The Health Care Law’s Effect on You

Nearly everyone is affected by the Affordable Care Act and will need to do something new when filing their taxes this year. The following chart will help you better understand how the health care law affects you and everyone on your return. This chart is also available on IRS.gov/aca.

To help navigate these changes, taxpayers and their tax professionals should consider filing returns electronically.Using tax preparation software is the best and simplest way to file a complete and accurate tax return as it guides individuals and tax preparers through the process and does all the math. There are a variety of electronic filing options, including free volunteer assistance, IRS Free File for taxpayers who qualify, commercial software, and professional assistance. 

IF YOU…	THEN YOU…
Are U.S. citizens or are non-U.S. citizens living in the United States	Must have qualifying health care coverage, qualify for a health coverage exemption, or make a payment when you file your tax return
Have health coverage through an employer or under a government program such as Medicare, Medicaid and coverage for veterans for the entire year	Just have to check a box on your Form 1040 series return and do not read any further
Do not have coverage for any month of the year	Should check the instructions to Form 8965 to see if you are eligible for an exemption
Are eligible for an exemption from coverage for a month	Are not responsible for making an Individual Shared Responsibility payment for that month, and must claim the exemption or report an exemption already obtained from the Marketplace by completing Form 8965, Health Coverage Exemptions,and submitting it with your tax return
Do not have coverage and are not eligible for an exemption from coverage for any month of the year	Are responsible for making an individual shared responsibilitypayment when you file your return
Are responsible for making an individual shared responsibility payment	Will report it on your tax return and make the payment with your taxes
Received the benefit of more advance payments of the premium tax credit than the amount of credit for which you qualify	Will repay the amount in excess of the credit you are allowed subject to a repayment cap
Need qualifying health care coverage for 2015	Can enroll in health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace (Marketplace) during the open enrollment period that runs through Feb. 15, 2015; once open enrollment ends, individuals can enroll only if they qualify under special enrollment provisions
Enroll in health insurance through the Marketplace for yourself or someone else on your tax return	Might be eligible for the premium tax credit
Did not enroll in health insurance from the Marketplace for yourself or anyone else on your tax return	Cannot claim the premium tax credit
Or another person on your tax return who is enrolled in coverage through the Marketplace is not eligible for health care coverage through your employer or under a government program	Might be eligible for the premium tax credit
Are eligible for the premium tax credit	Can choose to get premium assistance now to lower your monthly payments or get all the benefit of the credit when you claim it  on your tax return
Choose to get premium assistance now	Will have payments sent on your behalf to your insurance provider. These payments are called advance payments of thepremium tax credit
Get the benefit of advance payments of the premium tax credit and experience a significant life change, such as a change in income or marital status	Report these changes in circumstances to theMarketplace when they happen
Get the benefit of advance payments of the premium tax credit	Will report the payments on your tax return and reconcile the amount of the payments  with the amount of credit for which you are eligible