After You File PCORI: Proof and Records
Once your return is in, three jobs remain: confirm it landed, build a small file you can find next year, and put the next date on a calendar. PCORI reporting is annual, and people move on, so whoever handles the next return may start with only what you leave behind.
If you still owe a return, file your PCORI fee online first, then come back to this list. If you have already filed, here is the order to work through.
First, confirm the return went through
What "went through" means depends on how you filed.
| You filed by | What you can expect | What to do next |
|---|---|---|
| E-file | An IRS acknowledgment. The excise e-file page describes "immediate acknowledgement of receipt." | Check for accepted, not just sent. Save the acknowledgment. |
| E-file, rejected | A reject tied to a published IRS rule | Correct and resubmit. The return is not accepted yet. |
| Our sources describe no IRS confirmation | Keep your written proof of the mail date. |
Your paid preparer, if you used one, must give you a copy of the form in addition to the one filed with the IRS. If you don't have your copy, ask for it now, while it's fresh.
Next, confirm the payment matches
Filing and paying can be separate actions. Look at line 10 of your return and match it against what left your bank.
- EFTPS: the IRS says the payment should be applied to the second quarter. Check that your confirmation shows Q2.
- Check or money order: confirm that it cleared, for the line 10 amount.
- Under $1.00: the instructions say you don't have to pay if line 10 is under $1.00.
- Nothing paid yet: payment is due when the return is due. Pay now through one of the IRS payment options. Our late filing guide explains the consequences of paying late.
What to keep in your PCORI file
The instructions say to keep copies of your tax return, records, and accounts of all transactions to show that the correct tax has been paid. Records that support claims and exemptions must be kept at least 4 years from the latest of the date the tax became due, you paid the tax, or you filed a claim. The instructions don't give a PCORI-specific list, so this is a practical one built around what the fee depends on:
| Item | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| The filed return, plus the IRS acknowledgment or proof of mail date | Shows what you reported, and when |
| Payment confirmation or cleared check | Shows the fee was paid |
| Covered-lives worksheet | The fee is lives times rate. This is the number only you can support. |
| Which counting method you used | A sponsor must use one method consistently within a plan year |
| Snapshot dates, if you used the snapshot method | The dates in later quarters must correspond to the first-quarter date, within three days |
| The Form 5500, if you used that method | It must be filed no later than the fee's due date |
| Plan document pages naming the sponsor, plus any written designation and consent | Shows why this EIN filed, in a shared plan |
| Plan year start and end dates | They decide the rate and which return the fee belongs on |
Keep one short note saying who prepared it and who signed. If you named a third party designee, the authorization expires 1 year from the return's due date. See how covered lives are counted for what a good worksheet includes.
Your next date, and what to check before it
The next PCORI due date is Monday, August 2, 2027, because July 31, 2027 is a Saturday. It covers plan years that ended in calendar 2026.
- Plan year ended January 1 to September 30, 2026: the instructions give a rate of $3.84.
- Plan year ended on or after October 1, 2026: our IRS sources have no rate yet. The IRS publishes it, so check the second-quarter 2027 instructions.
The line letters may differ on the newer form too. The IRS says to use the most current Form 720 revision and that the spring revision typically has the updated rates. Once you have the rate, the PCORI fee calculator can check your figure. The fee continues for plan years ending before October 1, 2029.
If PCORI is your only excise item, you don't file for the first, third, or fourth quarter. And if your situation changed, re-check whether you still owe. A move to fully insured coverage with no HRA puts the fee on the issuer for those policy years.
If something later turns out wrong, or the IRS writes
- You find an error on an accepted return. Don't file a second Form 720 for that quarter. Use Form 720-X, including for a wrong rate or an overpayment. IRS Q&A 16 says it may be filed anytime within the applicable limitation period. Our Form 720-X guide has the details.
- You overpaid. IRS Q&A 15 says you can't reduce next year's fee for it. That also goes through Form 720-X.
- You get a penalty notice. The instructions say to reply to the notice with an explanation, and the IRS will determine whether you meet reasonable-cause criteria.
- You won't owe anything again. The instructions say to file a final return if you have been filing and won't owe excise taxes reportable on Form 720 in future quarters. The form has a "Final return" box.
How your account helps next year
If you e-filed with EasyFile720, your past returns stay saved in your account, so you can see last year's lives, lines, and fee when the next return comes around. You still keep your own worksheet and payment proof, because those live outside the return. Your next step depends on where you are. For the 2027 filing, you can return to PCORI fee filing at $39.95 per filing, or use the Full Year Plan if you handle more than one business. If you mailed last time and want an IRS acknowledgment next time, create a free account, with no credit card needed to start.
FAQ
Does the IRS send a confirmation for a paper Form 720?▼
Our sources do not describe one. That is why the proof of the mail date is the record to keep for a mailed return.
How long should I keep PCORI records?▼
The instructions set at least 4 years for records supporting claims and exemptions, counted from the latest of when the tax became due, you paid it, or you filed a claim. They also say to keep copies of your return and records showing the correct tax was paid.
Can I change my covered-lives method next year?▼
Yes. The regulation for self-insured plans requires one method consistently within a plan year, and allows a different method from one plan year to the next.
Our address changed since we filed. What now?▼
Check the Address change box on your next Form 720, as the instructions direct. The e-file rules also note that entities with an EIN must report a responsible party change on Form 8822-B within 60 days.
File your PCORI fee online
Create a free account with no credit card and build your return. You pay $39.95 only when you file. EasyFile720 is an IRS-authorized e-file provider, and you get an acknowledgment when the IRS accepts your return.
Sources: Instructions for Form 720 (Rev. June 2026); Form 720 (Rev. June 2026); IRS PCORI Questions and Answers; IRS Excise Tax e-File and Compliance page; 26 CFR 46.4376-1; 720 Business Rules Publication 2026Q4v1.0. General information, not tax advice. Confirm how the rules apply to you with a qualified advisor or the IRS.
