Wednesday, May 11, 2016

Using IRS Form 8962

Recently, there’s been a lot of talk about IRS Form 8962. With this form, you can claim the Premium Tax Credit to help you get back some of the money you spent on Marketplace health insurance premiums. If you are one of those taxpayers who spent a lot on premiums, this form offers up a great way to get some money back. Unfortunately, though, for some taxpayers, the ones who got too much money in advance premium credits, this form could serve as notice that they owe money to the IRS. No matter which category you fall into, it’s important to understand this form, how it works, and what it could mean for you.   


Using Form 8962
To begin with, understand that you may not necessarily be eligible to file Form 8962 or to receive the Premium Tax Credit. In order to be eligible for this credit, you need to have health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace, Healthcare.gov, or your state’s health insurance exchange. If you don’t meet one of these qualifications, you do not qualify to use Form 8962, and, even if you do meet one of these requirements, that doesn’t necessarily mean you qualify.
What will determine if you qualify for the tax credit is your income and personal exemptions. If those are below a certain amount, then you may be eligible for a special subsidy or credit to help you cover insurance costs.

Bear in mind, though, that if your income and/or exemptions changed throughout the year, you may no longer be eligible for the subsidy that you received. You may even have to pay back any extra money you received in certain cases. On the flipside, though, if you ended up paying too much, you could get a nice refund.

Getting Help
Filing taxes can be tricky. As you can see, tax laws are complex, especially when you factor in the new insurance requirements. If you are unsure of whether or not you qualify to use Form 8962 or if you have questions about how to use it, your best bet is to get help from a tax professional.

These professionals will be able to tell you, for sure, if you need to fill out this and other forms. They can also help you to fill them out correctly and honestly, helping you to avoid an audit or other problems related to incorrect tax filings.


There are five different and involved parts to this form, so unless you’re 100% certain that you can (and should) fill it out on your own, ask for help from a professional; the process will be so much easier that way!

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