I do not have a 8889-T form. how do i pass this part of my return.

[bcpfaffenback93]

it is making me choose coverage with a HDHP and i do not believe i had this.

[ColeenD3]

Do you have a Box 12 Code W with an amount? If so, you need to file Form 8889.

• W — Employer contributions (including amounts the employee elected to contribute using a Section 125 cafeteria plan) to your health savings account (HSA).

Please see this answer from BMcCalpin.

Form 8889 reports on your HSA (Health Savings Account) contributions and distributions. It is generated automatically by TurboTax based on answers in the HSA interview and on your W-2, and attached to your 1040 tax return.

If you have a code of W in box 12 on your W-2, then you have an HSA and must add form 8889 to your return. Even if you do not, but have a 1099-SA, then you should do this by going to Federal->Deductions & Credits->Medical->HSA, MSA Contributions, and completing the interview. Be sure to go to the very end, to where you are returned to "Your Tax Breaks".

[bcpfaffenback93]

It is making me choose coverage with a HDHP and i do not believe i had this. Does this come with a 8889T form? should i just list it as self only since I am the only one listed on the HSA?

[BillM223]

@bcpfaffenback93

First, do you have an HSA? If yes, it is highly likely that you had HDHP health insurance coverage.

Second, the issue of Self or Family actually depends on your HDHP policy, not your HSA. Ask your HR people or your insurance company.

Third, you do not receive an 8889 in the mail; instead, TurboTax generates it as part of your tax return when you make entries about your HSA.

Fourth, I can't tell from your comments if you have HDHP coverage or an HSA at all. Do you?

***

I just read your first question. If you do not have HDHP coverage and don't have an HSA, then you probably ran afoul of the following:

Your issue is with the question that asks "What type of High Deductible Health Plan did [name] have on December 1, 2019?"

​​​​​​​Unfortunately, the question does not clarify that it is only for a small group of taxpayers and that all other taxpayers should answer "NONE".

NOTE: each spouse can have an HSA. The use of "you" below refers to whichever spouse's name was in the question above.

This question is trying to determine if you utilized the "last-month" rule in 2019 (yes, 2019). The last-month rule lets you use the full annual HSA contribution limit if you had HDHP coverage on December 1, even if you were not covered by an HDHP for all of the year.

However, the catch is that if you used the last-month rule, the IRS requires that you stay under HDHP coverage for all of the following year (2020).

***NOTE*** This question occurs on the taxpayer who does not have an HSA, so never had a chance to tell TurboTax in the HSA interview what their HDHP coverage was for 2020.

So, the fix is this: go back to the question (at the end of the HSA interview), and:

• If you had HDHP coverage for all of 2019 , then enter NONE 
• If you had no HDHP coverage for all of 2019, then enter NONE.
• If you did not have an HSA in 2019, then enter NONE.
• If you had an HSA in 2019 but did not contribute to it in 2019, then enter NONE.

Only taxpayers who had their own HSA in 2019 AND who contributed to their own HSA in 2019 should answer “Family” or “Self” or “None” (which can be the right answer in some cases).

[Edited 2/24/2021 2:07 PM CST - added additional answer] 

[bcpfaffenback93]

I do have an HSA but was never notified about a HDHP so I was not aware of this. I will get ahold of my HR department for the rest thank you.

[BillM223]

I assume that the HSA was created with your employer's assistance. Although the HSA belongs to you and not your employer, employers often help employees set them up.

Look at your insurance card from your employer's health insurance. Does it say "HDHP"? If your insurance is an HDHP, then it is highly likely to have HDHP on the card. But the converse is not so true, not saying HDHP may or may not mean that this is not an HDHP.

So, yes, please contact your HR people who certainly should know what you have.

@bcpfaffenback93