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Level 2
posted Jun 4, 2019 4:39:12 PM

I just want to make sure that my HSA contributions are not being counted/deducted twice. I entered them in the W-2 area, and in the "HSA" portion too as prompted-this OK?

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1 Best answer
Level 13
Jun 4, 2019 4:39:15 PM

Probably not - please see the following:

Your employer's HSA contributions PLUS your HSA contributions by means of payroll deduction are both added together and put on your W-2 in box 12 with a code of W. These are called collectively the "employer contribution".

The employer contribution is removed from Wages in boxes 1, 3, and 5 on your W-2 before it is printed. This means that there is no deduction for these contributions on your tax return - because these items were not in your income in the first place.

Therefore, when TurboTax asks you on the "Let's enter [name]'s HSA contributions" screen for your personal contributions (that is, contributions made directly to your HSA not through your employer), then you do NOT duplicate any of the amount that you contributed by payroll deduction (the code W amount) - that amount has already been accounted for. Indeed, making this duplicate entry is often the cause of spurious excess contributions messages from TurboTax.

The 1099-SA reports only on distributions and will not affect the contributions numbers.

2 Replies
Level 2
Jun 4, 2019 4:39:13 PM

And by this, I mean the W2 Box 12b and also a form 1099-SA with distributions from HSA too.  Thanks!

Level 13
Jun 4, 2019 4:39:15 PM

Probably not - please see the following:

Your employer's HSA contributions PLUS your HSA contributions by means of payroll deduction are both added together and put on your W-2 in box 12 with a code of W. These are called collectively the "employer contribution".

The employer contribution is removed from Wages in boxes 1, 3, and 5 on your W-2 before it is printed. This means that there is no deduction for these contributions on your tax return - because these items were not in your income in the first place.

Therefore, when TurboTax asks you on the "Let's enter [name]'s HSA contributions" screen for your personal contributions (that is, contributions made directly to your HSA not through your employer), then you do NOT duplicate any of the amount that you contributed by payroll deduction (the code W amount) - that amount has already been accounted for. Indeed, making this duplicate entry is often the cause of spurious excess contributions messages from TurboTax.

The 1099-SA reports only on distributions and will not affect the contributions numbers.