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                                                                                                        Department of the Treasury
                                                                                                        Internal Revenue Service
2021

Instructions for Form 8885

Health Coverage Tax Credit

Section references are to the Internal Revenue Any amounts you included on Form           for those coverage months. Your election 
Code unless otherwise noted.                   8885, line 4, or on Form 14095, The          applies to your April through October 
                                               Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC)            coverage months.
What’s New                                     Reimbursement Request Form;
                                                                                                        Even if you can’t claim the HCTC 
Expiration of the Health Coverage Tax          Any qualified health insurance 
                                                                                                        on your income tax return, you 
Credit (HCTC). The HCTC expires at the         coverage premiums you paid to “US            CAUTION!
                                                                                                        must still file Form 8885 to elect 
end of 2021. The HCTC can't be claimed         Treasury-HCTC” for eligible coverage 
                                                                                            the HCTC for any months you participated 
for coverage months beginning in 2022.         months for which you received the benefit 
                                                                                            in the advance monthly payment program. 
The advance monthly payment program            of the advance monthly payment program; 
                                                                                            Failing to make a timely election will 
will continue through December 2021 but        or
                                                                                            require you to report advance monthly 
will not accept HCTC payments in 2022.         Any advance monthly payments your 
                                                                                            HCTC payment amounts as an additional 
                                               health plan administrator received from 
                                                                                            tax owed on your tax return.
COBRA premium reductions.        The           the IRS, as shown on Form 1099-H, 
American Rescue Plan Act of 2021               Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) 
provided temporary 100% premium                Advance Payments.                            Definitions and Special 
subsidies for eligible former employees 
                                                                                            Rules
enrolled in COBRA coverage. If you             Who Can Take This Credit
received a 100% COBRA premium                  You can elect to take the HCTC only if (a)   TAA Recipient
reduction from your former employer or         you were an eligible TAA, ATAA, or RTAA      You were an eligible TAA recipient as of 
COBRA administrator, don’t check any           recipient or PBGC payee in 2021; or you      the first day of the month if, for any day in 
boxes on line 1 for the coverage months        were the qualifying family member of an      that month or the prior month, you:
for which you received such reduction.         eligible TAA, ATAA, or RTAA recipient or     Received a trade readjustment 
You aren’t eligible to claim the HCTC for      PBGC payee who passed away or                allowance, or
those months and may need to repay on          finalized a divorce with you (see            Would have been entitled to receive 
line 5 any advance payments of the HCTC        Continued Qualification for Family           such an allowance except that you hadn’t 
made for your benefit for those months.        Members After Certain Life Events, later);   exhausted all rights to any unemployment 
                                               (b) you can’t be claimed as a dependent      insurance (except additional 
Future Developments                            on someone else’s 2021 tax return; and       compensation that is funded by a state 
For the latest information about               (c) you met all of the other conditions      and isn’t reimbursed from any federal 
developments related to Form 8885 and          listed on line 1. If you can’t be claimed as funds) to which you were entitled (or 
its instructions, such as legislation          a dependent on someone else’s 2021 tax       would be entitled if you applied).
enacted after they were published, go to       return, review Form 8885, Part I, to see if 
                                                                                              Example.   You received a trade 
IRS.gov/Form8885.                              you are eligible to take this credit.
                                                                                            readjustment allowance for January 2021. 
        Relatively few people are eligible     Election to take the HCTC.   You must        You were an eligible TAA recipient as of 
!       for the HCTC. See Who Can Take         elect the HCTC to receive the benefit of     the first day of January and February.
CAUTION This Credit, later, to determine       the HCTC. Make your election by 
whether you can claim the credit.              checking the box on line 1 for the first     ATAA Recipient
                                               eligible coverage month you are electing     You were an eligible ATAA recipient as of 
                                               to take the HCTC and all boxes on line 1     the first day of the month if, for that month 
General Instructions                           for each eligible coverage month after the   or the prior month, you received benefits 
                                               election month. Once you elect to take the   under an alternative trade adjustment 
Purpose of Form                                HCTC for a month in 2021, the election to    assistance program for older workers 
Use Form 8885 to elect and figure the          take the HCTC applies to all subsequent      established by the Department of Labor.
amount, if any, of your HCTC.                  eligible coverage months in 2021. The          Example.   You received benefits under 
                                               election doesn’t apply to any month for      an alternative trade adjustment assistance 
Self-Employed Health Insurance De-             which you aren’t eligible to take the HCTC.  program for older workers for October 
duction Worksheet. If you are                    For 2021, the election must be made        2021. The program was established by 
completing the Self-Employed Health            no later than the due date (including        the Department of Labor. You were an 
Insurance Deduction Worksheet in your          extensions) of your tax return.              eligible ATAA recipient as of the first day 
tax return instructions and you were an                                                     of October and November.
eligible trade adjustment assistance (TAA)       Example. You were an eligible RTAA 
recipient, alternative TAA (ATAA)              recipient between February 2021 and          RTAA Recipient
recipient, reemployment TAA (RTAA)             October 2021 and you otherwise met the 
recipient, or Pension Benefit Guaranty         HCTC requirements during that period.        You were an eligible RTAA recipient as of 
Corporation (PBGC) payee, you must             You wish to take the HCTC starting in April  the first day of the month if, for that month 
complete Form 8885 before completing           2021. You would check the box on line 1      or the prior month, you received benefits 
that worksheet. When figuring the amount       for April to elect the HCTC for your April   under a reemployment trade adjustment 
to enter on line 1 of the worksheet, do not    coverage. You must then check every box      assistance program for older workers 
include:                                       on line 1 through, and including, October    established by the Department of Labor.
                                               because you’re eligible to take the HCTC 

Dec 01, 2021                                              Cat. No. 68158V



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Example.   You received benefits under        Qualified Health Insurance                   described in section 9832(c). For 
a reemployment trade adjustment                                                            example, if you purchase dental or vision 
                                              Coverage
assistance program for older workers for                                                   benefits separately, these benefits aren’t 
January 2021. The program was                 Qualified health insurance coverage for      qualified health insurance coverage. But, if 
established by the Department of Labor.       the HCTC is any of the following.            you purchase dental or vision benefits as 
You were an eligible RTAA recipient as of       1. Coverage under a group health           part of a comprehensive package and 
the first day of January and February.        plan available through the employment of     these benefits don’t represent 
                                              your spouse, but see the instructions for    substantially all of its coverage, the 
PBGC Payee                                    line 1, later, for information on when       comprehensive package of benefits, 
You were an eligible PBGC payee as of         enrollment in, or an offer of,               including the dental and vision benefits, 
the first day of the month if both of the     employer-sponsored coverage makes you        may be qualified health insurance 
following apply.                              an individual ineligible for the HCTC.       coverage and the premiums paid may be 
1. You were age 55 to 65 and not                2. Coverage under a non-group              eligible for the HCTC.
enrolled in Medicare as of the first day of   (individual) health insurance plan other            For more information about 
the month.                                    than a qualified health plan offered         TIP    whether your coverage is qualified 
2. You received a benefit for that            through a Marketplace. Individual health            health insurance coverage, go to 
month that was paid by the PBGC under         insurance doesn’t include any insurance      IRS.gov/HCTC.
title IV of the Employee Retirement           connected with a group health plan or 
Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).          federal- or state-based health insurance     Qualifying Family Member
                                              coverage.
If you received a lump-sum payment                                                         A qualifying family member is:
from the PBGC after August 5, 2002, you         3. Coverage under a Consolidated           Your spouse (a spouse doesn’t include 
meet item (2) above for any month that        Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act            someone who is legally separated from his 
you would have received a PBGC benefit        (COBRA) continuation provision (as           or her spouse under a decree of divorce or 
if you hadn’t received the lump-sum           defined in section 9832(d)(1)).              of separate maintenance (but see Married 
payment.                                        4. State-based coverage. State-based       Persons Filing Separate Returns, later)), 
                                              coverage includes the following.             or
Continued Qualification for                     a. Continuation coverage provided by       Anyone whom you can claim as a 
Family Members After Certain                  the state under a state law that requires    dependent (but see the exception for 
Life Events                                   such coverage.                               Children of Divorced or Separated 
                                                                                           Parents, later).
Qualifying family members (spouses and          b. A qualified state high-risk pool (as 
dependents) (see Qualifying Family            defined in section 2744(c)(2) of the Public    For any month that you are eligible to 
Member, later) can be considered              Health Service Act).                         take the HCTC, you can include premiums 
                                                                                           paid for a qualifying family member for that 
recipients and file Form 8885 under their       c. A health insurance program offered      eligible coverage month if all of the 
name and social security number after         for state employees.                         following statements were true as of the 
certain life events. You are considered a 
recipient and are eligible to newly receive,    d. A state-based health insurance          first day of that eligible coverage month.
or continue to receive, the HCTC in the       program that is comparable to the health     The qualifying family member was 
event that a related TAA, ATAA, or RTAA       insurance program offered for state          covered by qualified health insurance 
recipient or PBGC payee dies or finalizes     employees.                                   coverage for which you paid some or all of 
a divorce with you and you were a               e. An arrangement entered into by a        the premiums. You and your qualifying 
qualifying family member immediately          state and (i) a group health plan (including family member don’t have to be covered 
before such event. The TAA, ATAA, or          such a plan that is a multiemployer plan as  by the same coverage.
RTAA recipient or PBGC payee doesn’t          defined in section 3(37) of ERISA), (ii) an  The qualifying family member wasn’t 
need to elect the HCTC prior to the event.    issuer of health insurance coverage, (iii)   enrolled in Medicare Part A, B, or C.
People who were qualifying family             an administrator, or (iv) an employer.       The qualifying family member wasn’t 
                                                                                           enrolled in Medicaid or the Children’s 
members can receive the tax credit for          f.  A state arrangement with a private     Health Insurance Program (CHIP).
eligible coverage months up to 24 months      sector health care coverage purchasing         The qualifying family member wasn’t 
from the death or divorce, or until the first pool.                                        
                                                                                           enrolled in the Federal Employees Health 
coverage month that begins on or after          g. A state-operated health plan that       Benefits Program (FEHBP) or eligible to 
January 1, 2022, whichever comes first.       doesn’t receive any federal financial        receive benefits under the U.S. military 
Eligibility to receive the HCTC may begin     participation.                               health system (TRICARE).
in either the month of the death or divorce 
or the month following the death or             5. Coverage under a health plan            The qualifying family member wasn’t 
divorce.                                      funded by a voluntary employees’             covered by, or eligible for coverage under, 
                                              beneficiary association (VEBA) that was      any employer-sponsored health insurance 
Example.   Your spouse was a PBGC             established through a bankruptcy court.      coverage as described in the instructions 
payee and died on August 20, 2020. You                                                     for line 1, later.
are eligible to receive the HCTC as a         Exception. Qualified health insurance 
recipient for coverage for August 2020        coverage doesn’t include any of the          Note. If you are an eligible TAA, ATAA, or 
through December 2021, subject to the         following.                                   RTAA recipient or PBGC payee who 
other general HCTC requirements. If you       Any state-based coverage listed in         enrolled in Medicare, you may be able to 
didn't have separate coverage for August,     items 4a through 4g above unless it also     take the HCTC for coverage of qualifying 
you are eligible to receive the HCTC as a     meets the requirements of section 35(e)      family members. You can receive the 
recipient for coverage for September 2020     (2).                                         HCTC for the health plan premiums of 
through December 2021, subject to the         A flexible spending or similar             your qualifying family member(s) for 
other general HCTC requirements.              arrangement.                                 eligible coverage months up to 24 months 
                                              Any insurance if substantially all of its  from the month you enrolled in Medicare, 
                                              coverage is of excepted benefits             or until the first coverage month that 
                                                                                           begins on or after January 1, 2022, 

                                                             -2-                               Instructions for Form 8885 (2021)



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whichever comes first. In order to receive  resided with each parent for an equal        different coverage. For example, if you 
the HCTC, your qualifying family members    number of nights in 2021, the custodial      elect the HCTC for self-only COBRA 
must meet all of the requirements           parent is the parent with the higher         coverage in a month, you can take the 
described earlier.                          adjusted gross income for 2021.              PTC for the Marketplace coverage of your 
                                            The child’s other parent can claim the     family members for that same month if you 
Married Persons Filing                      child as a dependent under the rules for     and your eligible family members are 
Separate Returns                            children of divorced or separated parents.   otherwise eligible to take the PTC and the 
Your spouse isn’t treated as a qualifying   See the Instructions for Forms 1040 and      HCTC, as applicable.
family member if you and your spouse file   1040-SR, or Pub. 501, Dependents, 
separate returns and either (1) or (2)      Standard Deduction, and Filing                 You may also be able to claim the 
below applies.                              Information, for details.                    HCTC and the PTC for different coverage 
                                                                                         of the same individuals in different months 
  1. Your spouse was also an eligible         Conversely, if you can claim your child    of the year but need to apply the following 
TAA, ATAA, or RTAA recipient or PBGC        as a dependent under the special rule for    special instructions for completing Form 
payee in 2021.                              a child of divorced or separated parents     8962. If you elected to take the HCTC or 
  2. All of the following apply.            but you aren’t the child’s custodial parent, received the benefit of advance payments 
  a. You lived apart from your spouse       the child isn’t your qualifying family       of the HCTC for at least 1 month of the 
during the last 6 months of 2021.           member for purposes of the HCTC.             year and the individual(s) covered under 
                                                                                         the qualified health insurance coverage for 
  b. A qualifying family member (other              The child must also meet all the     the HCTC were also enrolled in a qualified 
than your spouse) lived in your home for      !     other conditions of a qualifying     health plan offered through a Marketplace 
more than half of 2021.                     CAUTION family member, defined earlier, in 
                                                                                         for at least 1 other month of the year, 
                                            order for you to claim the HCTC for the      complete Form 8962 as provided in the 
  c. You provided over half of the cost     qualified health insurance coverage of the   Form 8962 instructions, but:
of keeping up your home.                    child.                                         Figure your PTC for only those months 
                                                                                         
Children of Divorced or                                                                  not checked on Form 8885, line 1;
                                            Participants in a Health 
Separated Parents                                                                        Complete Form 8962, column (f) of 
                                            Insurance Marketplace
Even if you can’t claim your child as a                                                  lines 12 through 23, for all months for 
dependent, he or she is treated as your     A qualified health plan offered through a    which advance payments of the premium 
qualifying family member for the HCTC if    Marketplace isn’t qualified health           tax credit (APTC) were made, even those 
both of the following apply.                insurance coverage for the HCTC in 2021.     months checked on Form 8885, line 1; 
You were the child’s custodial parent.    And you can’t take the premium tax credit    and
Generally, the custodial parent is the      (PTC) for any months checked on line 1.      If you complete Form 8962, line 27 
parent with whom the child resided for the  However, subject to the general eligibility  (Excess advance payment of PTC), 
greater number of nights in 2021. If the    and election rules for the HCTC and the      determine Form 8962, line 28 (Repayment 
counting nights rule applies, and the child PTC, you may be able to claim the PTC        limitation), as follows.
                                            and the HCTC in the same month for 

Instructions for Form 8885 (2021)                   -3-



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IF . . .                                                                 THEN . . .
the amount on Form 8962, line 5, is 400 or more,                         leave Form 8962, line 28, blank and enter the amount from line 27 on line 29.
the amount on Form 8962, line 24, is zero or blank,                      leave Form 8962, line 28, blank and enter the amount from line 27 on line 29.
you didn’t receive the benefit of advance monthly payments of the HCTC, leave Form 8962, line 28, blank and enter the amount from line 27 on line 29.
the amount on Form 8962, line 24, is greater than zero,                  after you complete Form 8962, line 27, complete Form 8885. 
                                                                          
and                                                                      If you aren’t instructed to complete the Excess Advance HCTC Repayment Worksheet 
                                                                         for Form 8885, line 5, add the amount from Form 8885, line 5, if any, to the applicable 
you received the benefit of advance monthly payments of the HCTC for     repayment limitation provided in the instructions for Form 8962, line 28. Enter the result 
at least 1 month of the year for individual(s) who were enrolled in a    on Form 8962, line 28, and complete Form 8962, line 29.
qualified health plan offered through a Marketplace for at least 1 other  
month of the year,                                                       If you are instructed to complete the Excess Advance HCTC Repayment Worksheet for 
                                                                         Form 8885, line 5, complete only lines 1 and 2 of the worksheet and do one of the 
                                                                         following.
                                                                          (1) If line 1 of the worksheet is greater than or equal to line 2 of the worksheet:
                                                                              (a)  Complete line 3 of the worksheet and enter the amount on Form 8885, line 5, 
                                                                                   and Schedule 3 (Form 1040), 1040-SS, or 1040-PR, as instructed;
                                                                              (b)  On Form 8962, line 28, enter the sum of the amount on Form 8885, line 5, 
                                                                                   and the applicable repayment limitation provided in the instructions for Form 
                                                                                   8962, line 28; and
                                                                              (c)  Complete Form 8962, line 29.
                                                                          (2) If line 1 of the worksheet is less than line 2 of the worksheet:
                                                                              (a)  Complete Form 8962, lines 28 and 29, using the applicable repayment 
                                                                                   limitation provided in the Instructions for Form 8962 without any 
                                                                                   adjustments; and
                                                                              (b)  Using this information, complete lines 4 through 7 of the worksheet as 
                                                                                   instructed.
                                                                          See the Excess Advance HCTC Repayment Worksheet for details.

                                                        a. You were eligible for qualified                     Line 2
Specific Instructions                               health insurance coverage (including any 
                                                    employer-sponsored health insurance                                If your qualified health insurance 
Line 1                                              plan of your spouse) (other than the                          !    coverage covers anyone other 
You must elect the HCTC to receive the              coverage listed under item 3, 4a, or 4e in                 CAUTION than you and your qualifying 
benefit of the HCTC. Check the box for the          the definition of Qualified Health Insurance               family members, see Pub. 502, Medical 
first eligible coverage month you are               Coverage, earlier) where the employer                      and Dental Expenses, before completing 
electing to take the HCTC. All of the               would have paid 50% or more of the cost                    line 2 to determine which amounts are 
statements listed on the form, and as               of the coverage.                                           considered to be paid for coverage for you 
further explained in these instructions,                b. You were covered under any                          and your qualifying family members.
must be true as of the first day of that            qualified health insurance coverage                           Enter the total amount of insurance 
month. You must also check the box for              (including any employer-sponsored health                   premiums paid by you for coverage for 
each month after the election month for             insurance plan of your spouse) (other than                 you and all qualifying family members 
which all of the statements listed on the           the coverage listed under item 3, 4a, or 4e                under Qualified Health Insurance 
form are true as of the first day of that           in the definition of Qualified Health                      Coverage, earlier, for all eligible coverage 
month, even if you aren’t claiming the              Insurance Coverage, earlier) and the                       months checked on line 1. But don’t 
HCTC for those months.                              employer paid any part of the cost of the                  include any insurance premiums paid by 
                                                    coverage.                                                  you to “US Treasury-HCTC.” Also don’t 
Employer-sponsored health insurance 
coverage.  Don’t check the box for any                          Any amounts contributed to the                 include any advance monthly payments 
                                                                                                               your health plan administrator received 
month that, as of the first day of the month,           !       cost of coverage by you or your                from the IRS, as shown on Form 1099-H, 
either (1) or (2) applies.                              CAUTION spouse on a pre-tax basis are 
 1. You were covered under any                      considered to have been paid by the                        box 1, or any insurance premiums you 
employer-sponsored health insurance                 employer.                                                  paid for which you received a 
                                                                                                               reimbursement of the HCTC during the 
plan (including any employer-sponsored                                                                         year by filing Form 14095.
health insurance plan of your spouse)                   Example.         You had health insurance 
(except insurance substantially all of the          coverage under an employer-sponsored                          Example 1.    You checked January on 
coverage of which is of excepted benefits           health insurance plan as of October 1. The                 line 1. You paid $225 ($200 for basic 
described in section 9832(c)) and the               employer paid 40% of the cost of the                       coverage and $25 for dental benefits 
employer paid 50% or more of the cost of            coverage. You paid 60% of the cost of the                  which are purchased separately) directly 
the coverage.                                       coverage through pre-tax contributions.                    to your health plan for your January 
                                                    You can’t take the HCTC for the month of                   coverage. The $25 you paid for dental 
 2. You were an eligible ATAA or                    October because the employer is                            benefits is ineligible for the HCTC. You 
RTAA recipient and either of the following          considered to have paid 100% of the cost                   would include the $200 you paid for your 
applies.                                            of the coverage.                                           basic insurance on line 2.

                                                                              -4-                                   Instructions for Form 8885 (2021)



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Excess Advance HCTC Repayment Worksheet—Line 5
1. Multiply the amount from Form 8885, line 4, by 72.5% (0.725) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        1.  
2. Enter the total advance monthly payments of the HCTC made on your behalf for coverage for any month not checked on Form 8885, line 1 (see 
   Form 1099-H) and reimbursements of the HCTC you received by filing Form 14095 for any month not checked on Form 8885, line 1. If line 2 is 
   greater than line 1, skip line 3 and go to line 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.  
3. Subtract line 2 from line 1. Enter the result here and on:
   Form 8885, line 5; and
   Schedule 3 (Form 1040), line 13c; Form 1040-SS, line 10; or Form 1040-PR, line 10.
   Don’t complete the rest of this worksheet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     3.  
4. Subtract line 1 from line 2. Enter the result here . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4.  
5. Consider all the individual(s) covered under the health insurance coverage for which you received the benefit of the advance monthly payments 
   of the HCTC during the year. Were any of those individual(s) also enrolled in a qualified health plan offered through a Marketplace for at least 1 
   other month of the year?
   Yes. Complete Form 8962 using the special instructions under          Participants in a Health Insurance Marketplace, earlier. Go to line 6.
   No. Skip line 6. Enter the amount from line 4 on line 7.
6. Is the amount on Form 8962, line 5, less than 400 AND the amount on Form 8962, line 24, greater than zero?

           Yes.          IF . . .                                                                    THEN enter on line 6 . . .
                           Form 8962, line 28, is blank,                                               the sum of Form 8962, line 26, and the 
                                                                                                       applicable repayment limitation provided in the 
                                                                                                       instructions for Form 8962, line 28. 
                           Form 8962, line 28, isn’t blank,                                            Form 8962, line 28, reduced by Form 8962, 
                                                                                                       line 29.
                           Note. If you are married filing jointly and both you and your spouse must file Forms 8885, one spouse should 
                           figure their repayment limitation on line 6 of this worksheet. If line 6 is greater than line 7, enter the difference 
                           on line 6 of the second spouse’s worksheet. Otherwise, enter zero on lines 6 and 7 of the second spouse’s 
                           worksheet.
           No. Leave line 6 blank. Enter the amount from line 4 on line 7.                 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .       6.  
7. If you entered an amount on line 6, enter the smaller of line 4 or line 6 here. Also enter the items below where indicated. 

           IF you’re filing . . .                      THEN include the amount on                AND enter “HCTC” and the amount on line 7 . . .
                                                       line 7 in the total entered on . . .
           Form 1040, 1040-SR, or                      line 16                                   in the space next to box   on line 16; then check box  .3   3
           1040-NR,
           Form 1040-SS or 1040-PR,                    line 6                                    on the dotted line next to line 6.
   Then, on Form 8885, line 5, enter the line 7 amount as a negative number by enclosing it in parentheses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .                            7.  

Example 2. You checked December                            Line 5                                                          received the benefit of an advance 
on line 1. You participated in the advance                 If the resulting amount from line 5 is                          monthly payment for any month not 
monthly payment program and paid only                      negative, zero, or blank, you can’t claim                       checked on line 1 (see Form 1099-H) or 
$88 (27.5%) of your $320 December                          the HCTC on your income tax return.                             received a reimbursement of the HCTC 
premium to “US Treasury-HCTC.” You                         However, you must still file Form 8885 to                       during the year by filing Form 14095 for 
received a Form 1099-H showing an                          elect the HCTC for any months you                               any month not checked on line 1. You 
advance payment of $232 (72.5% of the                      participated in the advance monthly                             must reduce the amount on line 5 by the 
$320 premium) for your December                            payment program.                                                total of these payments. Use the Excess 
coverage. You wouldn’t include any part of                                                                                 Advance HCTC Repayment Worksheet to 
the December coverage premium on line 2                        You received an excess advance                              figure the amount of the excess advance 
because you already received the benefit                   monthly payment of the HCTC if you                              monthly payment that you must repay.
of the advance monthly payment program 
for December. You must still file Form 
8885 to elect the HCTC for December.

Instructions for Form 8885 (2021)                                                      -5-



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Required Documents                             count towards the HCTC, such as dental         cost of the coverage (TAA recipients and 
If you claim any HCTC on line 5, you must      or vision coverage or coverage for family      PBGC payees) or made no contributions 
provide verifiable proof for each month        members who aren’t eligible for the HCTC,      to the cost of coverage (ATAA and RTAA 
you are claiming the credit on line 2 that     your documentation must also specify           recipients).
your health insurance coverage is              those ineligible amounts.
                                                                                              E-filed return. If you e-file, you can 
qualified health insurance coverage for the      3. Proof of payment for each month           attach a copy of any required documents 
HCTC and that you paid premiums for the        you are claiming the credit on line 2, such    to an electronically filed return as a PDF if 
qualified health insurance coverage by         as:**                                          your tax software supports it, or you must 
attaching the documents listed below to          a. Canceled checks (copy of front and        attach those documents to Form 8453, 
your Form 8885. No documents are               back),                                         U.S. Individual Income Tax Transmittal for 
required if you file Form 8885 only to elect     b. Bank statements,                          an IRS e-file Return, and mail them to the 
the HCTC for months you participated in                                                       IRS according to the instructions for that 
the advance monthly payment program.             c. Credit card statements, or                form.
                                                 d. Money orders.
  All health plans.  For all health plans,                                                    Example 1.   You checked June and 
you must include all of the following            **Your proof of payment must indicate        July on line 1. Your insurance coverage for 
documents.                                     the amount paid and to whom it was paid.       each month costs $750 ($500 for you and 
  1. An official letter reflecting that you    If you don’t have one of these types of        $250 for your qualifying family members). 
were an eligible individual for the months     proof of payment, contact your health plan     You paid $750 directly to your health plan 
claimed on line 2 in 2021.                     for a record of your payment(s).               for your June coverage. You then paid 
                                                                                              $206.25 (27.5% of the $750 premium) for 
For trade-certified individuals                COBRA coverage.     You must include         your July coverage as part of the advance 
demonstrating TAA, ATAA, or RTAA               the information under All health plans,        monthly payment program. Your health 
eligibility—A copy of the official letter from earlier, and one of the following              plan administrator received an advance 
the Department of Labor, your state            documents.                                     payment of $543.75 (72.5% of the $750 
workforce agency, or employment office 
stating you are eligible for trade               1. A copy of your completed and              premium) from the IRS for your July 
adjustment benefits.                           signed COBRA Election Letter. It may also      coverage. You received a Form 1099-H 
For PBGC eligibility—A copy of the           be called a COBRA Enrollment Form,             showing an advance payment of $543.75 
official letter or a copy of your 2021 Form    Application Form, Enrollment Application       for your July coverage. You would include 
1099-R, Distributions From Pensions,           for Continuing Coverage, or Election           the $750 you paid for your June coverage 
Annuities, Retirement or Profit-Sharing        Agreement.                                     on line 2. You wouldn’t include any part of 
Plans, IRAs, Insurance Contracts, etc.,          2. A letter from your former employer        the July coverage premium on line 2 
from the PBGC showing you received a           or COBRA administrator saying you have         because you already received the benefit 
benefit paid by the PBGC.                      COBRA coverage. The letter must have:          of the advance monthly payment program 
                                                                                              for July. You must attach copies of your 
  2. A copy of your health insurance             a. The COBRA coverage start and              health insurance bills and proof of 
bills or COBRA payment coupons for each        end dates;                                     payment for the June coverage for you 
month you are claiming the credit on             b. Name of the health plan;                  and your qualifying family members 
line 2.* The bills must have:                    c. Your home address; and                    totaling $750, along with any other 
  a. Your name (or name of the policy            d. Covered family members, their             required documents. You don’t need to 
holder),                                       dates of birth, their relationship to you, and attach documents for your July coverage.
  b. The name of your health plan,             their social security numbers.                 Example 2.   You checked March and 
  c. Your monthly premium amount,                3. A copy of “Notice of Rights to            April on line 1. Your insurance coverage 
  d. Dates of coverage, and                    Continue Coverage.”                            for each month costs $750 ($500 for you 
                                                                                              and $250 for your qualifying family 
  e. Your health plan identification             Coverage through your spouse’s               members). You paid $750 directly to your 
number(s).                                     employer.    You must include the              health plan for each month. You would 
  *If your health plan doesn’t provide         information under All health plans, earlier,   include $1,500 on line 2 for the March and 
members with an insurance bill or COBRA        and the following documents.                   April coverage. You must attach copies of 
payment coupon, you must provide health        Copies of paycheck stubs showing the         your health insurance bills and proof of 
plan enrollment documents or an official       health coverage deductions for each            payment for the March and April coverage 
letter from your health plan that has the      month you are claiming the credit on           for you and your qualifying family 
required information listed under items 2a     line 2.                                        members totaling $1,500 ($750 for each 
through 2e above. If your monthly              A letter or other statement from your        month), along with any other required 
premium includes amounts that don’t            spouse’s employer that states the              documents.
                                               employer contributed less than 50% of the 

                                                                 -6-                               Instructions for Form 8885 (2021)






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