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Does Box 14 Need to Say HSA or Sec 125? - Understanding HSA and Section 125 Plans

Published May 9, 2023

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Short answer: No—the IRS does not require HSA or Section 125 to be specifically mentioned in W-2 Box 14; employers decide what to report there.

Box 14 confusion about HSA and Section 125

When it comes to tax forms and employer benefits, Box 14 can sometimes cause confusion for employees. One common question that arises is whether Box 14 needs to specifically mention HSA or Section 125 plans.

Box 14 on your W-2 form may include various types of information provided by your employer, including codes related to specific benefits or compensation.

IRS guidance and employer discretion for Box 14

Typically, if you have contributed to a Health Savings Account (HSA) or participated in a Section 125 plan during the tax year, your employer may choose to report this information in Box 14.

However, it's important to note that there is no standard requirement from the IRS mandating the inclusion of HSA or Section 125 in Box 14. Each employer has the discretion to decide what information they want to report in this box.

Therefore, the presence or absence of HSA or Section 125 in Box 14 may vary depending on your employer's practices.

When pondering the details of your tax forms, especially the W-2, many employees become puzzled over what should be reported in Box 14. One query that frequently pops up is: does it need to state HSA or Section 125 plans specifically?

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