PCORI Fee 2026: $3.84 Rate, July 31 Deadline & How to File on Form 720
In this guide
1. The 2026 rate: $3.84 per covered life
The Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) fee — almost always searched as the PCORI fee, after the institute it funds — rises with inflation each year. For 2026, IRS Notice 2025-61 set the rate at $3.84 per average covered life, a 37-cent jump from last year. Which rate you use depends entirely on when your plan year ends — not the calendar year you file in.
| Plan year ending | Rate / covered life | Reported by |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026 | $3.84 | July 31, 2026 |
| Oct 1, 2024 – Sep 30, 2025 | $3.47 | July 31, 2026 |
| Oct 1, 2023 – Sep 30, 2024 | $3.22 | (prior year) |
Note that two rates are in play for the July 31, 2026 filing: a calendar-year plan ending December 31, 2025 uses $3.84, while a plan year ending, say, June 30, 2025 uses $3.47. EasyFile720 picks the correct rate from your plan-year-end date automatically.
2. Who owes the PCORI fee
Two groups are liable under IRC §§ 4375–4376:
- Issuers of specified health insurance policies (§4375) — insurance companies that issue group or individual health policies.
- Plan sponsors of applicable self-insured health plans (§4376) — most commonly employers who self-fund their employees' health benefits.
That second bucket catches a lot of employers who don't realize it. Most Health Reimbursement Arrangements (HRAs) are treated as applicable self-insured health plans and owe the fee. If you fully insure your medical plan, the insurer pays the PCORI fee on the policy — but a stand-alone HRA layered on top is a separate self-insured plan you file for yourself.
3. Deadline & which form line
The PCORI fee is an annual obligation reported on the second-quarter Form 720, due July 31 of the year after your plan year ends. It is a Part II item, so unlike most Part I excise taxes it requires no semimonthly EFTPS deposits — you simply pay the full amount with the return.
Form 720 lines for IRS No. 133
- Lines 133(a) / 133(b): specified health insurance policies (fully insured)
- Lines 133(c) / 133(d): applicable self-insured health plans
Within each pair, the (a)/(c) and (b)/(d) split tracks the plan-year-end rate bucket. EasyFile720 selects the right line for you based on plan type and plan-year-end date.
4. Counting average covered lives
The fee equals $3.84 (or $3.47) × the average number of covered lives. The IRS allows several methods — pick one and apply it consistently:
- Actual count. Sum the covered lives for every day of the plan year and divide by the number of days. Most precise, most work.
- Snapshot. Count covered lives on one (or more) dates in each quarter and average them. The practical favorite for HR teams running monthly enrollment reports.
- Member months. Total member months ÷ 12. Available to insurers only.
- Form 5500. Use the participant counts already on your Form 5500. Available to self-insured sponsors only — the simplest if you file 5500 anyway.
5. A worked example
Suppose you sponsor a self-insured plan with a plan year ending December 31, 2025and an average of 420 covered lives (using the snapshot method):
Want to size yours? Try the free PCORI fee calculator.
6. How to file in 4 steps
- Confirm your plan-year-end date — it determines whether you use $3.84 or $3.47.
- Count your average covered lives using one of the four methods above.
- Multiply rate × covered lives to get the fee.
- File the second-quarter Form 720 (IRS No. 133) by July 31, 2026 and pay with the return.
Filing only for PCORI? You file only the Q2 return — no Q1, Q3, or Q4 filings are required. EasyFile720 handles "PCORI-only" filers as a first-class workflow. See the full PCORI fee filing guide →
FAQ
What is the PCORI fee for 2026?▼
For plan years ending on or after October 1, 2025 but before October 1, 2026, the PCORI fee is $3.84 per average covered life (IRS Notice 2025-61). The prior rate of $3.47 applies to plan years ending October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025. The fee is reported on the second-quarter Form 720, due July 31, 2026.
Is the PCOR fee the same as the PCORI fee?▼
Yes. "PCOR fee" and "PCORI fee" are the same Form 720 excise tax (IRS No. 133). The fee funds the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), so it is widely called the PCORI fee, while the IRS labels it the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research (PCOR) fee.
When is the 2026 PCORI fee due?▼
July 31, 2026. The PCORI fee is reported once per year on the second-quarter Form 720, due July 31 of the calendar year following the last day of the plan year. No semimonthly EFTPS deposit is required — you pay the full amount with the return.
Do I have to file Form 720 every quarter if I only owe the PCORI fee?▼
No. If your only Form 720 obligation is the annual PCORI fee, you file only the second-quarter return (due July 31). No Q1, Q3, or Q4 filings are required unless you have other excise taxes to report.
Is the PCORI fee going away?▼
No. The Affordable Care Act extended the PCORI fee through plan years ending before October 1, 2029. It continues to apply, with the per-covered-life rate adjusted annually for inflation.
File your 2026 PCORI fee with EasyFile720
We apply the correct $3.84 or $3.47 rate from your plan-year-end date, pick the right Form 720 line, and e-file directly to the IRS — PCORI-only filers welcome.
This article reflects IRS Notice 2025-61 and the Instructions for Form 720 (Rev. June 2026). It is general information and not tax advice. Consult a qualified tax professional for guidance specific to your facts and circumstances.
