W2 Box 12W

[lizwid]

My employer's W-2 box 12W shows an amount which I believe is the total of what I contributed to an HSA in 2011. But the box 12W is supposed to be the amount the EMPLOYER pays into my HSA account in 2011 (which is just $1,000).

Would you mention this issue to the employer and ask for a revised W2? It makes a difference when I put in what i believe is the correct amount into HR Block tax software where it asks how much I contributed. But should I put an amount in the tax software box 12W that does not match the W2? (ie- type in $1,000 because I know that's the amount my employer paid, not $4,xxx which is the amount that shows up on my W-2?)

[mwcpa]

actually, the disclosure is correct.....$4,xxx is correct.......

from w-2 "instructions" for 2012....

for box 12

"Code W—Employer contributions to a health savings account (HSA). Show any employer contributions (including amounts the employee elected to contribute using a section 125 (cafeteria) plan) to an HSA. See Health savings account (HSA) on page 8"

[lizwid]

Thank you very much! That explains it!

[mwcpa]

you are welcome

[nancy65]

The reason that both the employer's contribution and the amount withheld from your pay go in this box is that both are already excluded from your gross income. The amount that the software is asking about is any additional amounts that you (or someone on your behalf) put in from after tax money. This would then go on your tax return as an adjustment to (deduction from) your gross income. You cannot deduct from gross income amounts that were never included in it.