
I've mentioned previously on the blog about a cool book I read many years ago called Make Your Kid a Millionaire. It talked about all the ways you could help your kid to be wealthy—such as giving them a low-cost variable annuity as a young child, funding 529s, and matching their earnings into Roth IRAs. The basic idea is that it doesn't take all that much money to become a millionaire if you can allow compound interest to work on it for six decades.
For example, if you put $10,000 into an account and allow it to compound at 10% for 60 years, you end up with
=FV(10%,60,0,-10000) = $3,044,816
You can play with the numbers all you like (lower rate of return, shorter time period, larger contribution), but the point is that long-term compound interest is really powerful—especially when it can be done in a tax-protected account of some type.
We've adopted a lot of these strategies with our kids, but I learned about a new one recently that I thought was worth sharing.
The Adult Child HSA Family Contribution Loophole
I'm not sure Congress really thought through all the rules when it came up with the idea of a Health Savings Account (HSA) and set up the rules for it. That's why you can do things like save receipts for decades and then pull the money out of the account. That's why you can use it as a stealth IRA by investing in it for decades and then pulling it out after age 65 penalty-free and buying a sailboat with it. Due to the way the various HSA rules are written, there is another cool HSA trick you should know about. Here it is:
“If your adult, non-dependent child is only covered by your High Deductible Health Plan, they (or you) can also make a family contribution into THEIR HSA in addition to yours.”
For 2024, that contribution limit is $8,300 (in 2025, it'll be $8,550). If you have a 19-year-old, they can make a contribution that is completely separate from your HSA contribution. You can put $8,300 into your HSA, and each of your adult kids on that family High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) can make their own $8,300 contribution to their HSAs. Let's say you do this from age 19 to age 25. I don't know future HSA contribution limits, but they'll likely be higher each year as that limit is indexed to inflation. But for simplicity's sake, we'll just assume that $8,300 is contributed each of those seven years, and it is all invested and not spent. What will it add up to by the time the child is 65?
By the time they're 26 and come off your plan, it'll be worth
=FV(10%,7,-8300) = $78,744
Thirty-nine years later, it'll be worth
=FV(10%,39,0,-78744) = $3,239,904
Even if you want to use a lower rate of return or adjust it for inflation somehow (let's use 5%), you still end up with
=FV(5%,7,-8300) = $67,579
=FV(5%,39,0,-67579) = $453,100
It's not a million, but it's probably still more than your kid will ever spend on healthcare in retirement and probably in their whole life.
More information here:
How We Built a 6-Figure HSA (and What We Plan to Do with It)
Beware! An HSA Is Great But . . .
Why Is This Allowed?
In Publication 969 (Health Savings Account and Other Tax-Favored Health Plans), the requirements to contribute to an HSA are outlined:
- You are covered under a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) on the first day of the month;
- You have no other health coverage in addition to the HDHP (with certain exceptions);
- You aren’t enrolled in Medicare; and
- You can’t be claimed on someone else’s tax return as a dependent (regardless of whether you actually are claimed or not).
That's it. So, if your kid is not a dependent for tax purposes AND is only covered by an HDHP, they can contribute to an HSA. They do not have to be on their own plan. That is not on the list of requirements.
The amount of the contribution is determined by the type of plan you are on, NOT the number of people in your family. There are family HDHPs, and there are single HDHPs. If it's just a mom and an adult non-dependent child, that's a single HDHP, and the contribution for each of them will be $4,150 in 2024 ($4,275 in 2025). If it's a mom, a dependent kid, and a non-dependent kid, then it's $8,300 for mom and $8,300 for that non-dependent kid for 2024.
Unlike retirement plans (except, I suppose, a spousal IRA) but similar to 529s, anyone can fund the HSA. The parents can supply the $8,300, meaning the non-dependent child doesn't have to come up with it. It's best to fund an HSA through a payroll deduction because that also saves payroll taxes, but it's certainly still worth doing for most even without that deduction.
Why an HSA Is Not as Good for Your Kid as for You
While there are few downsides to having an HSA, it's not as beneficial for most young people to make HSA contributions (or have them made on their behalf) as it is for you.
For example, I'm in the 37% federal income tax bracket. An $8,300 contribution saves me $8,300 * 37% = $3,071 off my federal income taxes and another $386 off my state income taxes. My adult, non-dependent daughter is in the 0% tax bracket. She saves $8,300 * 0% = $0 on her tax bill by making an HSA contribution. Not quite the same thing. Sure, the account will still enjoy tax-protected growth, but my daughter is also in the 0% qualified dividend and long-term capital gains bracket. Heck, her ordinary dividend and short-term capital gains rate is also 0%. Her taxable account is currently perfectly tax-efficient. That's not much of a benefit either, at least for a while until she starts earning more. Withdrawals for healthcare, of course, come out tax-free, but it's possible for the first few years that those could come out of a simple taxable account at 0% too—no different than the HSA. And if she makes a withdrawal for a non-healthcare reason before age 65, there's a 20% penalty. She could actually come out behind with an HSA compared to a taxable account, at least for a while.
This really only makes sense as a long-term play. Eventually in her life, an HSA will be beneficial, but right now it's nowhere near as beneficial for her as it is for me. Even if I make the contribution into her HSA, it's her deduction, not mine. In fact, that contribution counts toward my $18,000 annual gift tax exemption limit ($19,000 in 2025).
What Are the Dependent Rules?
At this point, you're probably wondering whether your adult child is your dependent for tax purposes. Let's examine the IRS rules on that point. The first question is whether the child is a “qualifying child.” They must meet ALL FIVE of these criteria to be a qualifying child.
- Relationship: The child must be the taxpayer’s biological or adopted son or daughter, foster child, or descendant of any of these people (they may also be a brother, sister, half-sibling, step-sibling, or a descendant of any of these people);
- Age: As of December 31, the child must be younger than age 19 or younger than age 24 if they are a full-time student. They must also be younger than the taxpayer (and the taxpayer’s spouse, if married and filing jointly) who is claiming the dependent. There is no age limit if they are permanently and totally disabled;
- Residency: Generally, the child must have lived with their parents for more than half the year (children who are away at college are considered temporarily absent and will still be considered to have lived with their parents while in school);
- Support: The child may not have provided more than half their own support for the year; and
- Filing Status: The child may not file a joint return unless the purpose is to claim a refund of withheld or estimated paid taxes.
The easiest way to NOT be a qualifying child is No. 4, providing more than half your own support. However make sure to note a very significant exception: if the child is 19 and NOT a full-time student, it doesn't matter if you're providing more than 50% of their support; they're still not a qualifying child.
It's still possible for your child who is not a qualifying child to be a dependent as a “qualifying relative.” The rules for that are two-fold and BOTH must be met:
- Gross Income Test: The child’s gross income must be less than a certain amount ($5,050 for 2024) for the year.
- Support Test: Parents must provide more than half of the child’s total support during the year.
That's not too hard to get around. Frankly, for many WCIers including us, there's no benefit to having a dependent adult child. The child tax credit starts phasing out at a Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) of $200,000 ($400,000 Married Filing Jointly), and it doesn't apply to adults anyway; they have to be under 17. So, get them off the payroll ASAP. It might save them some tax money if no one else can claim them, and it will make them eligible for HSA contributions.
More information here:
When to Give Inheritance Money to Your Kid?
How I Teach My Kids About Money
Will We Be Doing This?
WCIers know that I love tax-protected accounts, especially those that provide significant asset protection (unfortunately HSAs are not protected in Utah bankruptcies). Our kids all have 529s, Roth IRAs, and UTMAs. Should we also try to give them a substantial HSA? There are three factors that keep me from wanting to do this.
The first is that there is zero short-term benefit. The loss of that upfront tax deduction is particularly significant. Of course, the alternative is to just give them the money via their UTMA/taxable account or invest it in our own taxable account, neither of which provides an upfront tax deduction either.
The second is the fear of ruining them with “Economic Outpatient Care,” a term made famous in the classic The Millionaire Next Door where giving adult kids money results in them being less financially successful. Wealthy parents have a continual dilemma of wanting to give “with warm hands” when it will make the most difference in their kids' lives and not wanting to ruin them with Economic Outpatient Care. We have mostly resolved this dilemma with a compromise by giving them a relatively small part of their inheritance in their 20s (a 20s fund composed of a Roth IRA, UTMA, and 529) and withholding the lion's share of their inheritance to ages 40, 50, and 60 (1/3 each). The theory is that they'll be on their own for two decades. But are they really on their own if we keep giving them $8,300 a year and including them on family vacations and such? Not really. So far so good as we have kids who are pretty savvy with money. But we still worry about it.
The last factor to consider is one of fairness. If we're still matching money into Roth IRAs for the teenagers, is it really fair not to do that for the 20-year-old? And if we're still giving the younger kids $18,000 or $36,000 a year into 529s or UTMAs, is it fair not to do the same for the oldest? When do you cut them off?
I'm leaning toward funding HSAs for our young adult children and including that as part of their early inheritance/20s fund. It's on the table for discussion at our next monthly budget meeting, and we'll see what Katie says. By the time this post runs, we'll probably have made a decision and, I suspect, a contribution.
What do you think? Will you be funding an HSA for your adult, non-dependent children? Why or why not?
Great post and something I was completely unaware of. Thanks.
One comment, using the Big Mac Inflation equivalent, over the past 39 years we have an approximately 379% increase in prices. So although that $450,000 after 39 years of compounding may seem like a big number, it could be similar to the equivalent of $118,000 today which is easily spendable with one major healthy issue. Either way its a great idea and something I will be utilizing when my kids are a little older.
Yes, inflation would have an effect. Always depressing to calculate after inflation numbers isn’t it?
$118K is fairly hard to spend if you have insurance. My max OOP this year is $8,300. That’s what I spent despite consuming a six figure amount of expenses.
Question about dependent child, realize I will need to seek tax advice but just to get me started.
Say my 20 year old child is in college in calendar year 2026. He has a full time job plus a scholarship which pays 2/3 of his college expenses. He does not live at home during the summer because he is working and his job pays for his summer living expenses.
Is this a case where he might not be dependent?
Doesn’t sound dependent to me.
Did you decide the dollar value of the 20s fund (Roth IRA, UTMA, and 529) yet? Do you plan on giving money for a down payment or wedding as well?
It’s not a set amount. Life isn’t fair.
A “down payment” on a wedding is such a foreign concept for my family. This has been a discussion we’ve been having this year and it’s likely we’ll pay for weddings separately.
So what was the outcome of the monthly budget meeting? Did you guys decide to start funding HSAs for your young adult children?
Yes, we did. We funded the first one last month. $8300. Another $8,550 goes in next month. I explained to the oldest that this is also part of her “20s fund”.
This is a fantastic loophole, but the qualifications are confusing as hell–qualifying, non-qualifying, dependent, etc. Half of the tests are positives with nested negatives, the others negatives with nested positives. Perhaps the best version of me could work through this, but with a head cold I’m utterly confused as to what it takes to actually have a 19 yo be eligible for an $8K HSA contribution when they are an only child on my family (me, spouse, child) HDHP. But perhaps the confusion is best left so that it remains an underutilized and open loophole instead of a highly used and quickly closed one!
I totally agree, it’s madness.
It begs for a flowchart. I have used these ones to help clients navigate the insanity:
https://www.kayser.cpa/attachments/forms/2024-Dependency-Flow-Chart.pdf
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1eNnyjK1w5e1Iu_wuq7PuQCYO7FP12JeK/view
https://imgur.com/WxsOGbS
If anyone finds a better one, please share! This is such a mess to navigate but well worth it to figure out.
Benefits of tax independence for adult kids include:
A separate family HSA contribution for them as this article points out.
No more worries about the Kiddie Tax.
Access to the American Opportunity Tax Credit.
Can benefit from IRC Section 127 Education Assistance Plan for part of undergrad and all of grad school (this is a hack for parents who own a business and employ their kids).
Get your kids to tax independence!!
What do i need to to get them independent. They can earn money from a job but bulk of their support in school is 529 distributions. Is this considered parental support or is it non parental support and hence gives them >50% non parental support?
Not sure anyone has specified that, but I treat 529s as kids’ money. I guess if the IRS started talking differently I’d just make them the 529 owner and beneficiary. Then it’s definitely non parental.
Basically they just have to be independent of you (provide 50%+ of their own support) but still on your family HDHP.
Interesting post and option to save additional money in a tax advantaged account for an adult child.
An adult child, who is active duty military (military academy) following high school graduation and on parents healthcare plan, would not be eligible since they have healthcare available to them through Tricare. Seem correct?
Yes.
Just to clarify. I have a 18 y/o who is currently a high school senior and is going to college next year, which will be funded by 529). I provide more than half his support, so he meets the qualifying standards for dependence. Am I legally required to claim him as a tax dependent, or is this optional?
If he’s a dependent, he’s a dependent and not eligible for this cool loophole. That test is the 50%+ test. It’s not just whether you want to claim him or not.
The only real question is whether that 529 is considered his or not. If you can justify it as his (I mean, you could easily make him the owner) and more than 50% is coming from that, an argument could be made that he isn’t your dependent, no?
Can my adult child 23 use my HSA account to pay her medical bills? She is not claimed on my taxes in 2024 and wont be for 2025. She lives in her own place and I carry her on my High Deductible Health Plan. Can she use the HSA debit card to pay her medical bills?
No. She has to be the dependent of the account owner and she no longer is. She can start her own HSA and make a family contribution to it though. You can give her the money to do that if you want.
I understand I will have to consult a financial advisor, but just to make sure I understand: 1) my 22yr old that lives with us but works full-time and is no longer in college is not considered a dependent and cannot use my HSA account to pay for healthcare expenses even though they are under my HDHP. 2) My 20 yr old who is completely dependent on us and just finished school in November, is still considered a tax dependent for 2024? I can still use my HSA funds for their healthcare costs? 3) My 17 yr old senior in HS is still considered a tax dependent but not eligible for the child tax credit anymore? They are working – is there an annual income amount where they should do their own taxes? Is there annual income cap where they don’t have to pay taxes? 4) If I help my oldest with their own HSA account, everything is post-tax. How would I benefit from funding their account?
1. Yes
2. yes
3. Yes. When they’re required to file, they must file. Yes, there is a floor above which you must file. It varies by source of income, earned income is higher.
4. HSA contributions aren’t post tax. They may not owe any taxes though. You don’t benefit from funding it, they do. It’s instantly their money that you gifted to them.