Health Care Law & Your Tax Return

Notice: Historical Content


This is an archival or historical document and may not reflect current law, policies or procedures.

Affordable Care Act & Taxes - At a Glance

This chart explains how the health care law affects your tax return.  Use the Health Care Law and You chart to see how the law will affect you.

 Under the recently enacted Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, taxpayers must continue to report coverage, qualify for an exemption, or pay the individual shared responsibility payment for tax years 2017 and 2018.

IF YOU…

THEN YOU…

Had health care coverage for the entire year for yourself and everyone in your tax household 

 

Will simply check the box on your individual income tax return on the line labeled "Health care, individual responsibility" to indicate full year coverage.
Enrolled in health insurance through the Marketplace Should receive a Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement from the Marketplace.
Enrolled in health coverage through the individual market or a government sponsored plan Should receive a Form 1095-B, Health Coverage form from the provider.
Worked for an applicable large employer (in general, an ALE is an employer with 50 or more full-time and full-time equivalent employees) May receive a Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage, from your employer.
Received a Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage Insurance, from your employer reflecting coverage your employer offered, even if you chose not to take that coverage Will use Form 1095-C to determine your eligibility for the premium tax credit if you enrolled in coverage through the Marketplace. If you or any family members enrolled in self-insured employer coverage, you may receive Form 1095-C showing this coverage.
Received a Form 1095-B, Health CoveragePDF, from your coverage provider showing you or any family members had health coverage Will check the full-year coverage box on your tax return, if Form 1095-B shows coverage for you and everyone in your family for the entire year.

If there are months when you or your family members did not have coverage, determine if you qualify for an exemption or must make an individual shared responsibility payment.
Received a Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement, showing you received the benefit of advance payments of the premium tax credit Must file a tax return and reconcile the advance payments with the amount of the premium tax credit allowed on your return.
Received a Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement and did not receive advance payments of the credit. Will use the form to determine if you are eligible for the premium tax credit. Check the full-year coverage box on your tax return, if the form shows coverage for you and everyone in your family for the entire year. If there are months when you or your family members did not have coverage, determine if you qualify for an exemption or must make an individual shared responsibility payment
Need to reconcile advance payments of the premium tax credit with the credit allowed Must file a tax return and IRS Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit (PTC)PDF to reconcile.
Must repay excess advance payments of the premium tax credit (you will determine this using Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit (PTC)) Must report the information on Form 1040 or Form1040-A on the line labelled "Excess advance premium tax credit repayment." You cannot file Form 1040-EZ.
Are claiming the premium tax credit and did not benefit from advance payments of the premium tax credit Must file a tax return and IRS Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit (PTC) and claim the credit on the line labelled - Net premium tax credit.
Did not receive an expected Form 1095-A,  1095-B or 1095-C regarding your health coverage Should contact the entity that is supposed to issue the form.
Did not have health coverage for the full year and are claiming a coverage exemption

 

Should file  Form 8965, Health Coverage Exemptions, and submit it with your tax return.
Need to obtain a religious conscience exemption or a hardship exemption that can only be granted by the Marketplace Should file an application with the Marketplace and follow the instructions below about how to report exemptions from the Marketplace on your tax return.

 

Obtained an exemption from the Marketplace, and received your unique Exemption Certificate Number Will enter the Exemption Certificate Number in Part I of Form 8965, Health Coverage Exemptions, and submit the form with your tax return.
Applied for an exemption from the Marketplace, but do not currently have an Exemption Certificate Number Will enter ‘PENDING’ in  Part I of Form 8965, Health Coverage Exemptions, and submit the form with your tax return.
Are claiming an exemption that can be claimed only on the tax return Will not need an Exemption Certificate Number, but will complete Part II or III of Form 8965, Health Coverage Exemptions, and submit the form with your tax return.
Are able to obtain the exemption from either the IRS or the Marketplace Can get the exemption from the IRS by completing Part III of Form 8965, Health Coverage Exemptions, and submit the form with your tax return.
Did not have coverage during any month and you are not eligible for a coverage exemption Must make a shared responsibility payment. You will enter the payment amount on Form 1040 or Form 1040-A or Form 1040-EZ on the line labelled "Health care individual responsibility."