If you purchased health insurance through a state or federal Health Insurance Marketplace (like Healthcare.gov), you must receive Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement. This form is absolutely crucial for filing your taxes correctly, especially if you received advance payments of the premium tax credit (APTC) to help cover your monthly premiums. Failing to enter this information in TurboTax will likely lead to your return being rejected by the IRS.
So, are you ready to conquer your taxes and make sure you're getting all the credits you deserve (or paying back what you owe)? Let's dive in!
How to Enter 1095-A on TurboTax: Your Comprehensive Guide
Entering your 1095-A accurately on TurboTax is a vital step in reconciling your Premium Tax Credit. Here's a detailed, step-by-step guide to walk you through the process.
Step 1: Gather Your Form 1095-A and Get Ready!
First things first, do you have your Form 1095-A in hand? You absolutely need this document before you start. If you haven't received it yet, check your online Health Insurance Marketplace account (e.g., Healthcare.gov or your state's marketplace) – it's often available there electronically by mid-February. If you can't find it online, contact your Marketplace directly. Do not file your taxes without it!
Once you have your 1095-A, take a moment to familiarize yourself with it. Notice the different sections:
Part I: Recipient Information (Your name, policy number, etc.)
Part II: Covered Individuals (Everyone covered under this policy)
Part III: Coverage Information (Details about your monthly premiums, the Second Lowest Cost Silver Plan (SLCSP) premium, and any advance payments of the Premium Tax Credit).
Step 2: Navigate to the 1095-A Section in TurboTax
Now that you're prepared, let's get into TurboTax.
Sub-heading: For TurboTax Online/Mobile Users
Log in to your TurboTax account or create a new one if you haven't already.
Once in your return, look for the "Federal" or "Federal Taxes" tab on the left-hand side of the screen.
Click on "Deductions & Credits".
Scroll down until you see the "Medical" section.
Look for "Affordable Care Act (Form 1095-A)" and click the "Start" or "Update" button next to it.
Alternatively, you can often use the search bar within TurboTax. Type "1095-A" in the search box (usually located in the upper right corner) and select the "Jump to" link that appears. This will take you directly to the relevant section.
Sub-heading: For TurboTax Desktop Users
Open your TurboTax Desktop software and load your tax return.
Click on "Federal Taxes" (or "Personal" if using Home & Business).
Select "Deductions & Credits".
Choose "I'll choose what I work on" (if prompted).
Scroll down to the "Medical" section.
Find "Affordable Care Act (Form 1095-A)" and click "Start" or "Update".
Similar to the online version, you can also use the search box (upper right of the program screen). Type "1095-a" and select the "Jump to" link.
Step 3: Indicate You Have Form 1095-A
Once you've navigated to the correct section, TurboTax will likely ask a simple question like, "Did you receive Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement?"
Answer "Yes." This is crucial to proceed with entering your information.
If you received a 1095-B or 1095-C, you generally do NOT need to enter those into TurboTax. Only 1095-A is required for tax filing purposes related to the Premium Tax Credit.
Step 4: Enter Your 1095-A Information
Now comes the data entry! TurboTax will present screens that mirror your 1095-A form. Carefully transfer the information from your physical or electronic 1095-A to the corresponding fields in TurboTax.
Sub-heading: Policy Information
Marketplace ID: Enter the unique identifier for your Health Insurance Marketplace.
Policy Number: Input the policy number as it appears on your 1095-A.
Dates of Coverage: Indicate the months you (and your household) were covered under this specific policy. If you had full-year coverage, there might be a simple "full year" option. If not, you'll enter the start and end dates.
Sub-heading: Covered Individuals
TurboTax may pre-populate this based on your return. Verify that all individuals listed on your 1095-A are correctly identified in TurboTax.
If someone on your 1095-A is not on your tax return (e.g., a former dependent who is now filing their own taxes), or if you shared a policy with someone not on your return, TurboTax will guide you through an "allocation" process. This allows you to specify what percentage of the policy's benefits (premiums and credits) applies to your tax return. This is a common area for confusion, so pay close attention and allocate accurately.
Sub-heading: Monthly Premium and Credit Details (Part III of 1095-A)
This is the most critical part. You'll need to enter three key amounts for each month you had coverage:
Column A: Monthly Enrollment Premium: This is the actual monthly premium amount for your health plan.
Column B: Monthly Premium Amount of Second Lowest Cost Silver Plan (SLCSP): This is not necessarily what you paid. It's a benchmark premium used by the Marketplace to calculate your Premium Tax Credit. Important: If your 1095-A has a $0 or is blank in Column B for any month you had coverage, do not enter a zero in TurboTax. This is a common error. You will need to use the Healthcare.gov tool to find the correct SLCSP for those months. Entering a zero when a value should exist can cause an e-file rejection.
Column C: Monthly Advance Payment of Premium Tax Credit (APTC): This is the amount the government paid directly to your insurer each month to reduce your premium.
Key Tips for Data Entry:
Match your form exactly: Enter the numbers exactly as they appear on your 1095-A.
Leave blanks, don't enter zeros: For months where there was no coverage or no amount indicated on your 1095-A, it's often best to leave the field blank in TurboTax rather than entering a "0," especially for Column B. TurboTax is designed to interpret a blank as "no amount for this month."
Multiple 1095-As: If you received more than one 1095-A (e.g., if you changed plans or if different household members had separate plans), TurboTax will allow you to enter multiple forms. Complete one, then look for an option to "Add another 1095-A."
Step 5: Review and Reconcile
After you've entered all the information from your 1095-A (or multiple 1095-As), TurboTax will automatically use this data to complete Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit. This is where the magic happens – TurboTax reconciles the advance payments of the Premium Tax Credit (APTC) you received with the actual Premium Tax Credit you qualify for based on your final income for the year.
Sub-heading: Understanding Reconciliation
If you received too much APTC: You may have to repay some or all of it. This will reduce your refund or increase your tax due.
If you received too little APTC: You may get an additional credit, which will increase your refund or reduce your tax due.
TurboTax will guide you through any questions related to this reconciliation process. Pay attention to any alerts or warnings TurboTax provides. These often highlight discrepancies or areas where you might need to double-check your entries.
Step 6: Final Review
Before you file, always do a final review of your entire tax return, especially the health insurance section.
Ensure all numbers from your 1095-A are accurately reflected.
Check that the names of covered individuals are correct.
Confirm that Form 8962 is generated and accurately reflects your premium tax credit reconciliation.
10 Related FAQ Questions
Here are 10 frequently asked questions related to entering Form 1095-A on TurboTax, with quick answers:
How to get a copy of my 1095-A if I lost it?
You can typically download a copy of your Form 1095-A by logging into your account on the Health Insurance Marketplace website (e.g., Healthcare.gov or your state's specific marketplace). If you can't find it there, contact the Marketplace Call Center directly.
How to handle a 1095-A with $0 in Column B for some months?
Do not enter $0 in TurboTax if your 1095-A shows $0 or is blank for Column B (Second Lowest Cost Silver Plan) for months you had coverage. You must find the correct SLCSP amount using the tax tool on Healthcare.gov or by contacting your Marketplace. Entering $0 when a value should exist is a common error that causes IRS rejections.
How to enter multiple 1095-A forms in TurboTax?
After entering the first 1095-A, TurboTax will provide an option to "Add another 1095-A" or a similar prompt. Simply follow the steps again for each additional form you have.
How to allocate a shared 1095-A with someone not on my return?
TurboTax will prompt you with questions about shared policies. You'll need to agree with the other individual on a percentage allocation (e.g., 50/50, 0/100, 100/0) of the premiums and credits from the 1095-A. This allocation should add up to 100% between all taxpayers involved.
How to fix a TurboTax rejection due to missing 1095-A information?
If your return is rejected with an error related to Form 8962 or missing 1095-A information, go back into TurboTax, navigate to the 1095-A section, and carefully review all your entries. Ensure all fields are filled accurately and that you haven't entered zeros where amounts should be. If still stuck, clear your browser cache/cookies or try a different browser if using TurboTax Online.
How to know if I need to enter a 1095-B or 1095-C in TurboTax?
Generally, you do not need to enter information from Forms 1095-B (Health Coverage) or 1095-C (Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage) into TurboTax for filing purposes. These forms are primarily for informational purposes to confirm you had minimum essential coverage. Only Form 1095-A from the Marketplace is typically required for tax filing.
How to handle a corrected 1095-A after I've already filed?
If you receive a corrected 1095-A after filing your return, you may need to amend your tax return (Form 1040-X) to reflect the updated information. Compare the corrected form to your original entry to determine if the changes are significant enough to warrant an amendment.
How to find the "Second Lowest Cost Silver Plan" (SLCSP) if it's missing on my 1095-A?
Use the tax tool provided on Healthcare.gov (or your specific state Marketplace website) to look up the SLCSP for your region and household size for the tax year in question.
How to determine if I owe money or get a refund from the Premium Tax Credit reconciliation?
TurboTax will automatically calculate this when you enter your 1095-A. If the advance payments of the Premium Tax Credit (APTC) you received were more than the actual credit you qualified for, you'll owe money back. If they were less, you'll get an additional credit, increasing your refund or decreasing your tax due.
How to get help from TurboTax support if I'm having trouble with my 1095-A?
TurboTax offers various support options, including their online help articles, community forums where you can ask questions, and paid options for live expert assistance. Look for the "Help" or "Support" links within your TurboTax program or on their website.