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@ShoeBox Taxes wrote:

 

My understanding was that one qualifies for the credit based on their income, regardless of when they take it, and they can choose to take it during the year, as a discount on the premium, or at the end of the year.

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Unfortunately, that is only partly correct.  The taxpayer's income needs to be between 100% and 400% of the Federal Poverty level to qualify for the credit (with a few exceptions and some temporary provisions to allow over 400%).  See the 8962 Instructions and IRC §36B(c)(1).

https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8962#en_US_2023_publink100077021

https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/26/36B#c