ObamaCare – An Explosion of Regulatory Burdens

September 19, 2012



Nearly 80 million hours in regulatory compliance; half hit small businesses
According to former Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Fred Goldberg, and supported by the Obama Administration’s own figures, ObamaCare “…in its current form will be a needless administrative and compliance quagmire for millions of Americans.”
Based on IRS estimates approved by the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs at the Office of Management and Budget, ObamaCare will take American job creators and families nearly 80 million hours to comply with. Over half of that will fall on small businesses.
So, what can be done in 79,229,503 hours?

  • The Empire State building, which took 7 million man-hours to build, could be constructed 11 times.
  • The Curiosity Lander could travel from Earth to Mars 13,048 times.
  • Halley’s comet, seen from Earth once every 76 years, could be spotted 119 times.

Every hour and dollar spent complying with the Democrats’ health care law are time and resources being taken from growing a business, hiring new workers, or caring for patients. To date, the Democrats’ health care law has resulted in IRS and Treasury issuing thousands of pages of new rules and regulations, including 40 notices, 17 regulations, 5 revenue procedures, 2 revenue rulings, and 14 Treasury decisions. Sixteen IRS regulations implementing the health care law, found below, will require nearly 80 million man-hours per year according to the IRS. Given the enormous impact the regulations will have on job creators, it is no wonder that a recent survey found that over 70 percent of small businesses cite the health care law as a major obstacle to job creation.
Regulation Annual Burden in Labor Hours
1545-0023 Quarterly Federal Excise Tax Return 4,366,381
1545-0047 Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax Under Section 501(c), 527, or 4947(a)(1) of the Internal Revenue Code (except black lung benefit trust or private foundation) 25,766,156
1545-0090 Form 1040-SS, U.S. Self-Employment Tax Return; Form 1040-PR, Planilla Para La Declaracion De La Contribucion Federal Sobre El Trabajo Por Cuenta Propia-Puerto Rico; and Anejo H-PR 2,801,605
1545-0895 Form 3800, General Business Credit 5,307,500
1545-2172 Affordable Care Act Enrollment Opportunity Notice Relating to Extended Dependent Coverage 411,000
1545-2175 Form 8942 – Application for Certification of Qualified Investments Eligible for Credits; Notice 2010-XX – Qualifying Therapeutic Discovery Project Credit 14,545
1545-2177 Indoor Tanning Services; Cosmetic Services; Excise Tax 10,000
1545-2178 Interim Final Rules for Group Health Plans and Health Insurance Coverage Relating to Status as a Grandfathered Health Plan under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (TD XXXX) 323,000
1545-2179 Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Enrollment Opportunity Notice Relating to Lifetime Benefits 1,300
1545-2180 Affordable Care Act Notice of Rescission 25
1545-2181 Affordable Care Act Notice of Patient Protections 33,000
1545-2182 Affordable Care Act Internal Claims and Appeals and External Review Disclosures 150
1545-2192 Form 8947 – Report of Branded Prescription Drug Information 3,584
1545-2198 Form 8941 – Credit for Small Employer Health Insurance Premiums 40,189,456
1545-2209 Branded Prescription Drugs 1,800
1545-2232 Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit 1

ANNUAL TOTAL BURDEN HOURS: 79,229,503


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