Health Insurance will affect your 2016 tax return

Ten Forty + Quality Tax Preparation & Financial Services 281-397-7777 Fax 281-397-7443 Tax Tips Health insurance decisions will affect your 2016 tax return December is the midpoint of the 2016 health insurance open enrollment period, which began November 1, 2015, and ends January 31, 2016. As you investigate your options on the government Marketplace, here are two ways the decisions you make could impact your 2016 federal income tax return. Penalty. If you decide not to purchase a health insurance policy for 2016, you'll pay a penalty for any month you don't have coverage and don't qualify for an exemption. You'll pay the penalty, also known as the shared responsibility payment, on your 2016 federal income tax return (the one that's due in April of 2017). The penalty is calculated as a percentage of your income or is based on the number of uninsured people in your household. You'll calculate both numbers and pay the higher of the two. For 2016, the percentage-of-income penalty is 2.5% of your household income, up to a maximum of the total average annual premium of a Bronze plan. The per-person penalty is $695 per adult ($347.50 per child under 18), up to a maximum of $2,085. Premium tax credit. If you purchase a policy on the insurance Marketplace, you may qualify for a federal tax break. The break is in the form of a credit, which reduces your federal income tax dollar for dollar. You can choose to receive the credit monthly in the form of lower premiums on your policy, or claim it on your 2016 federal income tax return. If you get the credit monthly, be sure to update your information with any changes in your family size or income so you receive the correct amount. Also be aware you'll need to file a tax return, even if you might not otherwise have to, in order to reconcile the amount of the credit you've taken with the amount you are eligible for. As always please call us if you have any questions. 1040 + Quality Tax Preparation & Financial Services Joseph C Becker www.tenfortyplus.com 281-397-7777, Fax 281-397-7443 joeb@tenfortyplus.com Contact Us There are many events that occur during the year that can affect your tax situation. Preparation of your tax return involves summarizing transactions and events that occurred during the prior year. In most situations, treatment is firmly established at the time the transaction occurs. However, negative tax effects can be avoided by proper planning. Please contact us in advance if you have questions about the tax effects of a transaction or event, including the following: • Pension or IRA distributions. • Retirement. • Significant change in income or • Notice from IRS or other deductions. Revenue department. • Job change. • Divorce or separation. • Marriage. • Self-employment. • Attainment of age 59½ or 70½. • Charitable contributions • Sale or purchase of a business property in excess of $5,000. • Sale or purchase of a residence or other real estate.