Can I claim my COBRA payments on my taxes?

Asked by: Richard Hilpert  |  Last update: December 29, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (46 votes)

Yes they are tax deductible as a medical expense.

Where do I enter COBRA payments on TurboTax?

Enter your COBRA premiums under Medical insurance premiums.

Is COBRA considered taxable income?

COBRA premiums may be paid to the employee, and the employee would pay the insurance company directly. Since there is no guarantee that the employee will use the funds to pay the premiums, the funds are considered wages and subject to applicable taxes.

Is there a tax form for COBRA payments?

If you had job-based health coverage. Depending on the kind of job-based coverage you had (including COBRA or retiree coverage), you may get one of these from your employer or insurance company: Form 1095-B, Health Coverage. Form 1095-C, Employer-Provided Health Insurance Offer and Coverage.

Can you get tax credits for COBRA?

If your coverage is from a former employer, such as COBRA or retiree coverage, you can decline the employer coverage, even if it is affordable and provides minimum value, and may be eligible for the Premium Tax Credit for your Marketplace coverage.

FREE COBRA Payments for Your Former Employees?

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Can I write off COBRA payments on my income tax?

You can only deduct the amount of COBRA medical expenses on your federal income tax in excess of 7.5% of your Adjusted Gross Income and then only if you itemize deductions.

Can you get a refund for COBRA?

COBRA is the law that requires your previous employer to offer coverage through their group health plan. You would need to contact your previous employer's COBRA Administrator (usually in the HR Department) or you may contact your provider directly to inquire about a refund for payments you've made after cancellation.

Do COBRA payments show up on W-2?

In general, each employer providing coverage will have to report the prorated cost on the employee's W-2. If the employee is terminated, the employer can also include the COBRA payment amounts paid by the employee after termination.

Do I get a 1095 for COBRA?

Enrollment in Health Insurance will generate tax forms. Form 1095 will be issued by your insurance carrier. This form is for informational purposes and should be kept with your tax documentation.

Do I need 1095-B to file taxes?

Some taxpayers may not receive a Form 1095-B or Form 1095-C by the time they are ready to file their tax return. While the information on these forms may assist in preparing a return, they are not required. Individual taxpayers should not wait for these forms and file their returns as they normally would.

What is the tax penalty for COBRA?

The minimum tax levied by the IRS for non-compliance discovered after a notice of examination is generally $2,500. The maximum tax for “unintentional failures” is the lesser of 10% of the amount paid during the preceding tax year by the employer for group health plans, or $500,000.

What is box 12 dd on W-2?

The Affordable Care Act requires employers to report the cost of coverage under an employer-sponsored group health plan on an employee's Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, in Box 12, using Code DD.

Are employee health insurance premiums tax deductible?

Employer-paid premiums for health insurance are exempt from federal income and payroll taxes. Additionally, the portion of premiums employees pay is typically excluded from taxable income. The exclusion of premiums lowers most workers' tax bills and thus reduces their after-tax cost of coverage.

Are COBRA payments pre-tax?

Taxes. Typically, premium payments deducted from your paycheck are pre-tax payments—what you pay toward your premiums doesn't count as income when you file your taxes. With COBRA, you need to pay the premiums with after-tax funds.

Can you deduct health insurance premiums without itemizing?

Whether you can deduct health insurance premiums from your tax return also depends on a few factors. First, you'll only be able to deduct premiums as medical expenses if you itemize deductions on your tax return, but not if you take the standard deduction. See more details at the bottom of this section.

Where do I enter 1099 B in Turbo Tax?

Here's where you enter or import your 1099-B in TurboTax:
  1. Open or continue your return.
  2. Navigate to the 1099-B section: TurboTax Online/Mobile: Go to 1099-B. ...
  3. Follow the onscreen instructions. ...
  4. On the following screens, answer the questions about your 1099-B. ...
  5. If you need to add another 1099-B, select Add investments.

How do I know if I need a 1095-A or B?

Form 1095-A –Individuals who enroll in health insurance through Covered California or the Federal Marketplace will get this form. Form 1095-B –Individuals who enroll in health insurance through Medi-Cal, Medicare, and other insurance companies or coverage providers will receive this form.

Who is required to file 1095-C?

ALE Members that offer health coverage through an employer-sponsored, self-insured health plan must complete Form 1095-C, Parts I, II, and III, for any employee who enrolls in the health coverage, whether or not the employee is a full-time employee for any month of the calendar year.

Can I deduct my COBRA payments on my taxes?

According to the Federal tax laws, your unreimbursed COBRA payments are, in fact, deductible as medical expenses on your 1040 tax return in the same way that you can deduct unreimbursed payments for legal medical services provided by physicians, surgeons, dentists, and other medical practitioners, as well as any ...

What is the tax credit for COBRA?

ARP COBRA Premium Assistance

The premium assistance applies to periods of health coverage on or after April 1, 2021 through September 30, 2021. An employer or plan to whom COBRA premiums are payable is entitled to a tax credit for the amount of the premium assistance.

Do I have to report box 12 d on my tax return?

Box 12 amounts with the code DD signify the total cost of what you and your employer paid for your employer-sponsored health coverage plan. Code DD amounts are for informational purposes only—they don't affect the numbers in your tax return.

What are the disadvantages of COBRA coverage?

COBRA cons
  • COBRA can be expensive, especially compared to the premiums you were paying before your qualifying event. ...
  • COBRA does not apply to all employer-sponsored health plans—in particular, those organizations with fewer than 20 employees may have no requirements. ...
  • Even if you get an extension, COBRA is only temporary.

Does COBRA restart your deductible?

If you choose a new plan through the Marketplace, your payments toward your deductible or out-of-pocket maximums will reset and go back to zero. However, if you choose COBRA, whatever you have contributed for the plan year will carry over.

Can you claim COBRA if you quit?

Whether you quit, get fired or are laid off, you may be able to choose your former employer's health plan under a federal law called COBRA. That stands for Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act. It's available if: You were enrolled in an employer-sponsored medical, dental or vision plan.