Is the PCORI Tax Cheaper Than Your Morning Coffee?

Here is your reminder of a small $3 street tax. It’s called PCORI.

Have you established a 105-HRA, Qualified Small Employer Health Reimbursement Arrangement (QSEHRA), or Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangement (ICHRA) to reimburse your employees for medical expenses? 

If so, congratulations! These HRAs are a great way to pay your employees' medical expenses and obtain a tax deduction. 

All three types of HRAs come with a pesky IRS filing requirement

Each year, you must pay a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) fee that's used to help support the Institute. 

The fee is small—currently, $3.00 times the “average number of lives covered” by your HRA during the previous plan year. There are various ways to calculate the number of lives covered. 

When do pay?

You must pay the fee by filing Form 720 with the IRS by July 31 of the calendar year following the end of your plan year. Paying the PCORI fee is a bit of a nuisance. But on the plus side, the fee is tax-deductible.

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