I need to enter my wife's HSA contributions. But turbo tax only prompts me for my HSA contributions. But I don't have an HSA. The form 8889 lists $0 contributions

[tommyenduro]

Married filing jointly. How do I get the HSA deduction for my wife's HSA?

[Mike9241]

was this done through an employer or directly?

through an employer. the amount on line 12W of her w-2 should flow to line 9 of the 8889. later you'll need to complete the info required.

if direct contributions go to the medical section, there you'll find a link for entering the HSA/8889 questions

clicking on the link should produce a page with two columns one for you and one for your spouse. make sure you check the HSA box for her. 

[tommyenduro]

Thank you for the response. All contributions were made by the employer ($1000) plus employee (my wife) payroll deductions. However Line 2 of 8889 list $0, no contributions. The amount on line 9 lists the combined employer and employee contribution. Turbo Tax entered it correctly last year. The problem seems to be Turbo tax thinks it's my HSA and only prompts me for the contributions even though form 8889 lists my wife's name. Unfortunately it looks like Turbo tax no longer allows me to enter data directly into the form.

[AnnetteB6 · Accepted solution]

If the contributions to your wife's HSA were made through payroll deductions and they were reported on her W-2 in box 12 with code W, then they should be reported on Form 8889 line 9.  These contributions are not tax deductible because they were made with pre-tax funds.  

Form 8889 line 2 represents any contributions that were made directly to the HSA using after-tax funds of your own.  That amount would be deducted on the tax return.

When you go through the Deductions and Credits > Medical > 1099-SA, HSA, MSA section of your return, be sure that you indicate that only your wife has the HSA account.  Then all questions will be related to your wife's HSA, not yours since you stated you do not have an HSA.

@tommyenduro 

[tommyenduro]

Thank you, I see where I was confused now. After re-reading the 8889 form instructions it's clear that line 2 is for non employer contributions, which is what we did for our last years return. I.e. we funded the HSA with an additional amount (but we did it through the employer's HSA plan). When I look at the Turbo Tax "HSA summary" it lists "Tax free employer contributions" but doesn't list the additional after tax contributions. Likely because we didn't contribute after tax to the HSA.

[BillM223]

Just to clarify:

"but we did it through the employer's HSA plan)" - the employer doesn't have an HSA plan. You own the HSA, in a way just like an IRA. The employer may have helped you set it up, but it is your account. Thus, if/when you leave this employer, you do NOT have to close your HSA (PLEASE don't close your HSA!), because you can continue to use it until it runs out of money.

Note, the employer does have to agree to send your payroll deductions to your HSA. So when you start out, it seems like the employer's HSA, but it's not.

"Likely because we didn't contribute after tax to the HSA." - Correct. After-tax contributions would be shown as a "Deduction" on the HSA Summary (see below).