Shared Responsibility Payment for 2014

What You Need to Know

Most people had qualifying health care coverage in 2014 and will simply check a box to report that coverage on their federal tax return when they file in 2015. Others may qualify for an exemption from the requirement to maintain coverage.

However, beginning with your 2014 income tax return, if you or any of your dependents did not have qualifying health care coverage and did not qualify for an exemption from the requirement to maintain coverage, you will need to make an individual shared responsibility payment with your income tax return.

Figuring the payment

You can figure your shared responsibility payment using the worksheet included in the instructions for IRS Form 8965, Health Coverage Exemptions. Tax preparation software can also help you calculate your payment when filing electronically.

Payment limits

In general, the payment amount is either a percentage of your household income or a flat dollar amount, whichever is greater. The annual payment amount for 2014 is the greater of:

• 1 percent of your household income that is above the tax return filing threshold for your filing status, such as married filing jointly or single, or
• Your family’s flat dollar amount, which is $95 per adult and $47.50 per child under 18, limited to a maximum of $285.

However, your payment is capped at the amount of the national average premium for bronze level health plans available through the Health Insurance Marketplace. For 2014, that amount per individual is $2,448, which equals $204 per month. The maximum payment for a family with five or more members is $12,240, which equals $1,020 per month.

Reporting the payment on your tax return

• Enter your payment amount on line 61 of Form 1040, line 38 of Form 1040A or line 11 of Form 1040EZ
• Your payment amount will either reduce the amount of your refund or increase the amount you
• If you cannot afford to make your payment at the time you file your tax return, the IRS has a number of ways to work with you including IRS Direct Pay and online payment agreements.

Shared Responsibility Payment for 2014

Find out more about the tax provisions of the Affordable Care Act for employers on the IRS website.

This post originally appeared on our website here.