Why does filing my taxes matter?
As shared in the previous section, if you receive an Advance Premium Tax Credit to help lower your premium costs, you must file your taxes each you receive this tax credit to be eligible for this saving the next year, or any future year. This is true even if you receive the tax credit only part of the year.
This is true even if your income is low enough that you haven’t needed to file taxes in the past.
What information will the Connector give me?
To file your taxes, we’ll send you a 1095-A form at the end of January. This form shows how much was paid to your insurance company to help with the cost of your health coverage. You will use the information on your 1095-A to fill out IRS Form 8962 when you file your taxes.
What resources are available?
If you need help filing your taxes, many people can get free tax help from programs such as Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE). Call the IRS hotline at 800-906-9887 to find a location near you. You can also visit MAhealthconnector.org/taxes for more information on how to get free help with your taxes.
When is the best time to file?
The best time to file is after you have received all of your tax filing documents, including those related to your health insurance. If you were covered by different types of insurance during the year—for example, part of the year through a job and part of the year through a Health Connector plan—then you should wait until you get all the forms you need before filing. You should receive most tax forms by late-January or early February.
You can find more information about the forms related to health coverage you may receive at MAhealthconnector.org/taxes/tax-documents
After you have your forms and the information on them is correct, you should file as soon as you can before the tax filing deadline. The deadline to file your 2016 Massachusetts state and federal tax return is April 18, 2017.
What will happen if I do not file my taxes correctly?
If you do not file your taxes correctly, then you may need to file an amended tax return. Find tip for filing an amended tax return on the IRS website at https://www.irs.gov/uac/tips-for-filing-an-amended-return
Can I make changes to my enrollment after I file taxes and am not happy?
No. It is important that you report changes throughout the year as they happen to avoid surprises at tax time. If you are not sure about your situation or how to make changes, you can make an appointment with a Navigator organization near you, or call Customer Service for help.
TIP: Navigator organizations are trained and certified to help you enroll and maintain your coverage, as well as help answer questions you may have. In-person appointments are free for anyone of any income level.
Can I request that the Health Connector resend information?
Yes. If you need a copy of your Form 1095-A, you can request one by calling 1-877-MA-ENROLL (1-877-623-6765), or TTY 711 for people who are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech disabled. Follow the system prompts.
How can I request a corrected tax document from the Health Connector?
The form 1095-A you will receive in late January, early February 2017 shows the coverage you received through the Health Connector in 2016, and any Advance Premium Tax Credit you received for that year. This form helps you fill in Form 8962 when you file your taxes.
If your form doesn’t accurately show the coverage information we had on file about you—for example, if you had coverage through the Health Connector from January through October 2016, and your Form 1095-A only shows coverage from January through August 2016—then please contact us for a corrected form.
Before you request a correction
Before you call to request a correction, please note that there is some information that may not need to be updated on your Form 1095-A in order to file your taxes.
For example, if there is information on the form that is not correct, like a misspelled name or your income went up or down in 2015 and you did not report it to the Health Connector, you may not need a corrected Form 1095-A to file your taxes. Just enter the correct information when you complete your tax return.
Did you move in 2016 and did not update your address?
If you moved in 2016 and you didn’t tell us, you may need to get a different Second Lowest Cost Silver Plan (SLCSP) premium amount from our calculator for those months at your new address and recalculate your SLCSP when you file your taxes. You do not need a corrected Form 1095-A from the Health Connector.
Did you divorce in 2016 and did not report this change?
If you got divorced and you didn’t tell us, you and your spouse would divide your premiums and tax credits among yourselves when you do your taxes. You do not need a corrected Form 1095-A from the Health Connector.
Will update to add online request form once that is up and running.