BillM223
Expert Alumni

Deductions & credits

First, please do not make entries into form 8889 (using Forms mode). Not only will this probably disallow the Tax Accuracy Guarantee, but you will probably get it wrong (sorry, I don't mean to offend, but even a lot of tax professionals can't fill it out correctly).

 

So please use the Step-by-Step mode to enter data about your HSA.

 

Line 2 contains your "personal" contributions. These are contributions that you made directly to the HSA custodian, not through your employer. Many taxpayers think that if they had payroll deductions for HSA contributions that these are "personal" contributions, but they are not. HSA contributions that you made by payroll deduction are still considered "employer" contributions, because of how they are handled.

 

ALSO, if you had a carryover of excess contributions from the previous year, then the carryover would be added in Line 2 as well.

 

If you completed Step-by-Step mode, then line 2 and line 9 (the "employer" contribution) would be filled out correctly. 

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