To state the obvious: This is a business hoping to sell you on its services. Other tax preparers can help, too, and you may be able to get free tax help from community groups.
Image: H&R Block |
Kathy Pickering, executive director of Block's Tax Institute, says one of the biggest shocks may come for people who assume they'll only pay a $95 fine if they skipped insurance. "The reality is that the penalty varies depending on each person’s situation, and consumers may find themselves paying a higher penalty that is up to one percent of their annual household income and would come straight out of their tax refund. That could be a difference of hundreds of dollars,” she said.
For information on the penalty from other sources, check HealthCare.gov, Kaiser Health News and Consumer Reports.