EZ1095: Common Questions and Step-by-Step Instructions

EZ1095: Quick Guide to Filing Your Form 1095 Easily—

Filing health-care related tax forms can feel overwhelming, but Form 1095 exists to make it easier to document your health insurance coverage for the year. This guide explains what Form 1095 is, who receives it, which parts matter for your taxes, how to read it, and practical steps to file and keep records. By the end you’ll understand how EZ1095 simplifies the process and what to do if something looks wrong.

What is Form 1095?

Form 1095 is a family of IRS information returns used to report information about health coverage. There are three variants:

• Form 1095-A: Issued by the Health Insurance Marketplace to people who enrolled in a qualified health plan and may have received advance premium tax credits.
• Form 1095-B: Issued by health insurers and small self-insured employers to report who had minimum essential coverage (MEC).
• Form 1095-C: Issued by applicable large employers (ALEs) to full-time employees and reports the health coverage offered to employees.

Why it matters: Form 1095 verifies whether you and your family had qualifying health coverage during the tax year. While it’s generally informational (you typically don’t attach it to your tax return), it’s important for reconciling premium tax credits (Form 1095-A) and for proving coverage if required.

Who receives a 1095 and when?

• If you bought coverage through the Marketplace, you should receive Form 1095-A by early February (often earlier if you access it online).
• If you had employer-sponsored or government coverage, you may receive Form 1095-B or 1095-C by early February.
• Some people won’t receive any 1095 if their insurer or employer doesn’t issue them in certain small-employer cases; however, the coverage is still reported to the IRS.

If you haven’t received a form by mid-February, check your online account with the issuer or contact them directly.

Parts of the form you need to know

Each variant has different sections, but here are the essentials:

• Payer and recipient information — names, addresses, and taxpayer identification numbers. Verify accuracy.
• Coverage months — indicates which months you (and covered dependents) had MEC. For Form 1095-A, this will affect premium tax credit reconciliation.
• Marketplace details (Form 1095-A only) — monthly premiums, second lowest cost silver plan (SLCSP) premium, and advance premium tax credit (APTC) amounts. These figures are used on Form 8962 to reconcile credits.
• Employer offer details (Form 1095-C only) — whether coverage was offered, and codes indicating affordability and suitability. These help determine employer shared responsibility and your eligibility for premium tax credits.

Quick fact: You generally do not attach Forms 1095-B or 1095-C to your federal tax return. Keep them with your records.

How to read your 1095 (step-by-step)

1. Confirm names and SSNs/TINs: Make sure all Social Security Numbers or Taxpayer Identification Numbers and names match your records.
2. Check coverage months: For each covered individual, verify months listed; incorrect months can cause confusion if you received premium tax credits.
3. For 1095-A: Note the monthly APTC amounts, total premiums, and SLCSP values — you’ll need these for Form 8962.
4. For 1095-C: Review the offer codes and the employee’s share of the lowest-cost monthly premium for self-only coverage, if provided.
5. If anything is wrong, contact the issuer promptly to get a corrected form.

Filing with EZ1095: practical steps

EZ1095 is a streamlined service (or a workflow) designed to make handling your 1095 simple. Whether you’re doing it yourself or using a provider, the steps are:

1. Gather documents: Forms 1095-A/B/C (if you received them), your Form 1040, and any correspondence about subsidies.
2. For Marketplace enrollees: Use Form 1095-A numbers to complete Form 8962 (Premium Tax Credit). EZ1095 tools often import these numbers automatically or provide guided data entry.
3. Review and reconcile: Compare APTC reported on 1095-A with the advance credits claimed. If you received too much credit, you may owe; if too little, you may get a refund.
4. Report on tax return: Enter any required values (from Form 8962) on your Form 1040. EZ1095-integrated tax software will usually populate these fields.
5. Keep records: Store the 1095 forms with tax records for at least three years. EZ1095 services often offer digital storage.

Common issues and how to fix them

• Missing or incorrect SSN/TIN: Contact issuer immediately; request a corrected 1095.
• Incorrect coverage months: Ask issuer for a correction; keep documentation of communications.
• Missing 1095-A but you bought Marketplace coverage: Download from your Marketplace account or contact Marketplace support.
• Discrepancies with Form 8962 calculations: Re-check entries, ensure you used the correct SLCSP and APTC values from Form 1095-A.

Recordkeeping and audit preparedness

Keep Forms 1095 with your tax returns, premium receipts, and any correspondence related to your coverage. Store digitally (PDF) and back up in secure cloud or encrypted storage. Retain for at least three years; keep longer if you have an ongoing IRS issue.

When to seek professional help

Consider a tax pro if you:

• Received large discrepancies in premium tax credit reconciliation.
• Have a complex household (multiple tax filers, dependents with different coverage).
• Need to correct several years of past returns.

Final checklist (quick)

• Confirm you received correct 1095 forms.
• Use 1095-A to complete Form 8962 if applicable.
• Don’t attach 1095-B/1095-C to tax return — keep them for records.
• Request corrections promptly for any errors.
• Store forms securely for at least three years.