Understanding Applicable Large Employer Status
The ACA’s employer shared responsibility provisions apply to companies with 50 or more full-time or full-time equivalent employees. Determining when restaurant groups cross this threshold can be confusing. To calculate Applicable Large Employer status:
- Count all full-time employees who work 30+ hours per week (or 130 hours per month)
- Add up total monthly hours worked by part-time staff with a max of 120 hours for individual employees.
- Divide the aggregated part-time hours by 120 to determine full-time equivalents for the month.
- Add full-time and full-time equivalents to see if you hit the 50+ employee threshold.
This monthly calculation must factor in fluctuations in hours and staffing. ACA Reporter offers real-time tracking and alerts to monitor Applicable Large Employer status. This protects against penalties for inadvertent non-compliance.
Simplifying ACA Compliance for Restaurant Chains
For multi-location and franchised restaurants, ACA compliance becomes exponentially more challenging. Keeping current with reporting requirements across hundreds of sites strains resources, requires a lot of time, and raises the risk of error.
To help combat the complexities of multi-location tracking, ACA Reporter allows restaurants to:
- Centralize employee hour tracking across all locations
- Continuously monitor full-time employee counts
- Generate required IRS returns for timely filing
- Maintain records digitally for easy access when needed
- Update compliance processes as regulations change
Automating ACA compliance also provides clarity. IRS penalties reaching into the millions make non-compliance a substantial risk. ACA Reporter enables restaurant ACA compliance so they can always remain audit-ready.
Managing Health Coverage Responsibility
Once you are classified as an Applicable Large Employer and are compiling your hours correctly, a restaurant must determine compliance obligations. To make sure you comply with ACA’s affordability rules, you have to analyze whether the coverage you have offered is affordable, meaning it meets the minimum value requirements.
To help restaurants comply to affordability requirements, ACA Reporter helps:
- Calculate affordability relative to employee wages
- Track eligibility for health plan enrollment
- Contain costs through dashboard-powered oversight
The Affordable Care Act and Restaurant Employees
Restaurant IRS Reporting Requirements
Once qualified as an Applicable Large Employer, ongoing IRS reporting is required. This includes furnishing Form 1095-C to each full-time employee and filing copies alongside transmittal Form 1094-C with the IRS.
ACA Reporter simplifies the process by:
- Populating Forms 1095-C with required employee data and ACA codes
- Generating Form 1094-C for aggregate filing
- E-filing directly with the IRS to meet deadlines
- Maintaining digital copies for easy access
Without the right software, IRS reporting can become an overwhelming annual burden. Leveraging ACA Reporter helps you stay compliant while freeing up managerial bandwidth.
Maintaining Compliance and Audit Readiness
- Storing hourly data, health plan offer info, and IRS forms
- Generating custom reports for any date range
- Providing clear audit trails to verify calculations
- Supporting data corrections in case of errors
Navigating Ongoing Regulatory Changes
Over the decade since the Affordable Care Act’s passage, regulations have continued to evolve. Changes occur through federal rulemaking and court rulings, and they can easily change from year to year.
ACA Reporter helps restaurants adapt through:
- Alerts and updates on regulatory changes
- Continually updated reporting forms
- Ongoing support for new requirements
- Resources to explain new provisions.
With compliance experts monitoring developments, restaurants can trust their processes reflect current standards.
