views

New job so employer not willing to put employee on insurance for 6 months but has agreed to reimburse him monthly until then. Employer reimburses employee for health insurance payment that employee pays. Still tax free benefit to employee?

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Best answer by TaxGuyBill

Yes, it should be tax free to the employee.

However, whether or not this arrangement is ACA compliant for the employer is another matter.  It is quite possible it is not, which could subject the employer to gigantic penalties.

20 replies

December 6, 2019

Yes, it should be tax free to the employee.

However, whether or not this arrangement is ACA compliant for the employer is another matter.  It is quite possible it is not, which could subject the employer to gigantic penalties.

itonewbie
Level 15
December 6, 2019

Excludable from taxable wages under §106(a) provided it is an accountable reimbursement and encashment is not an option.

It was also clarified that this type of arrangement is not ACA-compliant and may, therefore, be subject to substantial excise tax.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Still an AllStar
December 6, 2019
It is possible it would qualify under the Small Employer HRA.  However,  I suspect the employer does not have that.