Can I file taxes without 1095?

You can file your federal taxes without a Form 1095-B or 1095-C, but you cannot file without a Form 1095-A if you or a family member had Marketplace health coverage.

Form 1095-A (Marketplace Coverage)

• Required: Yes.
• Details: You need this form to fill out Form 8962 and reconcile your advance Premium Tax Credit.
• Action: Wait for the form to arrive or download it from your account on HealthCare.gov before filing. Filing without it will cause the IRS to reject your return.

Form 1095-B (Health Coverage)

• Required: No.
• Details: This form shows proof of your minimum essential coverage.
• Action: You do not need to wait for it or submit it. Keep it with your personal records.

Form 1095-C (Employer-Provided Coverage)

• Required: No.
• Details: This form details the health coverage offered by large employers.
• Action: You can file your return using your own records about your job-based insurance offer. Do not wait for this form.

Yes, Form 1095-A directly affects your tax refund because it is used to reconcile your Advance Premium Tax Credits (subsidies) with your actual income.

How the Reconciliation Works

• Larger Refund: If your actual income was lower than estimated when you signed up for Marketplace insurance, you may qualify for a larger credit, increasing your refund.
• Smaller Refund or Tax Owed: If your actual income was higher than estimated, you may have received too much advance credit and have to pay back the excess, which reduces your refund or results in a tax bill.
• No Change: If you did not receive advance payments or subsidies during the year, filing the form generally will not change your refund.

Most users on Reddit agree that entering a 1095-A via Form 8962 often changes the expected refund amount once the final subsidy calculation locks in.

No, the IRS does not require you to send proof of health insurance or attach health coverage forms (like Form 1095-B or 1095-C) when filing your federal tax return.

Federal Rules for Health Insurance Proof

• No Penalty: The federal individual mandate penalty was reduced to zero starting in 2019. You do not need to prove you had coverage to avoid a federal tax penalty.
• Marketplace Exception (Form 1095-A): If you bought insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace, you will receive Form 1095-A. You must use this form to complete Form 8962 and reconcile any advance premium tax credits. You should wait for this form before filing.
• Keep Records: While you do not attach forms like 1095-B or 1095-C to your return, keep them with your personal tax files in case you need them later.
• State Taxes: Note that some individual states have their own health insurance mandates and may require proof or assess a state penalty if you lack coverage.

Your tax return is rejected because the IRS database shows a Form 1095-A was issued for your household, but your electronic return did not include the required Form 8962 to reconcile your health insurance.

Common Causes for the Rejection

• Missing Form 8962: You had Marketplace coverage, but your tax software did not include the Premium Tax Credit reconciliation form.
• Unreported Coverage: You forgot you had a Marketplace plan (even for a single month or with a $0 premium) and answered that you had no Marketplace insurance.
• IRS Data Mismatch: The IRS has a 1095-A on file linked to your Social Security number, which triggers rejection code F8962-070 if it is left off your return.
• False Flag / Identity Mix-up: The IRS flags a missing 1095-A, but you never actually signed up for Marketplace insurance.

How to Fix It

If You Had Marketplace Coverage

1. Get the Form: Log into your account at HealthCare.gov or your state’s health exchange to download your Form 1095-A.
2. Update Your Return: Open your tax software, navigate to the health insurance or Affordable Care Act (ACA) section, and enter the exact figures from your Form 1095-A.
3. Reconcile: Let your software generate and complete Form 8962.
4. Resubmit: Save your changes and re-file your tax return electronically.

If You Never Had Marketplace Coverage

1. Verify No Coverage: Double-check that no dependent or spouse on your tax return had a Marketplace plan. (Note: Employer-sponsored plans like a 1095-C are different and do not require a 1095-A).
2. Contact the Marketplace: Call the Marketplace Call Center to report that you received a 1095-A in error or to request a voided form if your identity was used fraudulently.
3. Attach an Explanation: If you are refiling without a 1095-A because you truly had no Marketplace insurance, your software may require you to attach an "ACA Explanation" PDF statement or type an explanation asserting that no Marketplace coverage was received before you can resubmit.

The IRS is asking for your Form 1095-A (Health Insurance Marketplace Statements) to verify the Premium Tax Credit information reported on your tax return.

Why the IRS Needs It

• Reconciliation: If you or someone in your household received advance payments for health insurance through the Marketplace, you must file Form 8962 to match those credits against your actual income.
• Missing or Incomplete Forms: The IRS often requests a copy of Form 1095-A via a letter (such as a Letter 12C) because Form 8962 was missing, incomplete, or the data entered did not match the records sent to the IRS by the Marketplace.
• Delayed Refund: The IRS holds tax refunds tied to Marketplace coverage until they can verify the numbers on your Form 8962 using your Form 1095-A.

What You Should Do

• Find your Form 1095-A by logging into your account on HealthCare.gov or your state's health insurance exchange website.
• Send a copy of the form to the IRS using the fax number or address listed on the specific letter they sent you.