Form 1095-A Letter While WMR Shows PATH Act - Will This Delay My Refund?
Filing taxes is like trying to navigate a maze where the walls keep moving. I just received a letter requesting Form 1095-A, but my Where's My Refund tool still shows PATH Act message. It's like the IRS is asking me to take a detour while telling me to stay on the main road at the same time! Will my refund be stuck at a red light until I send this form? I've been in the US for only 3 years, and each tax season feels like learning to drive all over again in a new country. Did anyone else have to send this healthcare form while under PATH review? How long did it take after you sent it? I need to know if I should adjust my financial roadmap for the next few months.
16 comments


Ryder Greene
YES this will delay your refund until you respond. I've been through this before. • The 1095-A form shows your Marketplace health insurance info • The IRS can't process your refund without it • PATH Act holds are separate but both will need to be resolved • You probably claimed premium tax credits which is why they need this form Anyone else get this request? Did you claim healthcare credits?
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Carmella Fromis
•Do you possibly know how long the additional delay might be? I'm somewhat in a similar situation and need to plan my budget accordingly. My rent is due on the 1st and I was sort of, kind of counting on this refund.
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Theodore Nelson
•Thanks for the clear breakdown. I received a similar notice regarding my Form 1095-A and wasn't sure about the implications. The Premium Tax Credit terminology was mentioned in my letter, so that confirms what you're saying about the healthcare credits.
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AaliyahAli
•I'm so worried about this now. If I send the form right away, do they restart the entire processing time? Or just continue from where they left off? Has anyone experienced this specifically with the 1095-A form?
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Ellie Simpson
According to irs.gov/affordable-care-act/individuals-and-families, the 1095-A is required if you purchased health insurance through the Marketplace. I'm a bit concerned since I'm in a similar situation. Did you already receive the actual 1095-A form from the Marketplace, or are they just telling you that you need to submit it? The IRS won't process returns claiming premium tax credits without this form...
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Arjun Kurti
•Let me clarify the process here: Step 1: Your Marketplace insurance provider should have sent you Form 1095-A by January 31st Step 2: You use this form to complete Form 8962 (Premium Tax Credit) Step 3: Both forms must be submitted with your tax return Step 4: If you filed without these, the IRS is now requesting them before proceeding The PATH Act delay (for EITC/ACTC claims) is a separate issue but both need to be resolved before your refund processes.
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Raúl Mora
•This situation is actually quite common compared to other documentation requests. When taxpayers claim the Premium Tax Credit but don't include Form 8962 and 1095-A, the IRS automatically flags the return. It's similar to filing without a W-2 - they simply can't verify your numbers without the source document.
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Margot Quinn
•Be careful about timing here. You have 30 days to respond to this request. If you don't have your 1095-A, log into your Marketplace account immediately or call them at 1-800-318-2596 to get a replacement copy.
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Evelyn Kim
•Got the same letter last year. Sent the form. Refund came three weeks later. No big deal. Just handle it quickly.
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Diego Fisher
Oh my goodness, I know EXACTLY what's happening here! I'm so stressed for you because I went through this last year! 😫 The 1095-A is for the Health Insurance Marketplace, and the PATH hold is for certain tax credits like Earned Income Credit. They're TWO SEPARATE ISSUES happening at the same time! You need to send in that 1095-A form RIGHT AWAY or they'll adjust your refund and possibly remove tax credits you're entitled to! I was so confused when this happened to me and ended up having to amend my return later which was a nightmare! 😭
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Henrietta Beasley
•Isn't it strange how the IRS doesn't clearly explain that these are two separate issues? Wouldn't it make more sense for them to coordinate their communications better? Or is this just another example of government inefficiency?
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Lincoln Ramiro
Ur def looking at a delay here. The 1095-A issue is separate from PATH but both gotta be fixed b4 u get $$. The IRS comp systems flag PTC (Premium Tax Credit) issues separately from EITC/ACTC (PATH Act stuff). Avg processing time after sending 1095-A is ~3-4 wks but could be longer. Tbh calling the IRS is prob ur best move rn to confirm exactly what they need & make sure there aren't other issues. I've had success w/ https://claimyr.com for getting thru - saves hrs of hold time. IRS phone lines are insane rn - 2hr+ waits if u even get thru.
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Faith Kingston
Wait, I'm surprised no one's mentioned that you can actually get your 1095-A online? I just logged into healthcare.gov last month and downloaded mine directly. Didn't have to wait for mail at all. I've never heard of this Claimyr service before - seems weird to pay just to talk to the IRS?
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Emma Johnson
I had this exact situation on February 12th this year. The 1095-A letter and PATH Act hold happened simultaneously. I sent my 1095-A on February 15th via certified mail, and my refund was approved on March 9th with deposit on March 14th. So that's about 4 weeks total processing time after they received my form. The Claimyr service actually helped me confirm they received my form on February 18th - saved me from checking WMR obsessively for weeks.
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Liam Brown
Just went through this! The PATH Act hold is automatically applied to returns with EITC or ACTC to prevent fraud, while the 1095-A request is related to the Premium Tax Credit reconciliation process. You need to submit Form 8962 along with your 1095-A to reconcile your advance premium tax credits. My transcript showed TC 570 (refund hold) until I submitted these documents, then updated with TC 571 (hold released) about 10 days later. Such a relief when it finally processed!
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Olivia Garcia
Per Internal Revenue Code §36B, taxpayers who receive advance premium tax credits must reconcile those amounts using Form 8962, which requires the information from Form 1095-A. I experienced this last year and found that the quickest resolution is to immediately provide the requested documentation. While the PATH Act mandates the IRS hold refunds involving EITC/ACTC until mid-February (per IRC §6402(m)), the 1095-A issue is an independent verification requirement that will continue to delay your refund until addressed.
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