HSA Contributions

Anyone can contribute to an eligible individual's HSA. For an employee's HSA, the employee, employer, or both may contribute to the employee's HSA in the same year. For an HSA established by a self-employed (or unemployed) individual, the individual can contribute.

Family members or any other person may also make contributions on behalf of an eligible individual. Contributions to an HSA must be made in cash. Contributions of stock or property are not allowed.

Amounts contributed to an HSA, except for employer contributions and qualified HSA funding distributions from IRAs, can be used as an adjustment to income for the account owner and must be made by the April due date of the return.

Employer Contributions

Employer contributions (including an employee's contribution through a cafeteria plan) are allowed to be made to an employee's HSA. Generally, employer contributions are excluded from an employee's income. Employer contributions are reported on Form W-2, Box 12 using code W.

Taxpayers must reduce the amount they, or any other person, can contribute to their HSA by the amount of any contributions made by the taxpayer's employer that are excludable from income. This includes amounts contributed to the taxpayer's account by the employer through a cafeteria plan.

For example, if the employer contributed $1,000 to a taxpayer's HSA who had a self-only HDHP, the remaining contribution limit would be reduced by that $1,000. Refer to Publication 4012, the Volunteer Resource Guide, for current year contribution limits.