The Massachusetts Department of Revenue (DOR) has released Technical Information Release (TIR) 11-5, Employer-Provided Health Care Benefits Update. This TIR updates TIR 07-16, Personal Income Tax Treatment of Employer-Provided Health Insurance Coverage for an Employee’s Child, to reflect a Massachusetts statutory change to the personal income tax enacted in response to the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The general effect of the Massachusetts change is to conform to the federal income exclusion rules for health care benefits that are in effect for each year, notwithstanding the general Massachusetts tie-in to federal income and exclusion rules as of January 1, 2005. The Massachusetts change is effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2010.

Massachusetts Law Generally Conforms To 2005 IRC

In general, Massachusetts individual taxpayers must follow the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) in effect as of January 1, 2005. As a result of a recent law change in Massachusetts, taxpayers now follow the federal law for IRC §105 and §106 for exclusions from gross income for employer-provided health care benefits. This change is retroactive to January 1, 2010.

Amended Form W-2 May Be Required

Employers who imputed income for amounts that are now excluded from income may need to file Form W-2C, Corrected Wage and Tax Statement. Such a filing would be required if any 2010 or 2011 Forms W-2 have been provided to employees with such imputed income included. If a 2011 Form W-2 has not already been provided to affected employees, employers can simply adjust the 2011 Form W-2 when prepared. Employees who have already filed a 2010 Form 1, Massachusetts Resident Income Tax would need to file an amended return to reflect the Form W-2C. Employees who have yet to file can simply incorporate the Form W-2C figures into their return when they file.

Contact Vision Payroll for Assistance with Form W-2C

Contact Vision Payroll today if you have affected employees and need to file Form W-2C.