Do I have to pay back tax credit for insurance?

Asked by: Nick Sanford II  |  Last update: October 31, 2025
Score: 4.7/5 (24 votes)

If you use more advance payments of the tax credit than you qualify for based on your final yearly income, you must repay the difference when you file your federal income tax return. If you use less premium tax credit than you qualify for, you'll get the difference as a refundable credit when you file your taxes.

Will I have to pay back my premium tax credit?

If at the end of the year you've taken more premium tax credit in advance than you're due based on your final income, you'll have to pay back the excess when you file your federal tax return. If you've taken less than you qualify for, you'll get the difference back.

Do you have to pay the tax credit back?

If you qualify for a “refundable” tax credit, you'll receive the entire amount of the credit. If the credit exceeds the tax you owe, you'll receive the remaining amount as a tax refund. Even if you owe no taxes, you can apply for and receive a refundable tax credit.

How does the premium tax credit affect my tax return?

Claiming a net PTC will lower the amount of tax you owe or increase your refund to the extent it is more than the amount of tax you owe. See the Coronavirus tax relief section on this page for information specific to tax year 2020.

Should I use my tax credit for health insurance?

Find out if your estimated income is in the range to qualify for the premium tax credit. You can apply some or all of this tax credit to your monthly insurance premium payment. The Marketplace will send your tax credit directly to your insurance company, so you'll pay less each month.

Tax relief on HEALTH INSURANCE | Benefit in Kind

45 related questions found

Why do I owe so much premium tax credit?

If your income is more than what you told us on your application, you may have to repay some or all of the advanced premium tax credits that you got.

What happens if I overestimate my income for marketplace insurance?

If you overestimate your income and end up claiming less help than you are entitled to, the difference will be refunded to you when you file your income taxes the following year.

Why do I owe taxes for health insurance?

Owe taxes if you used more of the premium tax credit than you qualified for in 2024. You'll have to report the excess amount on your 2024 tax return by filing Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit (PDF, 115 KB). Find instructions for Form 8962 (PDF, 348 KB).

How does a tax credit affect your tax return?

Tax credits are amounts you subtract from your bottom-line tax due when you file your tax return. Most tax credits can reduce your tax only until it reaches $0. Refundable credits go beyond that to give you any remaining credit as a refund. That's why it's best to file taxes even if you don't have to.

What happens if you don't use all of your premium tax credit?

If you didn't receive all of the premium tax credit you're entitled to during the year, you can claim the difference when you file your tax return. If you're uncertain about your income for the coming year, remember that you can modify the amount of premium tax credit during the year if your income changes.

Do you get a tax refund for health insurance?

The premium tax credit – also known as PTC – is a refundable credit that helps eligible individuals and families cover the premiums for their health insurance purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace.

Can a tax credit be refunded?

Some tax credits are refundable. If a taxpayer's tax bill is less than the amount of a refundable credit, they can get the difference back in their refund. Some taxpayers who aren't required to file may still want to do so to claim refundable tax credits. Not all tax credits are refundable, however.

How to avoid repayment of premium tax credit?

Avoiding or Reducing Premium Tax Credit Repayments

The key to reducing the amount of premium tax credits you have to repay is keeping your household income below 400% of the federal poverty level. As long as your income is below this level, your repayments are capped.

What happens if I underestimate my income for Obamacare in 2024?

For the 2024 tax year, if you underestimated your income and received a larger tax credit than you were eligible for, you must repay the difference between the amount of premium tax credit you received and the amount you were eligible for.

What happens if I don't report my 1095-A?

You can use Form 1095-A to reconcile any advance premium tax credits you received during the year with the amount of credits you were eligible to receive. If you fail to file a tax return reconciling those payments, you will not be eligible for premium tax subsidies in the next year.

How do tax credits work with health insurance?

If you elect to receive an advanced credit, the government will pay the credit directly to your insurance company each month and the insurer will bill you for the rest of the premium. If you do not know for sure what your income for the coverage year will be when you apply, provide your best estimate.

What are the cons of tax credits?

Most tax credits are nonrefundable; that is, they cannot reduce a filer's income tax liability below zero. As a result, low-income filers often cannot receive the full benefit of the credits for which they qualify.

How does a tax credit work for dummies?

A credit is an amount you subtract from the tax you owe. This can lower your tax payment or increase your refund. Some credits are refundable — they can give you money back even if you don't owe any tax. To claim credits, answer questions in your tax filing software.

Do health insurance premiums reduce your taxable income?

Tax savings on insurance premiums (TIP)

If you enroll in a medical plan that requires you to pay a premium, you'll be automatically enrolled for pretax deduction of your premium costs from your paycheck. This reduces your taxable income and increases your take-home pay.

What are the income limits for premium tax credit?

To be eligible for the premium tax credit, your household income must be at least 100 percent and, for years other than 2021 and 2022, no more than 400 percent of the federal poverty line for your family size, although there are two exceptions for individuals with household income below 100 percent of the applicable ...

How does 1095-A affect my refund?

You will use the information from the Form 1095-A to calculate the amount of your premium tax credit. You will also use this form to reconcile advance payments of the premium tax credit made on your behalf with the premium tax credit you are claiming on your tax return.

What happens if I don't update my marketplace insurance?

If you don't update your income and household information: You could qualify for more savings than you're getting now. You could qualify for less savings and have to pay money back when you file your federal taxes.