Comments on: how can i tell if my health insurance benefits are pre taxed?

By: bostonianinmo

bostonianinmo — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:12:41 +0000

Ask your employer. They will tell you. Actually they should provide a form for you to sign every year verifying your benefit selections and how you want to have your healthcare premiums treated.

Nearly all healthcare insurance through a job are part of a Section 125 plan and are deducted pre-tax. You generally have the option to pay them with tax paid dollars but I’m at a loss to explain how that could be beneficial to anyone.

By: STEVEN F

STEVEN F — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:12:41 +0000

If you have to ask your employer, your pay statements are NOT well designed. MY pay statement has 3 sections under deductions: Pre-Tax Deductions, Taxes, and Other deductions. Which section is your insurance deduction under? If that doesn’t help, you will have to ask your employer. You mentioned self-employment. If you are self employed and need to ask, you NEED an accountant DESPERATELY.

By: v b

v b — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:12:41 +0000

OKay, it’s nice that you read a publication somewhere (it made for a funny looking question since you quoted from the pub).

When you get your W-2, look at box 14, many companies list the amount of health care benefits there. Also Compare the amount in box 2 (your wages for social security purposes) and the amount shown as ytd wages on your last paycheck stub. If your health care was pre-tax, the amount in box 2 will be LESS than the YTD wages on the paycheck.

Boston–Pre-tax health care lowers your social security earnings. This *will* ultimately reduce the monthly payment one receives from SSA. It *may* also affect how pension payments are paid out. I happen to be a devout saver–anything I don’t pay as taxes now, I save. My savings should be enough to compensate for any loss in benefits.

The quick estimator at the SSA web site (plugging in $40,000 and 41,500 as the annual income with pre and post tax dollars) shows about a $30 difference in monthly benefits.
At the 15% tax bracket, someone would pay $20/month more in tax now.

If FERS uses the $40,000 number for retirement (assuming 20 years government service) , that would be another $25 a month as well.