Online AIR Systems User Interface (UI) ACA Assurance Testing System (AATS) Log in to upload your test forms or scenarios. User Interface (UI) Production System Log in to upload your 1094 and 1095 forms. Automated Enrollment (AE) for ACA Providers Upload your certificates when transmitting through the Application to Application (A2A) channel. See Publication 5308, Automated Enrollment for ACA Providers the Externals GuidePDF for all activities. AIR System Operational Status Check Status Overview Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), insurance companies, self-insured companies, and large businesses and businesses that provide health insurance to their employees must submit information returns to the IRS reporting on individual’s health insurance coverage. You are required to file electronically if submitting 250 or more information returns. The following can use the AIR System to electronically file ACA information returns to the IRS: Software developers Employers Insurance Issuers or Carriers Government Agencies Third parties who would submit returns either for their own company and/or for other companies The ACA information returns include: Form 1094-B, Transmittal of Health Coverage Information Returns Form 1095-B, Health Coverage Form 1094-C, Transmittal of Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage Information Returns Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage New filers need to apply for the Affordable Care Act Application for Transmitter Control Code (TCC). Apply Now System Updates 6/22/2022: Transport Layer Security (TLS) versions 1.0 and 1.1 have been deprecated by the industry. According to NIST SP 800-52r2 guidelines, all government agencies, including IRS, should move off these versions and preferably move to TLS version 1.3 (TLS version 1.2 is also acceptable). Based on these guidelines, beginning August 1, 2022, the encryption level for the User Interface (UI) and Application-to-Application (A2A) Channels, for the ACA Assurance Testing System (AATS) and Production Environments will be TLS versions 1.2 and 1.3 exclusively. If you are not currently using TLS version 1.2 or 1.3, we advise you to move to one of these versions as soon as possible (no later than August 1, 2022) to avoid any possible disruption of service. 10/27/2021: AATS WSDLs: Beginning 11/2/2021, use AATS WSDLs package named “AIR FS22-TY21 AATS WSDL Package Nov 2021_v1.0” Beginning January 2022 for Production WSDLs: Use the package named “AIR FS22-TY21 Production WSDL Package Jan 2022_v1.0” 10/4/2019: AIR No longer supports SHA-1 from the accepted Signature and Digest methods used to digitally sign ISS-A2A transmissions. The ISS-A2A Gateway accepts SHA-256, SHA-384 and SHA-512 algorithms during the validation of WS-Security. Schemas and Business Rules XML Schemas, Business Rules and other information for software developers and transmitters, who are interested in developing software for the AIR Program, is provided by Tax Year: In Processing Years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 AIR will accept Forms 1094-B, 1095-B, 1094-C and 1095-C returns only. Schemas and Business Rules for AIR by Tax Year 2021: 1094-B, 1095-B, 1094-C, and 1095-C 2020: 1094-B, 1095-B, 1094-C, and 1095-C 2019: 1094-B, 1095-B, 1094-C, and 1095-C 2018: 1094-B, 1095-B, 1094-C, and 1095-C 2017: 1094-B, 1095-B, 1094-C, and 1095-C 2016: 1094-B, 1095-B, 1094-C, and 1095-C 2015: 1094-B, 1095-B, 1094-C, and 1095-C Tax Year Updates AIR TCCs for Transmitters and Issuers that are in Production status will remain in Production status. No additional testing is needed for Tax Year 2021. Software Developers need to update their ACA Application for TCC each year to obtain a new software identification number for the new tax year Software Developers who passed testing for any tax year ending after December 31, 2014 do not need to test for the current tax year. Software IDs are scheduled to move to Production one week from the date the software IDs are assigned. When the 2021 software packages are added, Responsible Officials will need to re-sign the ACA Application for TCC. AIR Transmissions (both live and test) will reject if the ACA Application for TCC is not signed and in Completed status. Allow 48 hours before transmitting to Production after passing any required testing. 2021 To generate tax year 2021 returns in AATS and Production, use: Manifest file from tax year 2021 schema package Form data file from tax year 2021 schema package PaymentYr value “2021” PriorYearDataInd value “0” Software Id for 2021 (2021 software Ids start with 21XXXXXXXX) 2020 To generate tax year 2020 returns in AATS and Production, use: Manifest file from tax year 2021 schema package Form data file from tax year 2020 schema package PaymentYr value “2020” PriorYearDataInd value “1” Software Id for 2020 (2020 software Ids start with 20XXXXXXXX) 2019 To generate tax year 2019 returns in AATS and Production, use: Manifest file from tax year 2021 schema package Form data file from tax year 2019 schema package PaymentYr value “2019” PriorYearDataInd value “1” Software Id for 2019 (2019 software Ids start with 19XXXXXXXX) 2018 To generate tax year 2018 returns in AATS and Production, use: Manifest file from tax year 2021 schema package Form data file from tax year 2018 schema package PaymentYr value “2018” PriorYearDataInd value “1” Software Id for 2018 (2018 software Ids start with 18XXXXXXXX) 2017 To generate tax year 2017 returns in AATS and Production, use: Manifest file from tax year 2021 schema package Form data file from tax year 2017 schema package PaymentYr value “2017” PriorYearDataInd value “1” Software Id for 2017 (2017 software Ids start with 17XXXXXXXX) 2016 To generate tax year 2016 returns in AATS and Production, use: Manifest file from tax year 2021 schema package Form data file from tax year 2016 schema package PaymentYr value “2016” PriorYearDataInd value “1” Software Id for 2016 (2016 software Ids start with 16XXXXXXXX) 2015 To generate tax year 2015 returns in AATS and Production, use: Manifest file from tax year 2021 schema package Form data file from tax year 2015 schema package PaymentYr value “2015” PriorYearDataInd value “1” Software Id for 2015 (2015 software Ids start with 15XXXXXXXX) Resources Affordable Care Act Assurance Testing System (AATS) Information Returns Find test scenarios, answers keys and known issues. Tutorial for Affordable Care Act Application for Transmitter Control CodePDF Find step-by-step guidance on accessing and updating the application. Publications Publication 5164, Test Package for Electronic Filers of Affordable Care Act (ACA) Information Returns (AIR) (October 2021)PDF Publication 5165, Guide for Electronically Filing Affordable Care Act (ACA) Information Returns for Software Developers and Transmitters (November 2021)PDF Publication 5258, Affordable Care Act (ACA) Information Returns (AIR) Submission Composition and Reference Guide (November 2021)PDF Publication 5308, AIR Automated Enrollment Guide (October 2021)PDF Contact and News Information Contact Us You can submit questions to the AIR Mailbox regarding electronic filing of Forms 1094-B, 1094-C, 1095-B and 1095-C. Include the Receipt ID, ACA TCC, and Year of the ACA forms if known. Subscribe to QuickAlerts Keep up to date on the events that affect Authorized IRS e-file Providers and Issuers/Payers, Transmitters and Software Developers that will electronically file Affordable Care Act Information Returns.
