Health Care Did You File a Tax Extension? You May Qualify for an Affordable Care Act Exemption When You File Your Taxes Read the Article Open Share Drawer Share this:Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)Click to print (Opens in new window) Written by Magaly Olivero Published May 20, 2015 - [Updated Jul 23, 2019] 2 min read If you paid the non-coverage tax penalty when requesting an extension to file your 2014 income taxes, you may be eligible for a tax refund if you later discover that you qualify for an exemption from the federal mandate that most Americans carry health insurance. The Internal Revenue Service automatically grants taxpayers a six-month extension to prepare their tax returns as long they complete the proper extension form by April 15. But an extension gives you more time to file – not more time to pay. Taxpayers filing for an extension must make an estimated payment to the IRS, including the tax penalty for any months they were uninsured in 2014 as required by the health law. However, taxpayers who owe money on their 2014 taxes due to an excess advanced premium tax credit, could receive penalty relief if they can’t pay the balance owed. Since an extension allows you more time to prepare your tax return if you missed the tax deadline, you also now have more time to determine if you were eligible for a non-coverage waiver on your 2014 taxes. The federal government has identified more than 30 exemptions, including hardship cases. The IRS has a free online tool to determine if you’re eligible for an exemption from the tax penalty. Some exemptions – such as only having access to health insurance plans that exceed 8 percent of household income – can be claimed directly on your tax return. But other exemptions, including hardship cases, require that you apply through a state or federal Health Insurance Marketplace to receive an exemption certificate number. If you find you’re eligible for an exemption from the tax penalty for not having health insurance and paid the non-coverage penalty when you filed for an extension, the IRS may issue a tax refund or subtract the sum from the total amount of taxes you owe the government. Still have questions about the Affordable Care Act and your taxes? As with all tax laws, TurboTax has you covered. You can get your questions answered at TurboTax Health. Previous Post Tax Tales: How One Taxpayer Navigated Moving from State to… Next Post Affordable Care Act Update: Millions of Americans Can Continue to… Written by Magaly Olivero Magaly Olivero is an award-winning writer and has written for many national and regional media outlets, as well as corporate and nonprofit clients in the healthcare, tax and education industries. Her publishing credits include U.S. News and World Report, Newsweek, The New York Times, Working Woman, Better Homes and Gardens and the Connecticut Health Investigative Team. Magaly is a recipient of a National Journalism Fellowship from the University of California Annenberg School of Communication and a Health Coverage Fellowship from the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation. More from Magaly Olivero Leave a ReplyCancel reply Browse Related Articles Health Care Good News For Uninsured Taxpayers! Affordable Care Act … Health Care Good News For Uninsured Taxpayers! Affordable Care Act … Health Care I Missed the Open Enrollment Deadline. What Now? Health Care Will the Affordable Care Act Impact My Tax Refund? Health Care Still Need to File Your 2015 Taxes? File Now to Get You… Health Care Are You Eligible for an Exemption? What to do Next Unde… Health Care I Don’t Have Health Insurance – What Tax Pe… Health Care I Qualify for an Affordable Care Act Exemption. Do I St… Health Care How Will I Prove My Health Insurance Under the Affordab… Health Care Who Qualifies for a Penalty Exemption Under the Afforda…