June 2, 2023

Volume XIII, Number 153

Advertisement
Advertisement

June 02, 2023

Subscribe to Latest Legal News and Analysis

June 01, 2023

Subscribe to Latest Legal News and Analysis

May 31, 2023

Subscribe to Latest Legal News and Analysis
Advertisement

HSA Family Contribution Limit is Restored to $6,900 for 2018

On April 26, 2018, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Revenue Procedure 2018-27 and restored the 2018 HSA contribution limit to $6,900 for an individual with family coverage under a higher deductible health plan (HDHP).

In March 2018, the Department of the Treasury (Treasury Department) and the IRS lowered the limit to $6,850 (originally set at $6,900 for 2018 on May 4, 2017) to reflect the statutory amendment to the inflation adjustments under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. As a result of the $50 reduction, stakeholders expressed concerns that the implementation would impose numerous unanticipated administrative and financial burdens, which would significantly outweigh any tax benefit associated with the original unreduced HSA contribution. In response to these concerns, the Treasury Department and the IRS decided to restore the original $6,900 HSA contribution limit for 2018.

If an individual has already received distribution of the excess contribution because of the previous midyear reduction in the limit, the IRS has provided the following relief:

  1. The individual may repay the distribution to the HSA by April 15, 2019. The repayment is not included in the individual’s gross income, not subject to the 20 percent additional tax, and not subject to the excise tax on excess contributions. In addition, the repayment is not required to be reported on Form 1099-SA or Form 8889 and is not required to be reported as an additional HSA contribution.

  2. If the individual does not repay the distribution to the HSA, he or she may treat the distribution as a returned excess contribution. Therefore, if the individual receives the distribution on or before the due date (including extensions) to file his or her 2018 tax return, the distribution generally would not be included in gross income or subject to the 20 percent additional tax.

  3. However, when the distribution from the HSA is attributable to an employer contribution which is not included in the employee’s wages because the employer treats $6,900 as the 2018 limit, the distribution will be included in the employee’s gross income and subject to the 20 percent additional tax unless the distribution from the HSA is used to pay qualified medical expenses.

In summary, if actions have already been taken regarding the midyear reduction announcement, employers should consider the next steps, including reprogramming their payroll and administration systems, communicating the restoration of the higher limit and the relief to employees, and updating relevant materials and websites.

Han Liu authored this post.

© Copyright 2023 Armstrong Teasdale LLP. All rights reserved National Law Review, Volume VIII, Number 128
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement

About this Author

Armstrong Teasdale LLP, with more than 250 lawyers in offices across the U.S. and China and double-digit revenue growth in 2011, has a demonstrable track record of delivering sophisticated legal advice and exceptional service to a dynamic client base. Whether an issue is local or global, practice area specific or industry related, Armstrong Teasdale provides each client with an invaluable combination of legal resources and practical advice in nearly every area of law. The firm is a member of Lex Mundi, a global association of 160 independent law firms with locations in more than 100...

314-621-5070