Do you have to have insurance when you file taxes?

Asked by: Jevon Hodkiewicz IV  |  Last update: May 23, 2025
Score: 4.4/5 (54 votes)

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA) repealed the penalty (made the penalty amount $0) starting with tax year 2019. But you may wonder, “Do I need health insurance to file taxes after the ACA penalty was repealed?” The answer is no. You no longer will be penalized for not having health insurance.

Does the IRS penalize you for not having health insurance?

The fee for not having health insurance (sometimes called the "Shared Responsibility Payment" or "mandate”) ended in 2018. This means you no longer pay a tax penalty for not having health coverage. If you don't have health coverage, you don't need an exemption to avoid paying a tax penalty.

Do you still have to have health insurance to file taxes?

You are not required to send the IRS information forms or other proof of health care coverage when filing your tax return.

Do you have to claim insurance on taxes?

The IRS allows for “the ordinary and necessary” costs of insurance to be written off, as long as it's being used for trade, business or professional reasons. An “ordinary” cost is an expense common for your particular industry, while a “necessary” cost is an expense considered helpful and appropriate for your business.

Do tax preparers need insurance?

As a tax preparer, you'll likely want to obtain general liability insurance to cover potential lawsuits or claims related to professional negligence, errors, or omissions. Professional liability insurance for tax preparers is only one of the many considerations for starting your own tax prep business.

Do You Have To Have Health Insurance To File Taxes? - CountyOffice.org

39 related questions found

Do I need insurance as a 1099?

For many organizations that work with freelancers, 1099 employees, and independent contractors, liability insurance is imperative. It safeguards businesses from legal disputes, financial losses, property damage, and other unforeseen mishaps.

Do taxes have anything to do with insurance?

Your cost for Marketplace health insurance is based on the income you file on your tax return. Your reported income also determines your eligibility for the tax credits associated with Marketplace health coverage.

Do I have to report insurance claim to IRS?

Your insurance claim income is probably not taxable. If there's nothing to indicate what the payment is for, it's likely that it's meant to cover medical expenses and “pain and suffering.” If this is the case, you don't have to include the amount in your income.

Is it worth claiming medical expenses on taxes?

The medical expense deduction covers a wide variety of expenses. However, because of the high Standard Deduction and the 7.5% of AGI threshold requirement, it can be difficult to benefit unless you have a lot of out-of-pocket costs.

Can you write off car payments?

Personal Vehicle You Use For Business

If you use a personal car for business purposes, you will NOT be able to deduct your car payment if you bought this vehicle using a loan. If you use the same car for both personal use and business reasons, you can deduct a portion of your loan interest, however.

How does the IRS know if you have health insurance?

How does the IRS know if you have health insurance? The IRS will know you have health insurance if you use a 1095 to file your taxes. If you don't have health insurance, you will not be penalized by the IRS.

What states penalty for no health insurance?

New Jersey, California, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and the District of Columbia require their residents to have health insurance coverage or face penalties. Vermont recommends that residents have coverage, but there's no noncompliance penalty.

Why do taxes ask about health insurance?

The IRS requires this information to determine if a repayment of the credit is required OR give an additional Premium Tax Credit if you were eligible for more of a credit. In an effort to better serve you, and report all required information to the IRS, we have included this question within the return.

Does IRS still require health insurance?

So technically, the law does still require most Americans to maintain health insurance coverage. But the IRS no longer imposes a penalty on people who don't comply with that requirement.

What happens if you lie about not having health insurance on taxes?

Fraud or Other Charges

Depending on the outcome of your audit, you may be charged with either negligence or fraud as a civil penalty. The IRS may also choose to prosecute you on criminal charges if the amounts are large enough. These cases take years to process, and can result in jail time and other hefty fines.

Do you get money back on taxes for medical?

The IRS allows you to deduct unreimbursed expenses for preventative care, treatment, surgeries, and dental and vision care as qualifying medical expenses. You can also deduct unreimbursed expenses for visits to psychologists and psychiatrists.

How much medical bills can I deduct on my taxes?

Generally, you can deduct on Schedule A (Form 1040) only the amount of your medical and dental expenses that is more than 7.5% of your AGI.

What can I write off on my taxes?

If you itemize, you can deduct these expenses:
  • Bad debts.
  • Canceled debt on home.
  • Capital losses.
  • Donations to charity.
  • Gains from sale of your home.
  • Gambling losses.
  • Home mortgage interest.
  • Income, sales, real estate and personal property taxes.

What happens if you don't put insurance on taxes?

You no longer will be penalized for not having health insurance. Before the TCJA change, you were subject to a penalty if you had a lapse in health insurance for a specific amount of time. You were required to answer questions about your healthcare coverage when you filed your tax return.

Can you claim a car loss on your taxes?

Generally, if the loss is caused by a federally declared disaster, you may deduct personal casualty losses relating to your home, household items, and vehicles on your federal income tax return.

How to settle with the IRS by yourself?

Attempt the OIC Route

See if you qualify for an Offer in Compromise (OIC). If installment chunks still prove unaffordable, propose an IRS Offer in Compromise (OIC) for a lesser settlement amount to give you some debt relief. It's like making a deal – you pay a reduced amount, and they consider the debt settled.

How does IRS know if you have insurance?

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) is required by state and federal law to send Form 1095-B information to the IRS and FTB for the purpose of validating months of health coverage reported by the person filing their state and/or federal taxes.

Where does TurboTax ask about health insurance?

On the Expenses section, find the Health insurance premiums section and select Start. On the Tell us about health insurance premiums for your [business] work screen, enter the total amount of health insurance premiums you paid.

Do you include insurance on taxes?

Is health insurance tax-deductible? Health insurance premiums are deductible on federal taxes, in some cases, as these monthly payments are classified as medical expenses. Generally, if you pay for medical insurance on your own, you can deduct the amount from your taxes.