If your business offers health insurance coverage—or should under the Affordable Care Act (ACA)—you’ve probably faced the confusion that comes with ACA reporting. Between IRS notices, complex forms, and strict deadlines, it can feel like you're constantly playing catch-up. That’s where ACA consulting comes in.
ACA consulting gives you expert guidance to stay compliant, avoid penalties, and get ahead of issues before they cost you time and money.
Whether you’re unsure about your responsibilities or need help responding to a penalty notice like CP220J, working with a consulting team like 1095 EZ Online can make all the difference.
What Is ACA Consulting?
ACA consulting is a professional service that helps employers comply with the Affordable Care Act. It goes beyond just filling out 1095-C and 1094-C forms. It provides tailored advice and support to ensure your data is accurate, your filings are correct, and your business is protected from penalties.
Here’s what ACA consultants typically help with:
- Determining if you qualify as an Applicable Large Employer (ALE)
- Reviewing your employee data and identifying red flags
- Advising on correct offer of coverage codes and affordability safe harbors
- Assisting with late or corrected filings
- Responding to IRS penalty notices like CP220J
- Writing reasonable cause letters and gathering supporting documents
- Developing a compliance strategy for the future
ACA consulting is especially valuable if your business has grown past the 50-employee threshold, has undergone structural changes, or has received a letter from the IRS questioning your compliance.
Services Included in ACA Consulting
ACA consulting services vary depending on your needs and the complexity of your workforce. However, most consulting packages include these core offerings:
- ALE status determination based on full-time equivalent (FTE) calculations
- Review and cleanup of employee and coverage data
- Preparation and review of Forms 1095-C and 1094-C
- IRS e-filing assistance
- Response strategy for IRS penalty letters (CP220J, 226J, etc.)
- Documentation of reasonable cause to avoid or reduce penalties
- Year-round compliance support and planning
When Should You Consider ACA Consulting?
Many businesses wait until there’s a problem before seeking help. But ACA compliance is not the type of process you want to leave to chance.
Here are a few scenarios where consulting is a smart investment:
- You’re not sure whether you meet ALE status under the 50-employee rule
- You’ve never filed 1095-C or 1094-C forms before
- You received a CP220J or other ACA penalty notice
- You’ve switched payroll or benefits platforms and your data is inconsistent
- You missed a filing deadline and aren’t sure what to do next
- You suspect your codes or calculations might be incorrect
ACA consultants help you correct errors, defend against penalties, and prevent future mistakes—all while keeping you compliant and stress-free.
What Happens If You Ignore ACA Problems?
Failing to comply with the ACA can be costly. If your business should have filed ACA forms and didn’t, or filed them with errors, the IRS may issue significant penalties.
A CP220J notice, for example, means the IRS believes you owe a penalty under IRC Section 4980H for failing to offer affordable coverage to full-time employees.
Common mistakes that lead to penalties include:
- Misclassifying full-time employees
- Missing or incorrect Social Security numbers
- Using the wrong offer of coverage codes
- Filing late or not at all
- Failing to respond to an IRS notice within the deadline
Even if these mistakes were unintentional, they can cost thousands of dollars.
ACA consultants can help you correct filings and prepare documentation that shows the IRS you acted in good faith.
Why ACA Compliance Is Getting Harder Each Year
ACA rules haven’t gone away—in fact, they’ve grown more complicated. The IRS continues to tighten enforcement, and new regulations at the federal and state levels have introduced extra reporting requirements for many employers.
For example, states like California, New Jersey, and Rhode Island now require their own ACA filings in addition to federal ones.
As compliance becomes more demanding, many businesses struggle to keep up, especially when juggling multiple systems for payroll, benefits, and HR.
ACA consulting helps you bridge the gap between your internal data and the IRS’s expectations. It’s the easiest way to stay current with evolving laws and avoid costly surprises each year.
How ACA Consulting Saves You Time and Internal Resources
Even if you have a skilled HR team, ACA reporting is highly technical and time-consuming. Trying to train your staff, audit your data, and track every code update drains valuable hours from your business.
Worse, the cost of internal errors can far exceed the price of hiring a consultant.
With ACA consulting, you free up your team to focus on what they do best, while experts handle the compliance work.
Consultants take ownership of deadlines, forms, and communications—delivering peace of mind and freeing up your internal resources for more strategic tasks.
ACA Consulting vs. Software-Only Solutions
Some businesses rely on software platforms that promise easy ACA filing. While these tools can be helpful, they don’t provide the context, strategy, or personalized support that consulting offers.
If your data is incomplete, your codes are wrong, or you receive a penalty notice, software alone won’t walk you through a solution.
ACA consulting fills that gap. Instead of clicking through a generic dashboard, you get real answers from professionals who know your situation and the law. When penalties are on the line, human expertise often makes the difference between success and stress.
Here’s how the process typically works:
- Consultants review the notice line-by-line and identify where the IRS believes you went wrong
- They cross-check your actual employee and benefits data for accuracy
- They determine if safe harbors or corrected codes can reduce your liability
- They help you write a timely response and submit any required documentation
- They stay in contact with the IRS if additional clarification is needed
This kind of expert support can mean the difference between paying a five-figure penalty—or paying nothing at all.
The Advantage of Working with 1095 EZ Online
At 1095 EZ Online, our ACA consulting services are designed to keep you compliant and penalty-free.
Unlike software-only solutions, we offer real human expertise that helps you navigate every part of the ACA process.
Here’s how we support our consulting clients:
- Hands-on support from ACA compliance experts
- Customized strategy based on your workforce and benefits plan
- Fast turnaround on urgent filings and IRS responses
- Clear explanations of every code and requirement
- Support through every IRS notice or appeal process
- Affordable pricing for businesses of all sizes
We don’t just help you fix problems—we help you avoid them.
Getting Started with ACA Consulting
Starting ACA consulting with 1095 EZ Online is easy. We begin with a free initial assessment to understand your business, your workforce, and any past issues or notices you've received. From there, we create a custom plan that meets your needs.
In most cases, we can:
- Review your past filings
- Identify missing forms or incorrect data
- Help you file corrections or backdated forms
- Respond to any open notices or penalty letters
- Provide peace of mind that you’re ACA compliant moving forward
You don’t have to go it alone—and you shouldn’t. Let our team help you protect your business and avoid expensive penalties.
ACA Compliance Is Too Important to Wing It
ACA reporting isn’t something you want to guess at. Whether you’re unsure of your ALE status, dealing with a late filing, or responding to a CP220J notice, the right consulting partner can help you navigate it with clarity and confidence.
1095 EZ Online provides ACA consulting that goes beyond forms. We deliver real support, smart strategy, and clear communication—so you can focus on running your business, not worrying about compliance.
If you're ready to avoid penalties and take control of your ACA responsibilities, get started with 1095 EZ Online today.