Health savings accounts (HSAs) let you save on a pre-tax basis (or allow you to take a deduction when you file your return) and pay for qualified medical expenses with tax-free dollars.1,2 But there are limits to how much you can contribute each year. Overcontributing can lead to unexpected tax penalties. Keep these rules for HSA contributions in mind. And remember: In order to contribute to an HSA, you have to be enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan.
HSA contribution limits
Every year, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) sets the maximum that can be contributed to an HSA. For example, if your HSA contribution limit for the year is $4,400 (as it is in 2026) and your employer contributes $1,000, you can only contribute $3,400—unless you're eligible for a catch-up contribution of $1,000.
The amount you can contribute to an HSA each year is determined by whether you are enrolled in self-only or family coverage and if you are age 55 or older.
2026 HSA contribution limits
The HSA contribution limits for 2026 are $4,400 for self-only coverage and $8,750 for family coverage. Those 55 and older who are not enrolled in Medicare can contribute an additional $1,000 as a catch-up contribution.
2027 HSA contribution limits
The HSA contribution limits for 2027 are $4,500 for self-only coverage and $9,000 for family coverage. Those 55 and older who are not enrolled in Medicare can contribute an additional $1,000 as a catch-up contribution.
Spousal catch-up contributions
If you and your spouse are both age 55 or over, not enrolled in Medicare, and otherwise eligible, you each can make $1,000 HSA catch-up contributions, but you must do so in separate HSAs. These contributions can be taken as a tax deduction on your personal taxes assuming they're not done through payroll deductions.HSA eligibility
To contribute to an HSA, you must be enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan. For 2026, this means:
- It has an annual deductible of at least $1,700 for self-only coverage and $3,400 for family coverage
- Its out-of-pocket maximum including annual deductible does not exceed $8,500 for self-only coverage and $17,000 for family coverage
And for 2027, this means:
- It has an annual deductible of at least $1,750 for self-only coverage and $3,500 for family coverage
- Its out-of-pocket maximum including annual deductible does not exceed $8,700 for self-only coverage and $17,400 for family coverage
And to contribute to an HSA you must:
- Not be enrolled in a health plan that is not an HSA-eligible plan, nor can you have a general-purpose health care flexible spending account (FSA)
- Not be enrolled in Medicare, Medicaid, TRICARE, or CHIP (the Children's Health Insurance Program)
- Not be claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return
HSA contribution deadline
You generally have until the federal income tax filing deadline to contribute to an HSA. In most tax years, this is on or around April 15.
HSA contribution limits when you aren't enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan for the full year
If you aren't enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan for the full year, you may only be able to contribute a portion of the allowable amount. Although, if you're covered on December 1 of a given year, you may be able to contribute the maximum amount allowed, as detailed in the section below.
You can calculate your prorated contribution amount by counting the number of months you were enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan on the first of a month and dividing it by 12. Then multiply the number by the total amount you could contribute if you were eligible the whole year. If you have single coverage and were enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan at the start of the year and your coverage ends on November 30, 2026, for example, you could contribute $4,033.33 as an individual for the year.
HSA contribution limits when you are enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan as of December 1
If you are enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan as of December 1 of a given year, you can contribute the maximum amount you're eligible for, per the IRS's "last-month rule." This is true whether you've been enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan for 1 day or 185 days. The last-month rule comes with an important catch, though.
You must stay enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan for a one-year "testing period" running from December 1 of the year you contribute to December 31 of the next year. If you are no longer enrolled in an HSA-eligible health plan during that year, you then must pay income taxes—as well as a 10% penalty—on any excess contributions you made when you file your tax return.
HSA tax penalties
While HSAs offer valuable tax benefits, they also come with tax penalties, if you contribute too much in a given year or use the money to pay for ineligible expenses.
If you exceed the annual maximum contribution limit, you may face a 6% excise tax on your excess contributions in the year you overcontributed and in each year you fail to remove the excess contribution and its earnings. The excess contribution is also considered taxable income. If you correct the error before the tax filing deadline for the year, including extensions, you may be able to avoid income tax and the excise tax for that year.
If you use your HSA dollars for ineligible expenses before the age of 65, you'll pay a 20% early withdrawal penalty plus any applicable income taxes on what you withdraw. If you're 65 or older, you can use HSA money for ineligible expenses penalty-free, though you'll have to pay income taxes.
HSA vs. health care FSA
Health care flexible spending accounts (FSAs) are another common way to use tax-advantaged dollars to pay for qualified medical expenses. While it may seem like double-dipping, you can contribute to both an HSA and a health care FSA, provided your FSA is a special HSA-compatible type of FSA called a limited purpose FSA (LPFSA). An LPFSA can be used only to pay for qualified vision and dental expenses.
When used together, an HSA and LPFSA can help you save on health care costs each year. In 2026, you can typically contribute up to $3,400 to an LPFSA—or $6,800 if both you and your spouse have access to one through your respective employers—in addition to your HSA contributions. Keep in mind, though, that LPFSA funds are generally subject to the "use it or lose it" rule. You must use contributions within the plan year or forfeit whatever's leftover, with some exceptions. HSAs, meanwhile, aren't subject to this rule, allowing you to save and invest contributions year after year.