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posted Jun 1, 2019 10:37:44 AM

Both my employer and i made contributions to my HSA for 2018. I put in $6430 and my employer put in $520. On form 8889 it shows $0 on line 13, not $6430?

Box 12B on my W2 shows $6950.  $520 of that was my employer and $6430 of that was my contribution.  On my 2018 form 8889, it shows $0 on line 13, but on my 2017 form 8889 it shows the amount of my contribution which was $6,210.  Shouldn't form 8889 for 2018 show $6430?

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Level 13
Jun 1, 2019 10:37:45 AM

Line 13 is the allowed HSA contribution that you made directly to your HSA, outside of your employer. This number would appear on line 25 on Schedule 1 (Form 1040).


This is different from the code W amount in box 12 on your W-2, which is called by the IRS the "employer contribution", even if you contributed part or all of it.

Why the difference? Because you don't receive a "deduction" for HSA contributions made through your employer. Instead, the HSA contributions are excluded from your income, that is, before your W-2 is printed, your employer removed the code W amount from Wages in boxes 1, 3, and 5.

If you have a code W amount of $6,950 on your W-2, then line 13 should be zero, for the reasons I give above.