I've run into a problem completing my taxes. Last year my employer contributed $1,000 to my HSA account but it was not listed in Box 12 of my W-2. I've asked them to issue an amended W-2 that contains the HSA contributions but they're refusing. This is the explanation I received:
"The $250 per quarter contributions that [the company] makes are made post tax through accounts payable directly to the employee's HSA. As a result, it is then the taxpayers responsibility to report all contributions to the IRS. Our understanding is this is no different than if you made a contribution to your HSA with post tax dollars yourself."
I'm not buying this. IRS publication 969 makes no distinction between different types of employer contributions, only that employers "must report" contributions:
"Amounts you contribute to your employees’ HSAs aren’t generally subject to employment taxes. You must report the contributions in box 12 of the Form W-2 you file for each employee. This includes the amounts the employee elected to contribute through a cafeteria plan. Enter code W in box 12."
That seems pretty cut-and-dried to me.
Can anyone shed any light on this? Should I continue to butt heads with my employer and/or file a complaint with the IRS to get a proper W-2 issued? Or is my company correct about me treating this like an HSA contribution I made myself?
An employer's contribution (including an employee's contributions through a cafeteria plan) to an employee's HSA is not subject to federal income tax withholding or social security, Medicare, or railroad retirement taxes (or FUTA tax) if it is reasonable to believe at the time of the payment that the contribution will be excludable from the employee's income. However, if it is not reasonable to believe at the time of payment that the contribution will be excludable from the employee's income, employer contributions are subject to federal income tax withholding, social security and Medicare taxes (or railroad retirement taxes, if applicable), and FUTA tax, and must be reported in boxes 1, 3, and 5 (use box 14 if railroad retirement taxes apply); and on Form 940, Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return.
You must report all employer contributions (including an employee's contributions through a cafeteria plan) to an HSA in box 12 of Form W-2 with code W. Employer contributions to an HSA that are not excludable from the income of the employee must also be reported in boxes 1, 3, and 5. (Use box 14 if railroad retirement taxes apply.)
An employee's contributions to an HSA (unless made through a cafeteria plan) are includible in income as wages and are subject to federal income tax withholding and social security and Medicare taxes (or railroad retirement taxes, if applicable). Employee contributions are deductible, within limits, on the employee's Form 1040 or 1040-SR.
Thanks @MaryK4. Appreciate the response. But can you simplify it for me a bit? It sounds like you are saying that my employer's HSA contributions should indeed be included on my W-2. Is that the case?
Yes. While employer contributions to an HSA may be excluded from the employee's income, all employer contributions, including those made by the employee through a cafeteria plan, must be reported in box 12 of the employee's W-2.