How to Get Obamacare help from top tax preparers

For those looking for help purchasing health insurance and taking advantage of a new enrollment extension, the three major storefront tax-prep companies—H&R Block, Jackson-Hewitt, and Liberty Tax Service—offer assistance as part of their tax-prep services.

Judging from a recent visit to an H&R Block office in Yonkers, N.Y., near Consumer Reports headquarters, taxpayer confusion is likely to be high, and not just about how to report that they're covered. One walk-in client, a middle-aged woman named Kathy, said she needed to buy coverage, but had no clue where to look. Kate Flesch, an H&R Block permanent employee, took her to HealthCare.gov—the main portal for finding coverage—and then to New York's health marketplace site. "This is definitely not what I was on at all," Kathy said. 

If you're looking for help from one of the three major retail tax prep companies, here's what you can expect:

H&R Block

H&R Block offers a free phone service to help clients who face a tax penalty buy health insurance and avoid a deadline for next year. Customers can call a "licensed health care advisor at 1-855-487-7028 for personalized help.

In terms of tax help, Block is providing each consumer with a free, personalized "ACA Tax Impact Analysis," showing how the ACA may affect their tax return, and potentially their refund. The company says its 80,000 tax preparers have all had an extra 10 hours of ACA training this year, in addition to the 50 hours of required annual training. Among the new tasks for this year: Walking individuals without coverage through an extensive checklist to determine if they qualify for an exemption from tax penalty for being without coverage. 

Tax help is at hand on Consumer Reports' income tax guide.

Jackson-Hewitt

Jackson-Hewitt, the nation's second largest storefront tax-prep service, is offering an "Affordable Care Act Accelerator," a computer-based interview to determine taxpayers' options for health care credits and their exposure to the shared-responsibility tax penalty. The free service takes about five minutes, says Mark Steber, senior vice president and chief tax officer. "It's an add-on to our tax-return service," Steber says.

Liberty Tax Service

Liberty Tax Service says on its website that health insurance agents are available at storefront offices "to answer your questions about ACA and assist with your tax filing needs." 

All three services have features on their websites with information about the Affordable Care Act. Yoy also can access Consumer Reports' Health Law Helper for assistance in determining whether you're eligible for exemptions, or how much you'll owe if you're not. 

—Tobie Stanger (@TobieStanger on Twitter)