ACA Filing Software Comparison
Choosing an ACA filer is not the same decision as choosing a 1099 filer. Line 14 / 16 code accuracy, Safe Harbor logic, and Aggregated ALE handling matter more than form throughput. Here is how Thomas Ledger compares to the most common alternatives on the dimensions ALEs actually evaluate.
How to Read This Comparison
We have kept this factual — feature by feature, no competitor bashing. Every row below describes a feature that real ALEs ask about when evaluating ACA filing software. Where a competitor matches us, we say so. Where we differ, the row explains how.
If you want a comparison focused on 1099 filing instead, see TaxBandits Alternative, Track1099 Alternative, or eFileMyForms Alternative.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Thomas Ledger | TaxBandits | ACAwise | Track1099 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1094-C / 1095-C E-Filing | Yes | Yes | Yes | No (1099 only) |
| Direct AIR Transmission | Registered TCC, IRS-accepted in AATS for TY2025 | Yes | Yes | N/A |
| Pricing Structure | Flat per tax year, banded by FTE count | Per-form pricing | Per-form pricing | N/A |
| Line 14 / 16 Code Generation | Automatic with rule-based validation | Automatic, user-entered codes accepted | Automatic | N/A |
| Safe Harbor Logic | Federal Poverty Line, Rate of Pay, W-2 Safe Harbor | Multiple Safe Harbors supported | Multiple Safe Harbors supported | N/A |
| Self-Insured Part III | Filer Pro and above | All plans | All plans | N/A |
| Aggregated ALE (Controlled Group) | ACA Filer Pro (251–500) and ACA Filer Elite tiers | Available | Available | N/A |
| State ACA Filing (CA, DC, MA, NJ, RI) | Add-on per state, flat fee | Add-on per state, per form | Add-on per state, per form | N/A |
| Employee Copy Delivery | Print + mail or e-delivery | Print + mail or e-delivery | Print + mail or e-delivery | N/A |
| Letter 226J Response Support | Fixed-fee engagement, included in ACA Filer Elite | Available as add-on | Available as add-on | N/A |
| Combined 1099 + ACA Filing | Yes — same account, year-scoped bundle (1099 free with ACA Filer Pro+) | Separate products, separate accounts | ACA only — no 1099 filing | 1099 only — no ACA filing |
| Phone Support | Yes — (202) 449-3366 | Email and chat | Email and chat |
Where Thomas Ledger Stands Out for ACA
Per-Tax-Year Banded Pricing, Not Per-Form
Most ACA filers price per 1095-C, sometimes with volume discounts. Thomas Ledger prices per tax year, banded by full-time employee count — the same number you use to determine ALE status. You see your annual cost at signup, not after you finish counting forms. Filer is $650/year for up to 100 FTEs; Filer Pro is $1,500 (101–250 FTEs) or $2,900 (251–500 FTEs); above 500 FTEs is an ACA Filer Elite private quote.
Year-Scoped 1099 + ACA Bundle
Thomas Ledger is one of the few platforms that files both 1099s and ACA returns from the same account. At ACA Filer Pro (101+ FTEs) or above, your tax year's 1099 filing is included free — one consolidated information-return obligation, one vendor, one trail. Most competitors require two products and two contracts.
Validated Line 14 / 16 Combinations Before Filing
The two-letter codes on Lines 14 and 16 are where ACA filings actually go wrong. Many platforms accept whatever codes the user enters and submit them as-is — the IRS rejects or, worse, sends a Letter 226J six months later. Thomas Ledger runs every Line 14 / Line 16 pair against IRS validation rules before transmission and flags inconsistent combinations.
IRS-Accepted in AATS for TY2025
Thomas Ledger holds Software ID 25A0024798 and has passed the IRS Assurance Testing System (AATS) for TY2025. AATS is the IRS's formal sign-off that a vendor can transmit 1094-C / 1095-C in production. We hold both an SWD TCC (TB4WJ) and a Transmitter TCC (TB4PF), meaning we can file under our own TCC on your behalf or under yours if you have one.
Aggregated ALE Handling Without an Upcharge Per EIN
Controlled-group ALEs file one 1094-C per member EIN. Many platforms charge per filing entity on top of per-form fees, which adds up fast across a controlled group. Thomas Ledger's ACA Filer Pro (251–500) and ACA Filer Elite tiers include Aggregated ALE handling at one annual price — Part IV cross-references are generated automatically.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Thomas Ledger an IRS-approved ACA filer?
Yes. Thomas Ledger is IRS-accepted in AATS (the IRS Assurance Testing System) for TY2025 with Software ID 25A0024798, and holds a registered Transmitter Control Code for AIR. AATS acceptance is the formal IRS sign-off that a software vendor can transmit 1094-C / 1095-C in production.
How does Thomas Ledger's pricing compare to TaxBandits and ACAwise?
Thomas Ledger uses flat per-tax-year pricing banded by FTE count, while TaxBandits and ACAwise use per-form pricing with volume discounts. At 120 employees, our Filer Pro tier is $1,500 for the year — a per-form competitor might bill $2.50–$3.00 per 1095-C plus add-ons for Letter 226J support, e-delivery, or state filing. The flat-band model is most predictable; per-form pricing can be cheaper at very small headcounts. See the pricing page for the full breakdown.
Can I file both 1099s and ACA forms with one vendor?
Yes — Thomas Ledger is one of the few platforms that handles both. At ACA Filer Pro (101+ FTEs) or above, your tax year's 1099 filing is included at no additional cost. Most ACA-only vendors (ACAwise, ComplyRight) don't handle 1099s. Most 1099-only vendors (Track1099, eFileMyForms) don't handle ACA. TaxBandits handles both but bills them as separate products.
Do you support state ACA filing for California, DC, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island?
Yes. State ACA filings are an add-on, billed per state per tax year as a flat fee — not per form. The same 1094-C / 1095-C data you file federally feeds the state filings; you don't re-enter anything.
What happens if I get a Letter 226J from the IRS?
Letter 226J is the IRS's proposed §4980H penalty assessment. Thomas Ledger offers a fixed-fee response engagement: we review the proposed assessment, reconcile it against your filed forms, identify whether the IRS used the correct codes and Safe Harbor logic, and prepare the Form 14764 response. Letter 226J response is included on our ACA Filer Elite tier and available as an add-on on other tiers.