Work out how much you can put into a health savings account (HSA) for 2026 and how much tax it saves. With self-only coverage all year you can contribute $4,400. If you’re in the 22% federal bracket, pay 5% state income tax and contribute through payroll, that saves $1,524.60 in tax: $968.00 federal, $220.00 state and $336.60 Social Security and Medicare.
HSA Contribution Calculator 2026
Limit, partial-year proration and tax savings · Updated October 13, 2026
- You can still contribute
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- Federal income tax saved
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- State income tax saved
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- Social Security and Medicare tax saved
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- Total tax saved
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- Real cost of your contribution
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Limits: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19. A partial-year limit is prorated by month. Tax savings assume you put in the full amount left after employer contributions.
2026 HSA limits
| 2026 | Self-only coverage | Family coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Contribution limit | $4,400 | $8,750 |
| Extra catch-up at 55 or older | +$1,000 | +$1,000 |
| HDHP minimum deductible | $1,700 | $3,400 |
| HDHP out-of-pocket maximum | $8,500 | $17,000 |
The 2026 limits are up from $4,300 and $8,550 in 2025. The limit covers every dollar that goes into your HSA for the year: your own payroll deductions, money your employer adds and anything you deposit yourself. Once you enroll in Medicare, your limit is zero from that month on.
If you’re married and either spouse has family coverage, you are both treated as having family coverage and share one $8,750 limit, split however you agree. The $1,000 catch-up belongs to each spouse aged 55 or older and has to go into that spouse’s own HSA.
Partial-year coverage and the last-month rule
You can contribute for each month in which you’re covered by a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) on the first day of the month and have no other disqualifying coverage. If that’s only part of the year, the limit is prorated: the full amount × eligible months ÷ 12. The age-55 catch-up is prorated the same way.
- Self-only coverage from January through July, then a new job without an HDHP: $4,400 × 7 ÷ 12 = $2,566.67.
- Self-only coverage for 6 months at age 58: ($4,400 + $1,000) × 6 ÷ 12 = $2,700.
- Family coverage for 4 months with $750 from your employer: $8,750 × 4 ÷ 12 = $2,916.67, leaving you $2,166.67 to add.
The last-month rule is the exception. If you’re HSA-eligible on December 1, 2026, you’re treated as eligible for the whole year and can contribute the full annual amount, even if coverage began mid-year. The catch is a testing period: you have to stay eligible through December 31, 2027. If you don’t (other than because of death or disability), the extra you contributed is added to your income and hit with a 10% additional tax.
How much tax an HSA saves
- Federal income tax: contributions come off your taxable income, so you save your top bracket rate, from 10% to 37%.
- State income tax: most states follow the federal treatment. California and New Jersey don’t, so HSA contributions are taxed by those states.
- Social Security and Medicare (7.65%): only contributions made through an employer’s cafeteria plan skip these taxes. Social Security tax (6.2%) applies only up to the 2026 wage base of $184,500, so above that the saving is the 1.45% Medicare tax.
- Growth and withdrawals: interest and investment gains aren’t taxed while they stay in the account, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free. Unspent money carries over to the next year.
| Federal bracket | Federal saving on $4,400 | Total with 5% state and 7.65% payroll |
|---|---|---|
| 12% | $528.00 | $1,084.60 |
| 22% | $968.00 | $1,524.60 |
| 24% | $1,056.00 | $1,612.60 |
| 32% | $1,408.00 | $1,964.60 |
| 35% | $1,540.00 | $2,096.60 |
| 37% | $1,628.00 | $2,184.60 |
New HSA rules for 2026
- Bronze and catastrophic plans: from January 2026, bronze and catastrophic plans available through a health insurance Marketplace count as HDHPs, even if their deductible or out-of-pocket maximum doesn’t meet the usual HDHP rules (IRS Notice 2026-5).
- Direct primary care: a direct primary care arrangement costing no more than $150 a month ($300 for family) no longer stops you from contributing.
- Telehealth: an HDHP can cover telehealth before the deductible without costing you HSA eligibility, permanently for plan years starting after 2024.
FAQ
When is the deadline for 2026 HSA contributions?
You can contribute for 2026 until your federal tax filing deadline in April 2027. Tell your HSA provider the deposit is for 2026.
What happens if I contribute too much?
Excess contributions aren’t deductible, and a 6% excise tax applies for each year they stay in the account. Ask your HSA provider to return the excess and its earnings before your tax deadline to avoid it.
Can I still contribute after I turn 65?
Only if you haven’t enrolled in Medicare. From the first month of Medicare coverage your limit is zero, and Medicare Part A can be backdated, so plan the timing carefully if you delay signing up.
Do employer contributions count toward the limit?
Yes. Enter them in the calculator: it subtracts them from your limit and works out the tax savings on the rest. The employer’s money is already tax-free to you.
Related calculators
- Federal Income Tax Calculator 2026Find your bracket
- Paycheck Calculator 2026See pre-tax deductions in your take-home pay
- 401(k) Contribution CalculatorAnother pre-tax account for 2026
Sources
- IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19: 2026 HSA and HDHP amounts · PDF
- IRS Publication 969: Health Savings Accounts · limits, last-month rule, Medicare, excess contributions
- IRS Notice 2026-5: Expanded availability of HSAs under the One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act · PDF
- IRS Publication 15 (2026): Social Security and Medicare tax rates and wage base
- California Office of Tax Appeals: Appeal of A. Ladi and M. Ladi · California does not conform to the HSA deduction
- Newfront: California and New Jersey HSA state income tax
Figures current as of October 13, 2026
Each formula is checked against a separate test sheet with at least three worked examples. Results are estimates based on the numbers you enter and the published rules; your actual figures may differ. This is general information, not financial or tax advice.
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