If my employer only contributed to my HSA, why can't I file the simple return?

[dmertz]

Form 8889 is required to be filed as part of your tax return when any contribution to an HSA is made on your behalf.  It's Intuit's business decision to classify a tax return that includes this form as not being a "simple" tax return and not to provide support for this form in the free version.

[BillM223]

Take a look at this page.

On the left hand column under "Situations covered" is a simple return. Most any form beyond this is not considered "simple" from Intuit's point of view. The form 8889 is a step beyond simple.

As dmertz correctly notes above, Intuit had to draw the line somewhere. And what appears to be simple on your side may not be simple at all in your tax return.