What happens if you don't file Form 8889?

Asked by: Russel Konopelski II  |  Last update: January 14, 2024
Score: 4.5/5 (9 votes)

If you hold an HSA account (or are the beneficiary of a deceased HSA holder), you're required to attach Form 8889 to your Form 1040 when filing your personal income tax or information return. If you fail to do so, you'll be unable to deduct your HSA contributions.

Is 8889 required?

You must always file a Form 8889 in any year you or an employer contributes money to your HSA or you make withdrawals from the account. The deduction you calculate on Form 8889 is taken on the first page of your income tax return.

What happens if you don't report HSA?

You must self-report any non-qualifying purchases on the Health Savings Account screen. Not claiming the non-qualifying expenses may lead to an audit, and you'll be subject to penalties and fines.

Do I have to report HSA on taxes if I didn't contribute?

If you did not have contribution activity during the year, you will not receive an IRS Form 5498- SA. Please note this form is informational only and does not need to be filed with your income tax return.

What is the last month rule for form 8889?

Last-month rule.

If you are an eligible individual on the first day of the last month of your tax year (December 1 for most taxpayers), you are considered to be an eligible individual for the entire year, so long as you remain an eligible individual during the testing period as discussed below.

How to Complete IRS Form 8889 for Health Savings Accounts (HSA)

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Can I submit HSA expenses from last year?

Keep in mind that you can reimburse yourself for any expense at any point, as long as it was incurred after your HSA was established. So if you had an expense that you paid out-of-pocket last year after your HSA was established, but want to reimburse yourself for it this year, you can do so without penalty.

Does HSA money expire at the end of the year?

But often, FSA funds must be used by the end of a calendar year, or you lose them. HSAs are different. The money you contribute to an HSA has no “expiration date.” You can withdraw funds you need to pay for everyday out-of-pocket health care expenses or save them for care you may need years down the road.

How do I avoid taxes with HSA?

Your contributions may be 100 percent tax-deductible, meaning contributions can be deducted from your gross income. All interest earned in your HSA is 100 percent tax-deferred, meaning the funds grow without being subject to taxes unless they are used for non-eligible medical expenses.

What is form 8889 used for?

File Form 8889 to: Report health savings account (HSA) contributions (including those made on your behalf and employer contributions). Figure your HSA deduction. Report distributions from HSAs.

Are HSA contributions mandatory?

Does an employer have to contribute to employees' HSAs? No. Employer contributions are optional. Most employers provide some funding of employees' accounts, particularly during the first few years as employees build balances through their own pre-tax payroll contributions.

Who must file Form 8889?

You must file Form 8889 if any of the following applies. You (or someone on your behalf, including your employer) made contributions for 2022 to your HSA. You received HSA distributions in 2022. You must include certain amounts in income because you failed to be an eligible individual during the testing period.

Who fills out Form 8889?

The surviving spouse completes Form 8889 as though the HSA belonged to the surviving spouse. If the designated beneficiary is not the account beneficiary's surviving spouse, or there is no designated beneficiary, the account ceases to be an HSA as of the date of death. The beneficiary completes Form 8889 as follows.

Can I file Form 8889 with Turbotax?

We'll automatically fill out Form 8889 if you and/or your employer contributed to an HSA (usually indicated by code W in box 12 of the W-2), if you used funds in your HSA (reported on Form 1099-SA), or if you inherited an HSA.

Why is my HSA being taxed?

If your funds are used for non-eligible expenditures, you may be subjected to income tax plus a 20% IRS penalty. However, that doesn't mean you should neglect your HSA. After age 65, you are allowed to withdraw from your account penalty-free for non-eligible expenses, as long as you report it as income on your taxes.

Can I contribute to HSA without payroll deductions?

Can HSA contributions be made outside of payroll deduction? HSA contributions can be made outside of payroll and deducted on Form 8889. Employees should be careful to not contribute more than the Internal Revenue Code limit.

How do I remove Form 8889 from Turbotax?

You can remove the HSA form using the following steps:
  1. Sign into your account and select your current return.
  2. Select TaxTools on the bottom left and then select tools (see attached TaxTools)
  3. Select Delete a Form (see attached delete a form)
  4. Find Form 8889 and select delete next to it.

Why is Turbotax telling me to withdraw from my HSA?

If you overfunded or weren't eligible to contribute to your HSA in 2022, you'll need to withdraw the excess amount by April 17, 2023 to avoid a penalty (October 15 if you filed an extension).

Is gym membership HSA eligible?

Can I use my HSA for a gym membership? Typically no. Unless you have a letter from your doctor stating that the membership is necessary to treat an injury or underlying health condition, such as obesity, a gym membership isn't a qualifying medical expense.

Does HSA get reported on taxes?

HSA distributions are reported to the account owner on Form 1099-SA. This form is issued by the financial institution. Form 8889 must be filed with your annual Form 1040 federal tax filing if you make contributions to or take distributions from an HSA.

What disqualifies you from having an HSA?

If you enroll in Social Security you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A, which will disqualify you from contributing to an HSA. You can delay enrollment in Medicare Part A only if you delay taking Social Security. You can delay taking Social Security up until age 70 and one half years old.

Does HSA reduce payroll taxes?

Reduce taxable income - HSA contributions through payroll are made pre-tax, which lowers tax liability on paychecks. Manual contributions are tax deductible when filing taxes each year. Tax-free earnings - Interest growth earned on HSA funds is never taxed.

Can I keep my HSA forever?

Myth #2: If I don't spend all my funds this year, I lose it. Reality: HSA funds never expire. When it comes to the HSA, there's no use-it-or-lose-it rule. Unlike Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds, you keep your HSA dollars forever, even if you change employers, health plans, or retire.

When should I stop contributing to my HSA?

3 times it's okay to stop funding your HSA
  1. Your financial situation has changed. ...
  2. You're getting close to age 65 or you're no longer eligible. ...
  3. You've hit the max contribution limit.

Can I use HSA for glasses?

Yes! You can definitely use funds from your flexible spending account (FSA) or health savings account (HSA) to purchase prescription glasses. (FSAs and HSAs can be used for many other vision- and eye health-related expenses, too, but we'll discuss that more in a bit.)

Can I transfer money from HSA to bank account?

Online Transfers – On HSA Bank's member website, you can reimburse yourself for out-of-pocket expenses by making a one-time or reoccurring online transfer from your HSA to your personal checking or savings account.