Setting up a Section 125 POP with the HSA module allows business owners to save matching Social Security (FICA), as well as federal unemployment taxes (FUTA) and generally, state unemployment taxes, on the money employees contribute to their premiums as well as the HSA savings component. Employer tax savings can average 7 to 10 percent. In California and several other states the Section 125 payroll deductions reduce the threshold on which workers compensation premiums are levied for even more savings to the employer. For example, if an employee pre-taxes $5,250 into the HSA savings account, the employer will save approximately $500 in matching FICA & FUTA taxes. (These numbers are examples. A tax advisor should be consulted for information on individual state regulations.)

Employees realize savings in their FICA, federal, and, in most cases state income taxes. This is roughly a 30% tax savings. An employee who pre-taxes his HSA savings component through the POP, funds his account tax free or pretax instead of funding it with after tax dollars outside the group and then writing it off his taxes at the end of the year. It's a "save-as-you-go" pretax HSA payment plan. An employee who saves the HSA maximum $5,250 through the Section 125 POP reduces his or her payroll taxes by approximately $1,575. (Depending on the employee's tax bracket the savings could be more or less).

Section 125 application

Section 125 plans are offered through HSA Clearing Corp and is not a product of Benchmark Bank.