How You Can Benefit from the Premium Tax Credit

IRS Health Care Tax Tip 2015-16, March 10, 2015

If you purchase Health Coverage through the Marketplace, you might be eligible for the premium tax credit. The law bases the size of your premium tax credit on a sliding scale. Those who have a lower income get a larger credit to help cover the cost of their insurance. In other words, the higher your income, the lower the amount of your credit.

You will figure your credit on Form 8962 PDF, Premium Tax Credit (PTC). You must complete this form to claim the premium tax credit and reconcile any advance credit payments with the premium tax credit you are eligible to claim on your return. Form 1095-A PDF, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement, which you will receive from your Marketplace, provides information you will need when completing Form 8962.

Additionally, the premium tax credit is a refundable tax credit. This means that if the amount of the credit is more than the amount of your tax liability, you will receive the difference as a refund. If you owe no tax, you can get the full amount of the credit as a refund.

However, if you receive advance payments of the credit, you will reconcile the advance payments with the amount of the actual premium tax credit that you calculate on your tax return. If your actual allowable credit on your return is less than your advance credit payments, the difference, subject to certain caps, will be subtracted from your refund or added to your balance due. If your actual allowable credit is more than your advance credit payments, the difference will be added to your refund or subtracted from your balance due.

Remember that filing electronically is the easiest way to file a complete and accurate tax return. Electronic Filing options include free Volunteer Assistance, IRS Free File,  commercial software and professional assistance.

For more information, visit the Premium Tax Credit page on IRS.gov/aca.

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