Provider Relief Fund FAQs

Hart Health Strategies has provided the following information on the Provide Relief Fund FAQs.  The nature of these new questions highlight that the PRF funds may be counted toward taxable income.

Will I receive a Form 1099? (Added 12/18/2020)
Yes, you will receive a Form 1099 if you received and retained within the calendar year 2020 a total net payment from either or both of the Provider Relief Fund and COVID-19 Claims Reimbursement to Health Care Providers and Facilities for Testing, Treatment, and Vaccine Administration for the Uninsured that is in excess of $600.

When will my Form 1099 be available? (Added 12/18/2020)
Form 1099s will be mailed by January 31st, 2021. If you have previously established an account with UnitedHealth Group and elected to receive electronic copies of documents and notices, you will not receive a mailed copy.

Who do I contact if I have question regarding my Form 1099? (Added 12/18/2020)
Please call the Provider Support Line (866) 569-3522 (for TTY, dial 711) for any questions you may have regarding your Form 1099.

Previous FAQs related to taxability:

May a health care provider that receives a payment from the Provider Relief Fund exclude this payment from gross income as a qualified disaster relief payment under section 139 of the Internal Revenue Code (Code)? (Added 7/10/2020)
No. A payment to a business, even if the business is a sole proprietorship, does not qualify as a qualified disaster relief payment under section 139. The payment from the Provider Relief Fund is includible in gross income under section 61 of the Code. For more information, visit the Internal Revenue Services’ website at https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/frequently-asked-questions-about-taxation-of-provider-relief-payments.

Is a tax-exempt health care provider subject to tax on a payment it receives from the Provider Relief Fund? (Added 7/10/2020)
Generally, no. A health care provider that is described in section 501(c) of the Code generally is exempt from federal income taxation under section 501(a). Nonetheless, a payment received by a tax-exempt health care provider from the Provider Relief Fund may be subject to tax under section 511 if the payment reimburses the provider for expenses or lost revenue attributable to an unrelated trade or business as defined in section 513. For more information, visit the Internal Revenue Services’ website at https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/frequently-asked-questions-about-taxation-of-provider-relief-payments.

Can providers use Provider Relief Fund payment to pay taxes? (Added 12/11/2020)
Yes. HHS considers taxes imposed on Provider Relief Fund payments to be “healthcare related expenses attributable to coronavirus” that are reimbursable with Provider Relief Fund money,

Are Intergovernmental Transfers (IGTs) related to state provider taxes allowable G&A expenses? (Added 10/28/2020)
A portion of a Provider Relief Fund recipient’s state provider taxes may be eligible expenses, but only to the extent the Provider Relief Fund recipient owes incrementally increased state provider taxes, where the incremental increase is attributable to coronavirus.