When regarding HSA contributions, what does "Any contributions you personally made (not through your employer)" mean?

[adorafowler]

do contributions I made deducted from my check count?

[BMcCalpin]

"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.

[talsasi]

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!

[glat]

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/taxes/discussion/from-the-hsa-section-for-the-question-any-contrib...

[Irene2805]

The question refers to contributions you made other than the deductions from your paycheck.  For example, you wrote a check to your HSA account.

[fay]

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.