What Is Form 1095-C? Definition, What to Do With It
Form 1095-C is not required for employees to file taxes, but it’s good to keep it for your tax records.
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Managing Editor Nerdy takeaways
- Employees do not need Form 1095-C to file their taxes.
- Employers with 50 or more full-time employees must file Form 1095-C and send a copy to their employees.
- Employers who don't file Form 1095-C could face tax penalties.
If you find yourself receiving Form 1095-C sometime before the tax filing deadline, here's what it is and what to do with it.
What is a 1095-C?
Form 1095-C is a tax form sent from employers to employees that describes the health insurance that is available to them. This annual statement is required by law under the Affordable Care Act. Companies must send 1095-Cs to their workers if they have 50 or more full-time employees.
» Learn more: Tax filing basics to know
What should I do with a 1095-C?
Employees who receive a 1095-C from their employer do not need to use it to file their taxes. In fact, the IRS recommends that individuals not wait to receive 1095-Cs to file their return.
Form 1095-C is an informational document, however, so the IRS does encourage that you keep it with your other tax documents in case you need to verify that you were offered health insurance for that year
Only employers that have 50 or more full-time workers, or full-time equivalents (multiple part-time employees whose total workload adds up to a full-time workload), must file Form 1095-C with the IRS. These employers are considered “applicable large employers” (ALEs).
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When do you have to file Form 1095-C?
For the 2024 tax filing season, employers must send their employees Form 1095-C by March 3, 2025. Additionally, employers need to file Form 1095-C with the IRS by:
- Feb. 28, 2025 (if filing on paper).
- March 31, 2025 (if filing electronically).
» See our top picks for the best tax filing software
What happens if I don’t report my Form 1095-C?
If you are an employee and you don’t include your 1095-C with your tax return, that’s fine. You do not need to file or report your Form 1095-C.
If you are an employer and do not provide an accurate 1095-C to the IRS you could face a penalty of $330 for each return, though the penalty cannot exceed $3,987,000. If you are an employer and fail to provide your employees with their 1095-C statements, you could also owe $330 per return
Is Form 1095-C tax deductible?
For employees, Form 1095-C itself is not deductible since it is just a statement about your health insurance. However, if you paid health insurance premiums on an employer-offered health insurance plan after your taxes were taken out, or you paid premiums on a policy you bought on your own, you may be eligible to deduct your insurance premiums. Your 1095-C may be helpful in determining if you can deduct your premiums.
Is there an extension to file Form 1095-C?
If you’re an employer and you need more time to file your 1095-C with the IRS, you can get an automatic 30-day extension by filling out Form 8809 on or before your tax return deadline. You can submit that form on paper or electronically.
Need help?
If you need assistance completing your taxes, it may be worth working with a tax professional. You can work with online tax preparers or find a tax professional near you.
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- Federal: $79 to $139. Free version available for Simple Form 1040 returns only.
- State: $0 to $69 per state.
- Expert help or full service filing is available with an upgrade to Live packages for a fee.
Disclosures: TurboTax Free Edition is for Simple Form 1040 returns only (no schedules except for Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit and Student Loan Interest). Roughly 37% of taxpayers qualify.
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- 1. IRS. Questions and Answers about Health Care Information Forms for Individuals (Forms 1095-A, 1095-B, and 1095-C). Accessed Mar 13, 2025.
- 2. Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Forms 1094-C and 1095-C. Accessed Jan 24, 2024.
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