Keeping up with Affordable Care Act (ACA) compliance is hard enough without wrestling spreadsheets, manual eligibility checks, and last-minute form corrections. If you’re an Applicable Large Employer (ALE) with 50+ full-time employees (including equivalents), you need accurate 1095-C/1094-C reporting, airtight measurement-period tracking, and timely e-filing—plus, for many organizations, state-level submissions and print-and-mail fulfillment. The right ACA software centralizes all of that, pulling hours and benefits data together so you can identify offer status, apply affordability safe harbors, catch errors before filing, and stay audit-ready.
What is ACA Reporting Software?
ACA Reporting Software is a specialized compliance tool that helps employers meet the Affordable Care Act (ACA) reporting requirements. Under the ACA, Applicable Large Employers (ALEs)—those with 50 or more full-time employees, including full-time equivalents—must track employee hours, determine health coverage eligibility, and report this information annually to the IRS using forms 1095-C and 1094-C.
Below are ten strong ACA reporting solutions for 2025. Each option is trusted in the market, supports core ACA requirements, and helps HR and payroll teams reduce risk while saving time. Use the summaries to match your needs—whether you want a dedicated ACA e-file service or an end-to-end HR/payroll platform with ACA baked in.
1) ADP Workforce Now (ACA)
For organizations already on ADP Workforce Now, the built-in ACA capabilities are a natural fit. ADP centralizes time, payroll, and benefits data, making it easier to track ALE status, monitor measurement periods, and determine who received a qualifying offer of coverage. That data continuity reduces manual reconciliation and the risk of human error when generating 1095-Cs.
ADP also provides dashboards to spot potential non-compliance early—think affordability thresholds, missed offers, and variable-hour trends. When reporting season arrives, you can generate forms, manage corrections, and streamline e-filing with fewer data handoffs. If your goal is to keep ACA in the same system as payroll and benefits, ADP’s end-to-end approach is compelling.
2) Paychex Flex (ACA)
Paychex Flex offers ACA tools tightly connected to payroll and benefits administration, which helps simplify eligibility tracking and monthly offer management. Because the platform sees hours, pay, and plan elections together, it’s easier to apply the right safe harbors and ensure employees get timely, compliant offers.
During reporting season, Paychex Flex supports 1094-C/1095-C generation and filing, with processes to help you resolve warnings before submission. Many HR teams appreciate how Paychex balances automation with visibility—you can drill into the details but still keep routine tasks on autopilot. If you’re consolidating vendors and want ACA living where payroll lives, this is a pragmatic, scalable option.
3) Paycor (ACA)
Paycor’s ACA functionality focuses on proactive risk reduction. Its analytics surface problem areas earlier—such as variable-hour employees trending toward full-time status or affordability issues for certain groups—so you can intervene before penalties are at stake. That forward-looking approach is valuable for HR teams managing dynamic schedules or seasonal spikes.
At year-end, Paycor provides the workflows you need to produce and file 1095-C/1094-C and fulfill employee copies. The tight link to HR and payroll records minimizes redundant data handling. For teams that want a clear ACA dashboard, early alerts, and smooth reporting inside the same platform they use daily, Paycor is a strong contender.
4) Rippling (ACA)
Rippling brings a modern, automation-first approach to HRIS and payroll—and its ACA tools follow suit. With HR, payroll, time, and benefits data in one place, Rippling can flag when employees cross hours thresholds, determine offer status, and prepare 1095-C forms using the latest plan and pay information.
What users tend to like is the clean, guided experience. ACA can be intimidating; Rippling aims to make it feel like another automated workflow rather than a one-off annual scramble. For tech-forward teams that prize ease of use, strong integrations, and centralized data, Rippling’s ACA capabilities are a logical extension of its broader platform.
5) ACAwise
ACAwise is a dedicated ACA reporting and e-filing platform built for accuracy and scale. It’s especially helpful if you already have payroll and benefits handled elsewhere but need a specialized tool to transform raw data into compliant 1095-C/1094-C filings. ACAwise ingests your employee and coverage data through templates or integrations, validates it against common ACA errors, and guides you through corrections before sending anything to the IRS.
Because it focuses on ACA, ACAwise shines at the steps that usually bog teams down: measurement-period logic, offer codes, affordability checks, and edge cases like variable-hour populations. You can also add print-and-mail fulfillment for employee copies and leverage options for state reporting where required. For compliance teams that want granular control and audit-ready documentation without switching HRIS, ACAwise is a reliable “best-of-breed” choice.
6) BoomTax (ACA)
BoomTax is another specialist that makes ACA data prep and filing straightforward. You can bulk-upload your data, map fields quickly, and use built-in validations to catch missing or inconsistent information before you e-file. That reduces the painful back-and-forth that often happens when AIR returns rejections due to data issues.
BoomTax is designed for teams that value a clean workflow and fast turnaround. It covers 1095-C/1094-C, supports corrections, and offers convenient add-ons like print-and-mail. If you manage multiple EINs or a seasonal workforce, the platform’s batch handling, error reporting, and status tracking help you move from messy exports to accepted filings with fewer surprises.
7) TaxBandits (ACA)
TaxBandits supports ACA reporting alongside other year-end filings (W-2, 1099, etc.), which can be a big win if you prefer one hub for multiple compliance cycles. It handles 1095-C and 1094-C, has data import options, and provides step-by-step validations that flag potential form issues before submission.
What sets TaxBandits apart for many organizations is its flexibility: small and midsize employers can quickly self-serve, while larger teams can take advantage of bulk upload, API options, and managed print-and-mail. If you’re consolidating vendors—or you just want a familiar interface for all filings—TaxBandits brings ACA into a broader, efficient compliance toolkit.
8) UKG Pro (ACA)
UKG Pro (formerly Ultimate Software + Kronos) serves mid-market and enterprise employers that need robust workforce management with ACA baked in. Because UKG is widely used for time, scheduling, and payroll, it’s well-positioned to calculate eligibility and coverage offers correctly—even with complex shift patterns and variable-hour groups.
The system helps you track measurement and stability periods, validate affordability, and generate the required IRS forms. Organizations with intricate org structures or multiple EINs/EIDs benefit from UKG’s scale and role-based controls. If you already rely on UKG for people operations, keeping ACA inside the same ecosystem reduces friction and audit risk.
9) Namely (ACA)
Namely serves mid-sized companies that want people-friendly HR software with solid compliance support. Its ACA features help you monitor eligibility throughout the year, reconcile benefits enrollment with hours worked, and prepare 1095-C/1094-C with fewer manual spreadsheets.
Because Namely also handles core HR, payroll, and benefits, you get fewer silos and better data integrity. That’s key for ACA, where a single missing field can cause a rejection. If your team values an approachable HR suite with dependable ACA reporting, Namely offers the right mix of usability and compliance rigor.
10) TriNet Zenefits (ACA)
TriNet Zenefits gives small and growing businesses an accessible path to ACA compliance without a steep learning curve. The platform helps track eligibility, align plan offers, and generate the required forms, drawing on payroll and benefits data you already manage in Zenefits.
It’s particularly appealing if you want to keep ACA in the same easy-to-use system your team relies on for onboarding, time, and benefits. While complex, multi-entity organizations may need more specialized controls, many SMBs find TriNet Zenefits hits the sweet spot—simple enough to run fast, robust enough to stay compliant.
How to Choose the Right ACA Software
- Start with your data sources. If payroll, time, and benefits live in different systems, a dedicated ACA specialist (like ACAwise, BoomTax, or TaxBandits) can be easier to slot in without ripping and replacing your HR stack. If your HRIS already integrates those data streams, staying inside that platform (ADP, Paychex, Paycor, UKG, Rippling, Namely, TriNet Zenefits) usually reduces friction.
- Consider workforce complexity. Variable-hour, seasonal, and multi-state populations add risk. Look for clear measurement-period tools, affordability checks, and strong validations. Dashboards that flag issues early—before filing season—will save money and stress.
- Check filing coverage end-to-end. You’ll want 1095-C/1094-C generation, IRS AIR e-file, corrections handling, and options for state-level reporting where applicable. Print-and-mail services for employee copies can be a big time-saver, especially for distributed or deskless workforces.
- Evaluate support and audit readiness. Good platforms explain errors in plain language, retain evidence of offers, and keep an auditable trail. Access to knowledgeable support during deadlines can make the difference between a smooth season and a scramble.
What ACA Reporting Software Does
- Tracks Eligibility: Monitors employee hours and measurement periods to identify who qualifies for health coverage under ACA rules.
- Manages Compliance Data: Collects payroll, benefits, and time-tracking data to determine coverage offers and affordability.
- Generates IRS Forms: Automatically prepares 1095-C forms for employees and the 1094-C transmittal form for the IRS.
- E-Files with the IRS: Submits forms electronically through the ACA Information Returns (AIR) system.
- Print & Mail Support: Some platforms handle printing and mailing 1095-C forms directly to employees.
- Error Checking & Audit Trail: Validates data to catch mistakes before filing and maintains records for audits or corrections.
Why Businesses Use It
Manual ACA reporting is complex, error-prone, and time-consuming. Mistakes can lead to costly IRS penalties. ACA reporting software streamlines the process, ensures compliance, and reduces administrative burden by automating calculations, validations, and filing.
Quick Buying Checklist
- Does it centralize (or reliably import) payroll, time, and benefits data?
- Are measurement/stability periods and affordability safe harbors easy to configure?
- Does it handle IRS e-filing, state submissions (where required), and print-and-mail?
- Are there pre-file validations, clear error messages, and corrections workflows?
- Can it manage multiple EINs/entities and granular role-based permissions?
- Is there responsive support during peak reporting windows?
- Does pricing scale sensibly with forms, employees, or entities?
Final Thoughts
ACA compliance isn’t just an annual form-fill—it’s a continuous process of tracking, offering, and documenting coverage accurately. The ten solutions above approach the problem from two angles: dedicated ACA specialists for maximum filing control and HR/payroll suites that keep everything under one roof. Choose the path that best matches your data landscape and team capacity.
If you’d like, tell me your headcount, number of EINs, current HR/payroll tools, and whether you need state filings or print-and-mail. I can recommend a short list tailored to your exact setup—and suggest a migration or implementation plan that minimizes disruption before year-end.
