Example of a properly formatted ACA xml file

Where can I find an example of a properly formatted ACA xml file?

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Infor Lawson Human Resources Group - Discussion

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As long as you don't mind the values being the fieldnames instead of the proper values, the actual schema description uploaded to the AIR site has sample files for both the Request and Manifests.

https://www.irs.gov/for-tax-pros/software-developers/affordable-care-act-information-returns-schemas

vipin-katiyar

Very useful link, Samuel. Thank you. We provide self-insured coverage.

1) What is the difference between the 1094-C and 1095-C files? The specs seem a little mixed. We created 1095-C PDF forms for our employees. Now the challenge is to create the ACA xml file (outside of Lawson programs)

2) Some items are marked "Optional" in the gov't doc for Form 1095-C XML Schema Elements (Form1095CUpstreamDetailType). Are they really optional? For example, "Optional" is all of Part II Employee Offer and Coverage (14 Offer of Coverage,15 Employee Share of Lowest Cost Monthly Premium, 16 Applicable Section 4980H Safe Harbor). Is that whole section really optional?

juergen-erbe

1. A 'proper' file will contain at least one 1094 XML element. Within that entry the 1095 XML entries of all the employees being filed under the company for that 1094 will appear (Note: if you have a huge number of entries in the production environment, you might have to send two or more transmissions as there is 100mb file size limit.)

2. When the specs indicate something is optional, you have to take that in the context of you should be including what would show on your paper form had you actually created one and that some items might not be indicated on your form, not in the context of "well this is an optional field so even though we'd mark it on the paper form we don't need to include it".

It's also important to note that complex XML elements are essentially containers for other XML elements, so even if a field is marked as required, if you aren't including the 'parent' element it's part of because THAT element is optional, then the child element is also optional.

I'm going to be very frank here just to make sure you set your expectations, if you are just NOW starting the process of submitting for approval of an 'in-house' solution, expect to miss the deadline.

We started early February this year with the AIR submission part of this project and I just finished getting all the testing scenarios submitted, when I called the IRS help desk to have them change my software ID 'status' flag to production, they indicated they are so overloaded that I was actually speaking to the W-2 questions department who had been pulled in and press-ganged into answering the phones and that all they could do was take down the necessary info and forward the case to the actual team, with an 'at least five day' turnaround. I don't see that turn around time going down.

0911060553270289.pdf

vipin-katiyar

Thank you, Samuel. It will be very valuable to us to keep this discussion thread open as we move forward.

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