Box 12. The following list explains the codes shown in box 12. You may
need this information to complete your tax return. Elective deferrals
(codes D, E, F, and S) and designated Roth contributions (codes AA,
BB, and EE) under all plans are generally limited to a total of $19,000
($13,000 if you only have SIMPLE plans; $22,000 for section 403(b)
plans if you qualify for the 15-year rule explained in Pub. 571). Deferrals
under code G are limited to $19,000. Deferrals under code H are limited
to $7,000.
However, if you were at least age 50 in 2019, your employer may have
allowed an additional deferral of up to $6,000 ($3,000 for section 401(k)
(11) and 408(p) SIMPLE plans). This additional deferral amount is not
subject to the overall limit on elective deferrals. For code G, the limit on
elective deferrals may be higher for the last 3 years before you reach
retirement age. Contact your plan administrator for more information.
Amounts in excess of the overall elective deferral limit must be included
in income. See the instructions for Form 1040.
Note: If a year follows code D through H, S, Y, AA, BB, or EE, you made
a make-up pension contribution for a prior year(s) when you were in
military service. To figure whether you made excess deferrals, consider
these amounts for the year shown, not the current year. If no year is
shown, the contributions are for the current year.
A—Uncollected social security or RRTA tax on tips. Include this tax on
Form 1040. See the Form 1040 instructions.
B—Uncollected Medicare tax on tips. Include this tax on Form 1040.
See the Form 1040 instructions.
C—Taxable cost of group-term life insurance over $50,000 (included in
boxes 1, 3 (up to social security wage base), and 5)
D—Elective deferrals to a section 401(k) cash or deferred arrangement.
Also includes deferrals under a SIMPLE retirement account that is part
of a section 401(k) arrangement.
E—Elective deferrals under a section 403(b) salary reduction agreement
F—Elective deferrals under a section 408(k)(6) salary reduction SEP
G—Elective deferrals and employer contributions (including nonelective
deferrals) to a section 457(b) deferred compensation plan
H—Elective deferrals to a section 501(c)(18)(D) tax-exempt organization plan.
See the Form 1040 instructions for how to deduct.
J—Nontaxable sick pay (information only, not included in box 1, 3, or 5)
K—20% excise tax on excess golden parachute payments. See the
Form 1040 instructions.
L—Substantiated employee business expense reimbursements (nontaxable)
M—Uncollected social security or RRTA tax on taxable cost of groupterm life insurance over $50,000 (former employees only). See the Form
1040 instructions.
N—Uncollected Medicare tax on taxable cost of group-term life
insurance over $50,000 (former employees only). See the Form 1040
instructions.
P—Excludable moving expense reimbursements paid directly to a
member of the U.S. Armed Forces (not included in box 1, 3, or 5)
Q—Nontaxable combat pay. See the instructions for Form 1040 for
details on reporting this amount.
R—Employer contributions to your Archer MSA. Report on Form 8853,
Archer MSAs and Long-Term Care Insurance Contracts.
S—Employee salary reduction contributions under a section 408(p)
SIMPLE plan (not included in box 1)
T—Adoption benefits (not included in box 1). Complete Form 8839, Qualified
Adoption Expenses, to compute any taxable and nontaxable amounts.
V—Income from exercise of nonstatutory stock option(s) (included in
boxes 1, 3 (up to social security wage base), and 5). See Pub. 525,
Taxable and Nontaxable Income, for reporting requirements.
W—Employer contributions (including amounts the employee elected to
contribute using a section 125 (cafeteria) plan) to your health savings
account. Report on Form 8889, Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
Y—Deferrals under a section 409A nonqualified deferred compensation plan
Z—Income under a nonqualified deferred compensation plan that fails
to satisfy section 409A. This amount also is included in box 1. It is
subject to an additional 20% tax plus interest. See the Form 1040
instructions.
AA—Designated Roth contributions under a section 401(k) plan
BB—Designated Roth contributions under a section 403(b) plan
DD—Cost of employer-sponsored health coverage. The amount
reported with code DD is not taxable.
EE—Designated Roth contributions under a governmental section
457(b) plan. This amount does not apply to contributions under a taxexempt organization section 457(b) plan.
FF—Permitted benefits under a qualified small employer health
reimbursement arrangement
GG—Income from qualified equity grants under section 83(i)
HH—Aggregate deferrals under section 83(i) elections as of the close of
the calendar year
