If you or a family member received health insurance through the Marketplace (Healthcare.gov), your tax filing isn’t complete without Form 1095-A. Missing this one document can cause your return to be rejected, delay your refund, or worse—result in an unexpected tax bill.

At Wilson Accounting Group, we see this issue come up every tax season, especially as incomes shift and taxpayers forget to bring in their 1095-A. Here’s what you need to know to avoid costly mistakes and keep your tax filing on track.

Form 1095-A, Health Insurance Marketplace Statement, is provided by the Marketplace (Healthcare.gov or your state exchange) to individuals who enrolled in Marketplace coverage. This form reports:

• The months you had coverage
• The total premium for your plan
• Any advance premium tax credit (APTC) you received during the year
• The benchmark plan used to calculate your subsidy

This form is essential for completing Form 8962, which is required to reconcile your Premium Tax Credit.

If you don’t include your 1095-A in your tax filing:

• Your return may be rejected by the IRS or flagged for review.
• You may be unable to file electronically until the form is included.
• You can’t complete Form 8962, which means you can’t properly reconcile the advance credit you received.

Even if your insurance coverage was only for part of the year, the IRS requires this form if you received any assistance through the Marketplace.

Important: Filing without reconciling your tax credit is considered an incomplete return. You could face penalties or delays in future years if this continues.

One of the most common issues we see at Wilson Accounting Group is a change in income after Marketplace enrollment. If your income increased during the year, you may have received too much in advance premium tax credits, which can result in:

• Owing money back at tax time
• A lower refund than expected
• Unexpected tax liability—even if you had full-year coverage

The only way to accurately calculate whether you received the right amount of credit is to include your 1095-A and complete Form 8962.

Tip: If your income increased or you changed jobs during the year, be prepared for a potential adjustment to your credit when filing.

Form 1095-A is usually available in late January. You can:

• Log in to your Healthcare.gov account or your state’s Marketplace.
• Download the form from your Documents or Messages section.
• You should also receive a paper copy by mail, but delays can occur—so don’t wait!

• Retain your 1095-A and provide it to your accountant during tax season.
• Let your tax preparer know about any changes in income or household size during the year.
• Respond quickly if your return is rejected for missing Form 8962 or 1095-A—we can help correct and resubmit.

We’re here to ensure your tax return is filed accurately and on time—even when healthcare tax credits are involved. Our tax professionals will:

• Review your Form 1095-A for accuracy
• Complete and file Form 8962
• Help you plan ahead if you’ve had income changes that may impact your refund or balance due

If you had Marketplace health insurance in 2025, don’t forget to gather your 1095-A and bring it to your tax appointment. A missing form could mean a rejected return or a surprise tax bill—and no one wants that.