HSA contributions are based on your insurance coverage and age. For 2009 the limits are:

1. Single accounts (only one person covereed on the health insurance policy)—$3,000.00
2. Family accounts ( multiple people covereed on the health insurance policy)—$5,950.00
3. Additional contribution for account holders who attain age 55 by December 31, 2009—$1,000.00

Contribution tips:

 You have until April 15 to finalize your prior year’s contribution.

You can make the full year’s contribution any time after January 1 of the tax year.

In Administrative, Procedural, and Miscellaneous Notice 2004-50, the IRS addresses this question. See Questions 2 and 4, excerpted below:

 Q-2. May an otherwise eligible individual who is eligible for Medicare, but not enrolled in Medicare Part A or Part B, contribute to an HSA?

 A-2. Yes. Section 223(b)(7) states that an individual ceases to be an eligible individual starting with the month he or she is entitled to benefits under Medicare. Under this provision, mere eligibility for Medicare does not make an individual ineligible to contribute to an HSA. Rather, the term “entitled to benefits under” Medicare means both eligibility and enrollment in Medicare.

Thus, an otherwise eligible individual under section 223(c)(1) who is not actually enrolled in Medicare Part A or Part B may contribute to an HSA until the month that individual is enrolled in Medicare.

Example (1). Y, age 66, is covered under her employer’s HDHP. Although Y is eligible for Medicare, Y is not ctually entitled to Medicare because she did not apply for benefits under Medicare (i.e., enroll in Medicare Part A or Part B). If Y is otherwise an eligible individual under section 223(c)(1), she may contribute to an HSA.  

Example (2). In August 2004, X attains age 65 and applies for and begins receiving Social Security benefits. X is automatically enrolled in Medicare. As of August 1, 2004, X is no longer an eligible individual and may not contribute to an HSA.  

Q-4. Is a government retiree who is enrolled in Medicare Part B (but not Part A) an eligible individual under section 223(c)(1)?

 A-4. No. Under section 223(b)(7), an individual who is enrolled in Medicare may not contribute to an HSA.

Yes. IRS regulations allow for the employer to advance the employer contribution to the HSA for a specific employee. However, the employer must treat all employees equally. Ideally, the employer would develop a policy for advancing (employer funded) HSA contributions. Any employee meeting those requirements, who requests an advance, would recieve the advance on the HSA.

Some of our account holders have asked about the security of their HSA money invested in the Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund. Vanguard has issued a statement confirming their continued participation in the Treasury Guarantee Program. You can get details by following the link below:

Vanguard money market funds participate in extension of Treasury Guarantee Program

What tax forms will I get? What is reported to the IRS?

Two tax forms will be sent to you, and to the IRS. The first is Form 1099-SA. This form is sent no later than January 31. Form 1099-SA tells you what distributions have been made from your health savings account during the calendar year. The amount in Box 1 of your 1099-SA will be reported on Line 14a of Form 8889. (Form 8889 is required when filing your taxes if you have a health savings account).

The second form sent to you is Form 5498-SA. This form is sent out no later than May 15, but definitely after the tax filing deadline of April 15. Form 5498-SA cannot be sent any earlier because taxpayers have until April 15 to make contributions to the prior year’s HSA. This form included ALL contributions made between January 1 of the reportable tax year (e.g. 2008) and April 15 of the following tax year (e.g. 2009).

Here is what goes in each Box of the 5498-SA:

Box 1. Employee or Self-Employed Person’s Archer MSA Contributions Made in 2009 and 2010 for 2009
No HSA information is to be reported in box 1 Enter the employee’s or self-employed person’s regular contributions to the Archer MSA made in 2009 and through April 15, 2010, for 2009. Report gross contributions, including any excess contributions, even if the excess contributions were withdrawn.

Box 2. Total Contributions Made in 2009
Enter the total HSA or Archer MSA contributions made in 2009. Include any contribution made in 2009 for 2008. Also include qualified HSA funding distributions (trustee-to-trustee transfers from an IRA to an HSA under section 408(d)(9)) received by you during 2009. You may, but you are not required to, report the total MA MSA contributions the Secretary of Health and Human Services or his or her representative made in 2009. Do not include amounts reported in box 4.

Box 3. Total HSA or Archer MSA Contributions Made in 2010 for 2009
Enter the total HSA or Archer MSA contributions made in 2010 for 2009.

Box 4. Rollover Contributions
Enter rollover contributions to the HSA or Archer MSA received by you during 2009. Include qualified HSA distributions (direct transfers of contributions form employers FSAs and HRAs to an HSA under section 106(e). These amount s are not to be included in box 2.

Box 5. Fair Market Value of HSA, Archer MSA, or MA MSA
Enter the FMV of the account on December 31, 2009.

Box 6. Checkbox
Check the box to indicate if this account is an HSA, Archer MSA, or MA MSA.

What tax forms do I need to complete?

All taxpayers who have a health savings account must complete Form 8889 if:

• they, or someone on their behalf, made contributions to their HSA.
• they received any HSA distributions in the  just-past calendar year.
• they failed to be an eligible individual during the testing period.
• they acquired an interest in an HSA because of the death of the account beneficiary.

If you find that you have made an excess contribution to your HSA and failed to remove it prior to filing your taxes, including extensions, you may also be required to complete Form 5329.

Where can I find Tax forms?

• Visit www.irs.gov/formspubs/