How to estimate your expected income
When you fill out a health insurance application and use some tools on this website, you’ll need to estimate your expected income. Two important things to know:
- Marketplace savings are based on your expected household income for the year you want coverage, not last year’s income.
- Income is counted for you, your spouse, and everyone you'll claim as a tax dependent on your federal tax return (if the dependents are ). Include their income even if they don’t need health coverage. See details on who to include in your household.
The minimum income requiring a dependent to file a federal tax return. 2023 filing requirements for dependents under 65: Earned income of at least $13,850, or unearned income (like from investments or trusts) of at least $1,250. You must include on your Marketplace application income for any dependent required to file.
Refer to glossary for more details.
How to make an estimate of your expected income
Step 1. Start with your household’s
Your total (or “gross”) income for the tax year, minus certain adjustments you’re allowed to take. Adjustments include deductions for conventional IRA contributions, student loan interest, and more. Adjusted gross income appears on IRS Form 1040, line 11.
Refer to glossary for more details.
from your most recent federal income tax return.
Don’t have recent AGI? See another way to estimate your income.
Step 2. Add the following kinds of income, if you have any, to your AGI:
- Tax-exempt foreign income
- Tax-exempt Social Security benefits (including tier 1 railroad retirement benefits)
- Tax-exempt interest
Don’t include Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Step 3. Adjust your estimate for any changes you expect.
Consider things like these for all members of your household:
- Expected raises
- New jobs or other employment changes, including changes to work schedule or self-employment income
- Changes to income from other sources, like Social Security or investments
- Changes in your household, like gaining or losing dependents. Gaining or losing a dependent can have a big impact on your savings.
Now you have an estimate of your expected income.
More details on reporting income and household members
Estimating unpredictable income
It’s hard to predict your income if you’re unemployed, self-employed, on commission, or on a work schedule that changes regularly.
If your income is hard to predict, base your estimate on your past experience, recent trends, what you know about possible changes at your workplace, and similar information. If the job is new to you, ask people in the same field or in the same company about their experiences.
Learn more about how to estimate your expected income if you’re:
Notice:
IMPORTANT Update your Marketplace application as soon as possible when your income or household members change during the year. Learn how to update your information during the year.
More answers: Income & household size
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