"Any contributions you personally made (not through your employer)" means that you sent a check directly to your HSA plan administrator, outside your employer.
The alternative is that you made contributions by means of a payroll deduction plan through your employer - this amount, added to amounts that your employer contributes is called the "employer contribution".
This counter-intuitive use of the term confuses many taxpayers, but it's the terminology that the IRS requires.
I am still a bit confused with this statement.
So, for example.. my employer does not contribute to my HSA account. However, I have payroll deductions that go to my HSA account. Thus, my W-2 form doesn't have something listed under box 12 for HSA contributions.
Would I input the contributions I made over 2019 in the box that says "Any contributions you personally made
(not through your employer)"?
Thanks!
The question refers to contributions you made other than the deductions from your paycheck. For example, you wrote a check to your HSA account.
I just figured it out:
1. "through your employer" normally means those that contribute through your payroll which is pre-tax money. And it normally reports on your W-2 Box 12 W, it has already been deducted from your taxable income.
2. "you personally made" is the part you contribute using your after-tax money, which needs to be deducted from your taxable income, and this part can further lower your tax.