Are COBRA payments reported on w2?

Asked by: Marc Frami Jr.  |  Last update: December 28, 2025
Score: 5/5 (33 votes)

In general, each employer providing coverage will have to report the prorated cost on the employee's W-2. If the employee is terminated, the employer can also include the COBRA payment amounts paid by the employee after termination.

How do I report COBRA payments on my taxes?

According to the Federal tax laws, your unreimbursed COBRA payments are, in fact, deductible as medical expenses on your 1040 tax return in the same way that you can deduct unreimbursed payments for legal medical services provided by physicians, surgeons, dentists, and other medical practitioners, as well as any ...

Are COBRA payments considered income?

If the employee receives the funds and can provide supporting documentation of the payment to the insurer, the funds are also nontaxable. If there is no verification that the employee used the funds to pay for the premiums, the amounts are included in wages and are taxable.

What does box 12 dd mean on W-2?

Health Insurance Cost on W-2 - Code DD. Employers are required to report the cost of an employee's health care benefits in Box 12 of Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement, using code "DD" to identify the amount. This amount is reported for informational purposes only and is NOT taxable.

Does employee paid health insurance go on W-2?

Individuals (employees) do not have to report the cost of coverage under an employer-sponsored group health plan that may be shown on their Form W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, in Box 12, using Code DD.

Don't forget to include the right health insurance info on your W2's!

32 related questions found

Do cobra payments show up on W-2?

In general, each employer providing coverage will have to report the prorated cost on the employee's W-2. If the employee is terminated, the employer can also include the COBRA payment amounts paid by the employee after termination.

What is excluded from W-2 wages?

The types of earnings (or compensation payments) that are excluded from Social Security wages include: Tips (if they total less than $20 per month) Reimbursed business travel expenses. Employer-paid health or accident insurance premiums.

Does my W-2 show how much I paid for health insurance?

Form W-2 shows taxable wages reported after pre-tax deductions. Pre-tax deductions include employer-provided health insurance plans, dental insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401(k) contributions.

Does Box 12d on W-2 affect taxes?

Box 12 is a general catch-all for recording various types of income. Box 12 consists of four sections, 12a-12d. These are just references to organize the space and don't have any significant meaning. W2 Box 12 uses codes A through HH to identify a variety of employee benefits that must be reported to the IRS.

Why is my HSA contribution not on W-2?

Deposits paid directly to your health savings account (HSA) can result in an HSA tax deduction. However, employer contributions are already excluded from your income on your Form W-2.

Is COBRA pre or post tax?

Taxes. Typically, premium payments deducted from your paycheck are pre-tax payments—what you pay toward your premiums doesn't count as income when you file your taxes. With COBRA, you need to pay the premiums with after-tax funds.

What is the box 12b on W-2?

The W-2 box 12 codes are: A – Uncollected Social Security tax or Railroad Retirement Tax Act (RRTA) tax on tips. Include this tax on Form 1040 Schedule 2, line 13. B – Uncollected Medicare tax on tips.

Is COBRA a self-employed deduction?

If you chose to take COBRA health insurance after leaving a previous job, you may be able to deduct any premiums paid out-of-pocket. However, you are not eligible for the self-employed insurance deduction as the plan is still under your former employer's name.

How does COBRA affect taxes?

Are my COBRA premiums deductible? Yes they are tax deductible as a medical expense. There isn't necessarily a “COBRA Tax Deduction”. You can only deduct the amount of COBRA medical expenses on your federal income tax in excess of 7.5% of your Adjusted Gross Income and then only if you itemize deductions.

Where do I enter COBRA payments on TurboTax?

Enter your COBRA premiums under Medical insurance premiums.

What is box 14 on W2?

Box 14 of Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement allows your employer to enter a variety of information. Employers might use abbreviations and codes in Box 14, and you may need to ask your employer to interpret those abbreviations or codes.

Do I have to report Box 12 DD on my tax return?

by TurboTax. • 193. • Updated 2 weeks ago

Code DD amounts are for informational purposes only—they don't affect the numbers in your tax return. Nevertheless, you should enter the Code DD and the amount of your employer-sponsored health coverage plan if you see it on your W-2.

Can box 12 be empty on W-2?

If Box 12 on your W-2 is empty, don't enter anything for Box 12. If you have more than one item showing for Box 12 on your W-2, enter each item on a separate line. The following list explains the codes shown in W-2 Box 12. A - Uncollected social security or RRTA tax on tips.

What is S125 on W-2?

A section 125 plan provides employees with an opportunity to receive certain benefits on a pre-tax basis. This money is taken out of the individual's gross pay and can be used for items such as group health insurance premiums, qualified out-of-pocket medical expenses, and daycare for eligible dependents.

What benefits need to be reported on W-2?

Salary advances, fringe benefits, employee business expense reimbursements. Deferred Compensation deductions. Pre-Tax Benefit deductions (Health, Dental, Health Care Reimbursement, Dependent Care Reimbursement, Other Post-Employment Benefits - OPEB).

Does employee paid health insurance go on W-2?

Federal law requires reporting of employer-sponsored medical, dental, and vision costs on employee W- 2 Forms.

Can I deduct my health insurance premiums from my taxes?

You can include health insurance premiums in your medical expense calculations. However, certain premiums are not eligible for medical expense deductions. You cannot include the following premiums in your tax deductions: Life insurance policies.

Can I write off expenses as a W-2 employee?

Most unreimbursed employee expenses can't be claimed by W-2 employees on their federal income taxes. Ask your employer if they would reimburse you for those expenses because those expenses are usually deductible to them.

Are disability pension payments on W-2?

A W-2 form lists the benefits paid and taxes withheld. It is required for every calendar year that you receive disability benefit payments.

What goes in box 12 on W-2?

There are nearly 30 codes that can be put into Box 12 on the W-2 Form. The most common ones are: A: represents uncollected social security or railroad retirement income not collected and must be reported on the tax return. B: represents uncollected Medicare taxes and must be reported on the tax return.