Rush Limbaugh Is Wrong On Having To Pay The ObamaCare Tax In 2014

Recently, Matt Drudge, of the Drudge Report, tweeted that he just paid the tax for not having health insurance in 2014 and he called it his "freedom tax".  Immediately, he was labelled as going from being a complete liar to being just plain stupid for paying a tax that Obama put off until taxes are paid in 2015. Today, Limbaugh went on a tirade in defending Drudge saying that he only did what the law "requires" him to do.  

Now, to be exact, Drudge is one of those people or businesses that are required to file their taxes every quarter along with a supporting form: the 1040ES. With regard to the health care penalty, the IRS instructions are simply advisory:

"Health care coverage. When you file your 2014 tax return in 2015, you will need to either (1) indicate on your return that you and your family had health care coverage throughout 2014, (2) claim an exemption from the health care coverage requirement for some or all of 2014, or (3) make a payment if you do not have coverage or an exemption(s) for all 12 months of 2014."

Contrary to Limbaugh's rant, it was optional for Drudge to pay the tax early.  The IRS simply says that "When you file...in 2015" the payment is due for not having health insurance for 12 full months in 2014.  It implies no mandatory payment on a quarterly basis or even any interest penalty for failing to do so. It then goes on to say that you "can" pay the tax penalty early by indicating so on line 12, Other Taxes, of the 1040ES form.  Even so, only a quarter of the estimated total penalty would be due at this time.

Often I agree with Rush, but this time he's wrong and, in this case it hurts his credibility.

References:

‘Liberty Tax’: White House, Media Attack After Drudge Pays Obamacare Opt-Out Penalty: http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/03/21/White-House-Leads-Liberal-Media-In-Matt-Drudge-Attack

2014 1040ES Filing Instructions: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1040es.pdf