In the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision allowing most of the Affordable Care Act to stand, Justice John Roberts interpreted “fees” levied on individuals who choose not buy something (in this case health insurance) as a tax and not a penalty. If such a fee is, in fact, a tax (and not a penalty), Justice Roberts reasoned, it falls within the scope of congress’s constitutional authority.
Although such an interpretation may have profound legal and social implications, those of us in the tax profession are waiting to see if the IRS shares Justice Robert’s sentiment: Will this “penalty/tax” be a deductible business expense or a nondeductible penalty? Many taxes such as the employer’s share of social security and Medicare are deductible. Penalties for a violation of law or legal “mandate,” however, are generally not.
Professionals who had taken a wait-and-see posture regarding the Act’s constitutionality are also starting to dig into the details of the Affordable Care Act. This article will share a few uncovered details that may impact you and/or your business in 2013. It will also discuss the penalty/tax scheduled to begin in 2014.
2013
2014: The Penalty/Tax Kicks In:
This article has highlighted a few of the major tax changes created by the Affordable Care Act for 2013 and 2014. This article (or any article) should not be relied upon to make tax or financial decisions. If you would like assistance regarding a particular tax issue or have a question regarding how Health Care Reform may impact you and/or your business’s tax obligations, please feel free to contact our office to consult with a tax professional.
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