The Marketplace wants a year, not a month
You are asked to estimate your household income for the whole coverage year, which is uncomfortable when December is triple February. We work from last year's return, adjust for what you know is different, and land on a figure you can defend. Deliberately guessing low to get a bigger credit is the mistake that hurts in April.
What counts is net, not gross
For self-employment the Marketplace looks at your income after business expenses, not your takings. Fuel, tools, a chair rental, a commercial policy, the business share of your phone: these come off before the number that decides your credit. Plenty of people quote us their gross and assume they earn too much to qualify.
You can change the number mid-year
If a contract lands or a season collapses, you are supposed to report it, and it is a five-minute call. Reporting an increase early means a smaller reconciliation at tax time. Reporting a decrease means more credit now, when you need it, rather than a refund fourteen months later.
The self-employed health insurance deduction
Premiums you pay yourself may be deductible against self-employment income, which changes the real cost of a plan noticeably. We are not accountants and we will not pretend to be, but we will flag it so you can raise it with yours.