HSA Family contribution limits 2025 - can we add both catch-up amounts?

You can actually add both catch-up contributions! The family contribution limit of $9,750 applies to the base contribution, and then each spouse who is 55 or older can add their own $1,000 catch-up contribution. However, there's a little catch - each catch-up contribution must go into the HSA account of the person who is eligible for it. So if both you and your wife are over 55, your maximum family contribution would indeed be $11,750 total ($9,750 base + $1,000 catch-up for you + $1,000 catch-up for your wife). But your wife's catch-up contribution must go into an HSA in her name, not into your HSA. Each spouse needs their own HSA for their respective catch-up contributions, even though you have family HDHP coverage.

I ran into this exact issue last year! I discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) after struggling with the same HSA contribution questions. My wife and I are both over 55 too, and I was confused about how to handle the catch-up contributions with our family HSA. The tool analyzed our situation and confirmed that yes, both spouses can make catch-up contributions, but each catch-up must go into a separate HSA account owned by that person. It saved me from making the mistake of putting both catch-ups into my HSA, which would have caused excess contribution issues. The tool even generated a personalized report explaining the proper way to allocate our contributions across our accounts.

I was skeptical about using an AI tool for tax advice, but I decided to try taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here. I'm glad I did! My husband and I were in the same boat - both over 55 with family coverage, and I had wrongly assumed we could just put all $11,750 into our single family HSA account. The tool immediately flagged this as an issue and explained that while we're eligible for the full $11,750 ($9,750 base + two $1,000 catch-ups), we needed separate accounts for each catch-up contribution. It even helped me understand the process for opening a second HSA account and how to direct my employer to split the contributions correctly. Saved me from a headache with the IRS later!

If you're having trouble getting clear answers about HSA contribution limits from the IRS, I'd recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I spent weeks trying to get through to the IRS to confirm how catch-up contributions work for married couples, but kept hitting endless hold times and disconnections. I finally tried Claimyr after seeing their demo (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c), and they got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes. The agent confirmed everything about the family HSA limits and catch-up contributions, including the requirement for separate accounts for each spouse's catch-up contribution. They even documented this information in my account so I have it for reference if there are ever questions about my contributions.

I was extremely skeptical about Claimyr but decided to give it a shot after waiting on hold with the IRS for 3+ hours trying to get clarification about HSA catch-up contributions. I couldn't believe it, but I got a call back and was connected to an actual IRS representative in about 20 minutes! The agent confirmed that for married couples with family coverage where both spouses are over 55, each spouse can make their own $1,000 catch-up contribution, but each catch-up must go into that person's own HSA account. The base family contribution can be split however we want, but the catch-ups need separate accounts. This saved me from making an expensive mistake on our taxes. I've been telling everyone about this service since then.

Let me add a bit of clarification to what others have said. The reason each catch-up contribution needs its own HSA account is because the catch-up is legally tied to the individual, not the coverage type. HSAs are always individually owned accounts, never joint accounts (unlike checking or savings accounts). Even if you have family HDHP coverage, the actual HSA itself is always in one person's name only. So your total maximum is indeed $11,750 for 2025 ($9,750 family base + two $1,000 catch-ups), but you'll need two separate HSA accounts to properly make those contributions.

A little warning from someone who messed this up before - make absolutely sure your total family contributions don't exceed the correct limit! I incorrectly thought my wife and I could each contribute the family maximum to our separate HSAs, and ended up with an excess contribution. The IRS charged me a 6% excise tax on the excess amount for each year it remained in the account. Had to file Form 5329 and everything. What a nightmare! To recap what others have said: - Family limit for 2025: $9,750 - Catch-up contribution if 55+: $1,000 per eligible person - Each catch-up must go to separate HSA owned by that person - Total max for married couple both 55+: $11,750

Great question! I went through this exact same confusion last year. Yes, you can absolutely add both catch-up contributions for a total of $11,750 since you're both over 55. However, there's one critical detail that trips up a lot of people (including me initially): your wife will need her own separate HSA account for her $1,000 catch-up contribution. Here's how it breaks down: - Base family contribution: $9,750 (can go into either HSA or split between them) - Your catch-up: $1,000 (must go into your HSA) - Wife's catch-up: $1,000 (must go into an HSA in her name) The catch-up contributions are tied to the individual, not the family plan. So even though you have family coverage, each person's catch-up must go into their own HSA account. If your current HSA is only in your name, you'll need to open a second HSA for your wife to receive her catch-up contribution. This is actually a pretty common misconception, so don't feel bad about being confused! The important thing is getting it right before you make the contributions to avoid any excess contribution penalties.