What you need before you start
Have these three things ready before you start filling out the form:
- Your Form 1095-A from the Health Insurance Marketplace
- Your adjusted gross income (AGI)—total gross income minus specific adjustments—and other information needed to calculate your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)—AGI plus certain deductions and tax-exempt income
- Your tax family size
How Form 8962 is organized: Parts I through V
| Part | What it calculates |
|---|---|
| Part I | Your annual and monthly contribution amount |
| Part II | Your PTC Claim and reconciliation of the APTC |
| Part III | Calculates the repayment of excess advance payment of the PTC |
| Part IV | Policy allocation if you shared a marketplace plan with other members of your tax family |
| Part V | The alternative calculation for the year you got married |
Source: Internal Revenue Service
Reconciling your advance payments: do you owe or get more credit
If your income was higher than what was estimated, it’s likely that the APTC paid was more than your actual PTC; you’ll have to repay the difference, resulting in a reduced tax refund or tax being owed. If your income was less than what was estimated, it’s likely that the APTC was less than what you qualified for, providing a refund of the amount underpaid by the APTC.
For tax years before 2026, an income-based repayment cap may limit how much you repay. Repayment amounts are added to line 28 of Form 8962, and are as follows:
| Household income as a percentage of the FPL (Found on line 5) | Repayment limitation for single filers | Repayment limitation for all other filing statuses |
|---|---|---|
| Less than 200 | $375 | $750 |
| 200 to 299 | $975 | $1,950 |
| 300 to 399 | $1,625 | $3,250 |
| 400 or more | No repayment limitation | No repayment limitation |
Source: Internal Revenue Service
Starting in 2026, there is no repayment cap, so you typically have to repay all of the excess credit you received.
Situations that need extra sections
A few situations call for extra sections of the form beyond the basic reconciliation:
- Sharing a marketplace policy with someone outside your tax family: Complete Part IV to provide details about these individuals and the allocation of policy amounts.
- Getting married during the tax year: You can potentially reduce the amount of excess APTC you must repay by electing to use the alternative calculation (Part V of the form) for the months before you were married.
- Filing Married Filing Separately and qualifying for an exception for victims of domestic abuse or spousal abandonment: Check the box on line A, above Part I to indicate that you qualify for an exception to the requirement to file a joint return with your spouse.
How to file Form 8962
- Review your Form 1095-A and contact the Marketplace if any coverage or premium information is incorrect.
- Use Part I to calculate your contribution amount and Part II to calculate and reconcile your Premium Tax Credit.
- Complete the applicable parts of Form 8962, then attach it to your Form 1040, Form 1040-SR, or Form 1040-NR.
