Taxes and ACA Penalty

Currently starting to do my taxes and I am wondering why the online service that I am using is telling me that I will have to pay a penalty since I lack health insurance. Originally, from what I remember reading is that people under DACA are excluded from the marketplaces and thus are not subject to the penalty. Of course the online service does not know that I am DACA and tells me to provide a ECN number or something like that of my exemption to get rid of the penalty.

I could be wrong about thinking that we don't have to pay the penalty but as irresponsible as it sounds I would hate to get health insurance right now since its gonna be very expensive for me from a private carrier and I'm trying to pay down my current debts before adding any more expenses.

If we are technically excluded, how do we apply for an exemption? I tried to do some quick reading around on the healthcare.gov and just searching around but I kinda lack clarity on this front. Can anyone shine some light on this for me?

What service are you using? I used TurboTax and I got my exemption through them.

This healthcare.gov link below says you do not need to apply for exemption. Click on the 8th option under "exemption forms".

https://www.healthcare.gov/fees-exem...for-exemption/

DACA allows us to be "lawfully present".

DACA receipents are exempt from the Obamacare pentaly. and btw DO NOT USE H&R BLOCK!!!!!!

I'm using TaxAct since I used them to file my taxes before on my previous tax returns. To claim an exception according to TaxAct, I need to either file a Federal Form 8965 Part 1 or Federal Form 8965 Part 3. Just from the options it gives me, it seems a Federal Form 8965 Part 3 would be my choice but the dropdown for the type of exemption does not make it simple to pick what to choose.




I think I would pick option C but I could be wrong.

It's C. Because I looked over my forms and the exception type was c

TaxAct makes it so much more difficult. I only answered questions on turbotax and it fills out the forms. Heck, they even found all my w2 information. I didn't put any single dollar amount.

As much as I hate Intuit's marketing and nickel and diming (in Quickbooks especially), their software is top notch.

If you don't mind me asking, why do you advise against using H&R block? I've used it for the past 6 years and i was planning on using it this year. Are they not letting us be exempt from the penalty? What other online service do you guys recommend? Thankss