Although the Affordable Care Act does not require that businesses provide health insurance, it does offer tax credits for eligible small businesses that choose to provide insurance to their employees for the first time, or maintain the coverage they already have.

Some of the provisions of the health care law apply only to small employers, generally those with fewer than 50 full-time employees or equivalents. (If you have fewer than 50 employees, but are a member of an ownership group with 50 or more full-time equivalent employees, you are subject to the rules for large employers.)

To qualify for a small business health care tax credit of up to 50%, an employer must have fewer than 25 full-time equivalent employees, pay average annual wages below $50,000, and contribute 50% or more toward the employees’ self-only health insurance premiums. This tax credit is available to qualified small businesses that purchase coverage in the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace.

Check these resources to learn more about how the Affordable Care Act may affect your business and the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit: