7 Must-Know 2021 HR Compliance Dates
From ACA deadlines to open enrollment, it’s hard to stay compliant. Here are some of the top 2021 HR compliance dates to mark on your calendar.
This story was last updated March 24, 2021
To stay on top of HR compliance in 2021 there are several important deadlines for HR professionals to keep in mind. Mark your calendar for these 2021 HR compliance dates and start the new year with a bang. This isn’t a comprehensive list, but we’ve included some of the most important milestones.
February 1, 2021
February is the deadline for all businesses to send out Form W-2 to employees and Form 1099-MISC to vendors and contractors. Employers who fail to file by the end of the month will face penalties for missing the deadline. The IRS advises employers to start preparing forms before the due date to allow time for correcting W-2 errors. Need help preparing the W-2 and 1099? Here’s a step-by-step guide.
March 1, 2021
The Form M-1 must be submitted to the IRS no later than March 1, 2021.
The deadline for Form M-1 is March 1, unless that date falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or Federal holiday, in which case the form must be filed no later than the next business day.
This annual report is used to document information concerning a Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement (MEWA). A MEWA can be offered to employees as a welfare benefit plan. Each state regulates MEWAs differently, so HR professionals should get to know their specific responsibilities. All participating employers must file a Form M-1 electronically with the IRS.
March 2, 2021
Large businesses are required to post the previous year’s OSHA summary of injuries and illnesses (Form 300A) by March 2. If your organization has 250 or more employees, you’re required to maintain company injury and illness records and submit them to OSHA at the beginning of the year.
Employers submit data electronically by completing an Injury Tracking Application (ITA). OSHA compiles injury information from large organizations to evaluate workplace safety and understand industry hazards to implement new strategies that prevent future injuries.
March 31, 2021
If you are self-insured and not considered an Applicable Large Employer (ALE), this is the time to submit information to the government about the health benefits you offer and your employees’ enrollment status via electronic forms 1094-B and 1095-B.
If you are considered an Applicable Large Employer (ALE) you must submit e-versions of Forms 1094-C and 1095-C by this date. Non-ALEs (employers with less than 50 full-time employees) must send in Forms 1094-B and 1095-B. These documents are essential as they help employees file their tax returns. Employees can complete the health coverage portion of the return after the employer’s report minimum essential coverage (ACA compliance) with the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The 2021 HR compliance date for EEO-1 reports is also March 31. The federal statute and regulations mandate this compliance survey. The data compiles race, ethnicity, gender, and job categories of company staff. Federal agencies use this information to enforce civil rights and analyze employment patterns in different industries. If your company meets the requirements for EEO-1 filing, follow these submission steps.
The government has also enacted various temporary measures to benefit employers despite the negative effects of the 2020 pandemic. The CARES Act — which was signed on March 27, 2020 — allows a payroll-tax deferral on the employer’s mandatory contribution from March through the end of 2020. This deferred employment tax can be paid in the span of the two subsequent years, with one half payable before December 31, 2021 and the other half before December 21, 2022.
March 31, 2021
The 2021 HR compliance date for EEO-1 reports is March 31. The federal statute and regulations mandate this compliance survey. The data compiles race, ethnicity, gender, and job categories of company staff. Federal agencies use this information to enforce civil rights and analyze employment patterns in different industries. If your company meets the requirements for EEO-1 filing, follow these submission steps.
July 31, 2021
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Initiative (PCORI) payments are due by the end of July. The IRS collects a yearly research trust fund fee from issuers of specified health insurance policies. According to the IRS, payments are used to “assist, through research, patients, clinicians, purchasers, and policy-makers, in making informed health decisions by advancing the quality and relevance of evidence-based medicine.” Find out if your organization is responsible for reporting and paying the PCORI fee.
October 15, 2021
Employers must notify Medicare-eligible enrollees of creditable coverage for prescription drugs. If your organization offers prescription drug coverage, you must provide written notice of credibility to employees covered by a drug plan. Notices must be issued by October 15, 2021, before Medicare’s annual enrollment period. Documents can be delivered electronically or by mail. If your company doesn’t offer prescription drug coverage, notice is not required. Explore this overview of credible coverage issues for plan sponsors and the coverage guide for more help.
For a complete list of 2021 HR compliance dates, request a Zenefits demo.
As aforementioned, this article is intended to be informational, but not exhaustive. Download the compliance calendar below or reach out to a Zenefits advisor for more details.
