can I have my employer make my HSA contributions from my paycheck?

[N]

My employer does not offer any health plans, so we got our own, on the exchange. We have an HSA and a HDHP plan.

Even if the employer doesnt sponsor the plan, is it possible for them to send my contribution out of my paycheck, so it would be pretax? I could provide the account and routing numbers. I am not very familiar with how doing payroll works. The boss does it himself.

Is it legal? Is it a lot of extra work? Would there be any costs associated? They already do this for the IRA retirement account, but they also contribute to that (3% match). But they are not set up for direct deposit, so that might be a factor.

Anyone know? Thank you!

[Trudie]

I run my company's payroll and the key in doing the HSA contribution is that the bank can be set up for direct deposit.  If this cannot be done, then I think you're out of luck.

[Absolute2021]

At my work, contributing to the HSA is through a process in the benefit elections so that it's pre-tax. Just setting up a direct deposit would likely be after-tax.

[twbird18]

For whatever reason, my HSA contribution doesn't go straight to my HSA, but my company does make a pre-tax deduction & deposit it as a separate payment into my bank account with my check & then I make the auto payment from my account to the HSA. An extra step, but I'm ok with that. At the very least you should be able to set up a pre-tax allotment and then make your own deposit.

[MoseyingAlong]

Whether your HSA contribution is run thru payroll or not, it will be "pre-tax" when you complete your income tax return. If it's not thru payroll, you just make an adjustment to income to avoid paying income tax on your contribution.
The real advantage to having it run thru payroll is that you avoid Social Security and Medicare taxes that way as well as income tax.

[teen persuasion]

Whether your HSA contribution is run thru payroll or not, it will be "pre-tax" when you complete your income tax return. If it's not thru payroll, you just make an adjustment to income to avoid paying income tax on your contribution.
The real advantage to having it run thru payroll is that you avoid Social Security and Medicare taxes that way as well as income tax.

More advantages to running thru payroll: not included in available income on FAFSA (line 25 deductions are added back on the FAFSA, but cafeteria plan deductions are not), and reduces both line 7 income and AGI for EITC.