HSA Contribution Limits
For 2027 the IRS caps HSA contributions at $4,500 for self-only coverage and $9,000 for a family, plus a $1,000 catch-up once you turn 55. Set your coverage below to calculate your HSA limit, and how much you can contribute per paycheck.
2027 IRS limits: $4,500 self-only, $9,000 family. Assumes you're HSA-eligible for the full calendar year — if your coverage starts mid-year, your limit may be prorated.
Adds the $1,000 catch-up contribution. Counts if you turn 55 at any point during 2027.
Some employers help seed your HSA. If yours does, add the yearly total here. It shares the same IRS limit, so it lowers how much you need to put in yourself.
For illustrative purposes only. Not tax, legal, or investment advice. Want to know what those contributions become? The HSA growth calculator projects the balance and the income tax you save.
Maxing out is only half of it. The money is tax-free coming out only if you can prove what it paid for. HSA Monster scans and files every receipt on device, so the balance you build this year is one you can actually claim decades from now.
Get the free appHSA limits at a glance
These are combined limits covering every dollar deposited in the year, from you and your employer together. To contribute at all you need to be covered by a qualifying high-deductible health plan and have no other disqualifying coverage, including a general-purpose FSA or Medicare.
2025 HSA contribution limits
| Coverage | Under 55 | 55 and older |
|---|---|---|
| Self-only | $4,300 | $5,300 |
| Family | $8,550 | $9,550 |
2026 HSA contribution limits
| Coverage | Under 55 | 55 and older |
|---|---|---|
| Self-only | $4,400 | $5,400 |
| Family | $8,750 | $9,750 |
2027 HSA contribution limits
| Coverage | Under 55 | 55 and older |
|---|---|---|
| Self-only | $4,500 | $5,500 |
| Family | $9,000 | $10,000 |
Why contribute through payroll if you can
Contributing through your employer's payroll system rather than transferring money in yourself changes the tax treatment in your favor:
- You avoid FICA too. Payroll contributions come out pre-tax under a Section 125 cafeteria plan, escaping the 7.65% Social Security and Medicare tax on top of income tax. A direct contribution only gets you the income tax deduction.
- The deduction is automatic. The money never appears in your taxable wages, so there's nothing to claim on your return and nothing to forget.
- It spreads the cost. Funding the max across every paycheck is easier on cash flow than finding several thousand dollars in April.
- Direct contributions still work. If payroll isn't an option, you can contribute to your HSA directly and deduct it on your return — you just don't get the FICA savings.
2027 HSA contribution limit FAQ
What is the 2027 HSA contribution limit?
For 2027 the IRS limit is $4,500 for self-only HDHP coverage and $9,000 for family coverage. If you're 55 or older at any point during the year you can add a $1,000 catch-up contribution, bringing the maximum to $5,500 self-only or $10,000 family.
What is the 2026 HSA contribution limit?
For the 2026 tax year the limit is $4,400 for self-only coverage and $8,750 for family coverage, or $5,400 and $9,750 with the catch-up at 55 or older. Use these figures for contributions you're still making for 2026 — you have until the April 2027 filing deadline to finish funding that year.
Does my employer's contribution count toward the HSA limit?
Yes. Everything that goes into the account counts against the same annual limit, no matter who puts it there — your payroll deductions, any employer match or seed contribution, and wellness incentives deposited into the HSA. If your employer contributes $1,000 to a family HSA in 2027, your own maximum drops to $8,000.
How much should I contribute per paycheck to max out my HSA?
Subtract your employer's annual contribution from the IRS limit, then divide by the number of paychecks you receive in the year. Watch the difference between biweekly (26 paychecks) and semi-monthly (24) — they're commonly confused, and using the wrong number leaves you either short of the max or over the limit.
What is the HSA catch-up contribution for 2027?
$1,000, available if you turn 55 or older at any point during the calendar year. Unlike the main limits it's set by statute and isn't indexed to inflation, so it has stayed at $1,000 for years. Catch-up contributions are per person, so a married couple who are both 55+ each need their own HSA to claim both.
What happens if I contribute more than the HSA limit?
Excess contributions are subject to a 6% excise tax for each year they remain in the account. You can avoid the penalty by withdrawing the excess, plus any earnings on it, before your tax filing deadline including extensions. This is why an accurate per-paycheck figure matters, especially if you change coverage or jobs mid-year.
What if I'm only HSA-eligible for part of the year?
Your limit is generally prorated by the number of months you were eligible, counted on the first day of each month. The last-month rule offers an alternative: if you're eligible on December 1, you may contribute the full annual maximum, but you must remain eligible through the end of the following calendar year or the extra amount becomes taxable plus a 10% penalty.
Can married couples both contribute the family maximum?
No. A married couple covered by a family HDHP shares one family limit between them, and they can split it however they like across their accounts. The exception is the catch-up contribution, which is individual — each spouse who is 55 or older can add $1,000, but only into an HSA in their own name.
When is the deadline to contribute for 2027?
You can contribute for the 2027 tax year up until the federal tax filing deadline in April 2028, not just through December 31. Contributions made in that window have to be designated for the prior year with your HSA provider, which is easy to miss if you assume the calendar year is the cutoff.
Read more from the IRS
The figures on this page come from the IRS directly. If you want to check them or read the underlying rules:
- Rev. Proc. 2026-24 — the IRS notice setting the 2027 limits: $4,500 self-only and $9,000 family.
- Rev. Proc. 2025-19 — the IRS notice setting the 2026 limits: $4,400 self-only and $8,750 family, plus the HDHP deductible and out-of-pocket thresholds.
- Rev. Proc. 2024-25 — the same for the 2025 tax year: $4,300 self-only and $8,550 family.
- IRS Publication 969 — the plain-language guide to HSAs: who's eligible, what counts as a high-deductible health plan, the last-month rule, and how excess contributions are taxed.
- IRS Publication 502 — the list of qualified medical expenses you can spend HSA money on tax-free.
- 26 U.S. Code § 223 — the statute itself. Subsection (b)(3) is the $1,000 catch-up for anyone who reaches 55 before the year ends; it's a fixed figure, which is why it doesn't rise with inflation like the limits above.
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