The Affordable Care Act requires every member of your tax household to have qualifying health care coverage for each month of the year, or pay an additional tax on your personal income tax return. If every member of your household had coverage for all of 2015, you will simply check a box on your tax return to report that coverage.
However, if you don’t have qualifying health care coverage and you meet certain criteria, you might be eligible for an exemption from coverage. Most exemptions are can be claimed when you file your tax return, but some must be claimed through the Marketplace, well before filing your tax return.
If you or any of your dependents are exempt from the requirement to have health coverage, you will complete IRS Form 8965, Health Coverage Exemptions and submit it with your tax return. If, however, you are not required to file a tax return, you do not need to file a return solely to report your coverage or to claim an exemption.
For any months you or anyone on your return do not have coverage or qualify for a coverage exemption, you must make an additional tax payment called the individual shared responsibility payment. This additional tax is calculated separate from your income tax and may be due even if you have no income tax liability.
The IRS provides an online tool, the Interactive Tax Assistant on IRS.gov to help you determine if you are eligible for a coverage exemption or responsible for the Individual Shared Responsibility Payment. If you need health coverage, visit HealthCare.gov to learn about health insurance options that are available for you and your family, how to purchase health insurance, and how you might qualify to get financial assistance with the cost of insurance.