NJ Health Insurance Mandate Coverage Exemption help?

[drobertsjr92]

Okay, so during 2019 I didn't have health insurance at any point during the year so this is new for me. I'm pretty sure I qualify for an exemption but I want to double check. I saw that there's a Poverty Line Exemption based on Household Income. I didn't file a 2019 NJ-1040 form(didn't know that was a thing until I got to the thing about the exemption) so I don't have the actual number to punch in for the exemption form right now but I worked only one job where my gross for the year was about $14,000 and that's under the poverty exemption so is it safe to assume my "Household Income" would be the same?

In which case, how do I go about filing my NJ-1099 so I can apply for the exemption and finish filing my tax return?

[MinhT1]

You do not need an exemption for not having health insurance in 2019 as the health insurance mandate has been abolished. There is no longer a penalty for not having health coverage. 

[drobertsjr92]

That's good to know but I am still a little confused. I'm filing through Turbotax and when I originally filled it in, I was getting a small return until I got to the question about medical insurance, at which point it changed to saying I owed because of the mandate. I  decided to start over again from the beginning to make sure it wasn't a fluke since you said the mandate was abolished but it still pops up with the penalty through Turbotax and says I owe the state.

[JosephF8]

NJ does have an insurance mandate for 2019

Shared Responsibility Payment

Failure to have health coverage or qualify for an exemption may result in the assessment of a Shared Responsibility Payment (SRP) on your New Jersey Income Tax return.

Individuals who are not required to file a New Jersey Income Tax return are automatically exempt from the SRP.

The amount of the SRP is generally based on your income and family size and is capped at the statewide average annual premium for Bronze Health Plans in New Jersey.

While deciding on what’s right for you and your family, it is important to note that the SRP is subject to the same penalties and interest as New Jersey Individual Income Tax.