Glossary
Advanced Premium Tax Credit (APTC)

Advanced Premium Tax Credit (APTC)

The advance premium tax credit (APTC), which is a federal tax credit, is determined by every tax family. If you qualify for APTC, you can immediately utilize it to reduce the monthly health plan premiums you pay. Families who qualify may utilize the tax credit as advance payments to reduce their monthly health plan premiums, lowering the cost of insurance.

With regard to family size, income, and the value of the second-lowest cost silver plan that is available to all members of your shopping group, the maximum amount of APTC that a tax household is eligible for is calculated and adjusted.

You must sign up for a plan through the Health Connector in order to use APTC. You can decide how much of your tax credit you want to use to offset the cost of your monthly health plan premiums once you've enrolled. Each month, the premium tax credit is given directly to your insurance provider and applied to your premium, resulting in a decrease in your out-of-pocket expenses.

Understanding Advanced Premium Tax Credit

The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), popularly known as Obamacare, was enacted on March 23, 2010, by President Barack Obama, and includes a benefit known as the advanced premium tax credit.

The tax credits are not calculated and applied to the taxpayer's tax due like conventional tax credits, which must then be returned or utilized to lower liability when taxes for the prior year are filed.

In contrast, the government calculates and sends the Advanced Premium Tax Credit directly to the health insurance providers who provide coverage to those who qualify. The person receives a tax credit-amount reduction on monthly premium payments. Anyone qualified for this tax credit will get a sum based on their income.

How To Calculate Advanced Premium Tax Credit

Monthly rates for Marketplace health insurance plans are reduced by the advance premium tax credit (APTC).

A modified adjusted gross income of between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty threshold is required for eligible taxpayers.

Advanced Premium Tax Credit (APTC) = Cost of “second-lowest cost silver plan” for your age, family size & county of residence - your maximum monthly contribution

How Advanced Premium Tax Credit Works

Applying on the health insurance Marketplace is the first step in receiving your tax credit. Afterward, you'll receive a projection of the credit you can apply for in the upcoming year. Whether you can get credit depends on:

Your family size
Your estimate of your household income for the coming year
The typical cost of insurance in your area for a family like yours
If your family is larger and your income is lower, you can be qualified for additional credit

You'll then determine how to apply your credit. Because you have the option to choose whether all or part of this subsidy will be applied in advance to your premium, it is known as the Advanced Premium Tax Credit. Your insurance provider is reimbursed after the Marketplace informs them of your credit. Your monthly payments are reduced because your insurance company credits your monthly premium.

Alternatively, you can wait until you file your tax return for the year your plan covered you to make your claim for the credit. When you file, you can also claim any money that was only partially applied to your premium. The choice is between receiving the credit in one large payment and paying lower rates each month. You are in charge.

Key Takeaways

If you have purchased your health insurance through the Marketplace, the advanced premium tax credit lowers the amount you pay each month for premiums.

It is computed and supplied directly from the federal government to insurance companies. Your income will decide the credit's size.

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