# How much can I put in my HSA?

Finds your 2026 HSA contribution limit for self-only or family coverage, with the catch-up at 55 and part-year coverage, and the tax your contribution saves.

- Page: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/hsa-calculator
- JSON spec: https://www.acalculator.org/finance/hsa-calculator.json
- Version: 3726db816b20

## Default answer

Example with the default inputs (HDHP coverage Self-only, Age 55 or older by December 31 No, Months with HDHP coverage 12, Employer contributions $0.00, Federal tax bracket 22%, State income tax rate 5%, How you contribute Through payroll): You can put $4,400.00 in your HSA for 2026, which saves about $1,524.60 in tax.

## Inputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| cov | HDHP coverage | Self-only covers just you; family covers you and at least one other person. |
| age55 | Age 55 or older by December 31 | Account holders 55 or older at the end of the year may add $1,000. |
| months | Months with HDHP coverage | Months in 2026 you were covered by a high deductible health plan on the first day of the month. |
| employer | Employer contributions | What your employer puts in your HSA for the year. It counts toward your limit. |
| amount | Your contribution | What you plan to put in for 2026. Leave it empty to use the most you can. |
| fed | Federal tax bracket | Your top federal income tax rate, such as 12%, 22% or 24%. |
| state | State income tax rate | Your state income tax rate (0 if your state has none or taxes HSA money). |
| pay | How you contribute | Payroll contributions through a cafeteria plan also skip the 7.65% Social Security and Medicare tax. |

## Outputs

| Key | Label | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| contribution | Your contribution | The amount you entered, or the room left when you left it empty. |
| limit | Your 2026 limit | The coverage limit plus any catch-up, times the months of coverage over 12. |
| room | Room left after your employer | Your limit minus your employer’s contributions. |
| taxSaved | Tax saved | Your contribution times the federal, state and (through payroll) 7.65% FICA rates. |
| netCost | Cost after tax savings | Your contribution minus the tax it saves. |

## Method

Limit = ($4,400 self-only or $8,750 family, plus $1,000 at 55 or older) × months ÷ 12; room = limit − employer money; tax saved = contribution × (federal + state + 7.65% through payroll).

## Assumptions

- IRS limits for 2026 (Rev. Proc. 2025-19).
- Part-year coverage uses the monthly rule: one twelfth of the limit for each month covered on the first day.
- Not the last-month rule, which lets someone covered on December 1 use the full limit if they stay covered through the next year.
- Payroll savings assume wages under the Social Security wage base.
- Married couples with family coverage share one family limit.

## Worked examples

1. cov = self, age55 = no, months = 12, employer = $0.00, fed = 22%, state = 5%, pay = payroll gives limit = $4,400.00, room = $4,400.00, amount = $4,400.00, taxSaved = $1,524.60, netCost = $2,875.40. Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19 (https://www.irs.gov/irb/2025-21_IRB): 2026 self-only limit $4,400.
2. cov = family, age55 = yes, months = 7, employer = $1,000.00, fed = 24%, state = 0%, pay = direct gives limit = $5,687.50, room = $4,687.50, amount = $4,687.50, taxSaved = $1,125.00, netCost = $3,562.50. Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19 family limit $8,750 and IRS Publication 969 (https://www.irs.gov/publications/p969) $1,000 catch-up and monthly proration: (8,750 + 1,000) × 7 ÷ 12 = $5,687.50, minus $1,000 employer money.
3. cov = self, age55 = no, months = 12, employer = $500.00, amount = $3,000.00, fed = 12%, state = 4.5%, pay = payroll gives limit = $4,400.00, room = $3,900.00, amount = $3,000.00, taxSaved = $724.50, netCost = $2,275.50. Source: IRS Rev. Proc. 2025-19 self-only limit $4,400.
4. cov = self, age55 = no, months = 5, employer = $0.00, fed = 22%, state = 0%, pay = direct gives limit = $1,833.33, room = $1,833.33, taxSaved = $403.33, netCost = $1,430.00. Source: IRS Publication 969 monthly proration: 4,400 × 5 ÷ 12 = 1,833.333…, $1,833.33 to the cent.

## FAQ

### What is the HSA contribution limit for 2026?

For 2026 the limit is $4,400 with self-only coverage and $8,750 with family coverage. If you are 55 or older by the end of the year, you may add $1,000.

### Do employer contributions count toward the HSA limit?

Yes. Money your employer puts in, including payroll contributions made through a cafeteria plan, counts toward the same yearly limit. Subtract it to find what you can still add.

### What if I had an HDHP for only part of the year?

Your limit is one twelfth of the yearly limit for each month you were covered on the first day of the month. With self-only coverage for 5 months, that is 4,400 × 5 ÷ 12 = $1,833.33.

### How much tax does an HSA save?

Your contribution is not taxed by the federal government, and most states do not tax it either. Through payroll it also skips the 7.65% Social Security and Medicare tax. At 22% federal, 5% state and payroll, $4,400 saves $1,524.60.

### What is the minimum deductible for an HSA-eligible plan in 2026?

A high deductible health plan needs a deductible of at least $1,700 for self-only coverage or $3,400 for family coverage in 2026, and out-of-pocket costs of no more than $8,500 or $17,000.

### What happens if I put in too much?

Excess contributions are taxed 6% a year while they stay in the account. Take out the excess and its earnings by the tax filing deadline to avoid the tax.

## Sources

- Internal Revenue Service, Rev. Proc. 2025-19, Internal Revenue Bulletin 2025-21 (May 19, 2025), 2026 HSA and HDHP limits: https://www.irs.gov/irb/2025-21_IRB (retrieved 2026-10-05)
- Internal Revenue Service, Publication 969, Health Savings Accounts and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p969 (retrieved 2026-10-05)