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Level 2
March 22, 2020
Solved

Errors on Form 8889-S

  • March 22, 2020
  • 2 replies
  • 4 views
My status is married filing separately.
Smart Check found errors on Form 8889-S (Health Savings Account), Line 3A, with the following message “Family should not be checked. You indicated on the Federal Information Wks that spouse could be claimed as a dependent of another, which makes spouse ineligible.”
But, in Federal Information Wks, under “Can spouse be claimed as dependent of another person (such as parent)?”, I have already selected “no”. So, I am not sure why Smart Check found these as errors on Form 8889-S. I tried selecting Self-Only instead of Family, but the errors remain the same.
How can I fix the problem? Thanks!
Best answer by BillM223

@chingchen58

@saralspencer

 

Is it possible that you two entered the spouse's data first BEFORE you marked that you would be filing married separately?

 

Once you change the filing status to MFS, it should not even be possible to mark 3a as "Family" on the 8889-S, because your spouse's HSA questions will not even appear.

 

First, have you tried to delete Form 8889-S? Online, you click on Tax Tools on the left, then Tools underneath it, then Delete a Form in the center. If you have the CD/download software, go to Forms (upper right), on the left column look for 8889-s, click on it, then click on the Delete Form button at the bottom of the form viewer.

 

If that doesn't work, I suggest deleting your spouse and re-adding him/her.

2 replies

Level 15
March 22, 2020

I think the status of your spouse may not be entered correctly.  Please follow these directions.

  • Down the left side of the screen, click My Info.
  • To the right of Marital status, click Edit.
  • At the screen Let’s confirm your marital status, click Married.
  • Which marital status is the right choice for me?, click No filing separately.
  • At the screen Let’s see if these apply, click Continue.
  • At the screen We just need a few more details about xxx, at the questions Can anybody else claim xxx, you clicked Yes.

Is this correct?  It sounds like that it is not correct.

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Level 2
March 31, 2020

I am getting the same error.  I have done what you have said several times.  I am almost to the point of clearing the entire worksheet and starting over which is TWO days worth of work.   Please let me know if there is something else I can do.  I will wait another day before I file.  I have already paid for the services of TurboTax.

 

Thank you!

BillM223Answer
Level 15
March 31, 2020

@chingchen58

@saralspencer

 

Is it possible that you two entered the spouse's data first BEFORE you marked that you would be filing married separately?

 

Once you change the filing status to MFS, it should not even be possible to mark 3a as "Family" on the 8889-S, because your spouse's HSA questions will not even appear.

 

First, have you tried to delete Form 8889-S? Online, you click on Tax Tools on the left, then Tools underneath it, then Delete a Form in the center. If you have the CD/download software, go to Forms (upper right), on the left column look for 8889-s, click on it, then click on the Delete Form button at the bottom of the form viewer.

 

If that doesn't work, I suggest deleting your spouse and re-adding him/her.

**Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"
Level 2
April 15, 2026

I am having the same problem this year.  I have already paid for Turbotax and it says it's too late to change the information.  HELP!!!

Level 15
April 16, 2026

What problem are you having, that you are filing Married Separate, and the Review is telling you that "Family should not be checked, etc."?

 

Have you tried what worked for many taxpayers, to just delete the 8889-S (see below)?

 

If this did not help, then do the HSA Reset and start over on the HSA data.

 

HSA RESET

***Reset***

 

1. make a copy of your W-2(s) (if you don't have the paper copies)

2. delete your W-2(s) (use the garbage can icon next to the W-2(s) on the Income screen)

 

*** Desktop/Windows***

 

3. Go to the upper right and click on Forms, and 

4. Select the desired form (1099-SA (if one), 8889-T, and 8889-S (if one)). Note the Delete Form button at the bottom of the form’s screen.


 

*** Desktop/Mac***


 

3. Switch to Forms Mode by selecting the Forms icon.

4. From the menu, select the form (1099-SA (if one), 8889-T, and 8889-S (if one)) you want to remove (if you don't see it, select Open Form at the top). From the Forms menu, select Remove [form name].

 

*** Online ***

 

3. go to Tax Tools (on the left), and navigate to Tools->Delete a form 

4. delete form(s) 1099-SA (if one), 8889-T, and 8889-S (if one)

 

5. go back and re-add your W-2(s), preferably adding them manually

6. go back and redo the entire HSA interview....

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