Can I withdraw from HSA when I retire?

Asked by: Osborne Kuhn  |  Last update: January 24, 2024
Score: 4.2/5 (72 votes)

Once you turn 65, you can also choose to treat your HSA like a retirement account! If you withdraw money from your HSA for something other than qualified medical expenses before you turn 65, you have to pay income tax plus a 20% penalty. But after you turn 65, that 20% penalty no longer applies, so withdraw away!

Can you cash out your HSA when you retire?

Yes, in addition to the benefit of tax free withdrawals (see our answer to the question “401(k) vs HSA” above, HSAs also have a lot of added flexibility. Money in an IRA is generally penalized if withdrawn before age 59 1/2. HSA money can be used before retirement for qualified medical expenses.

What happens to my HSA when I retire?

One benefit of the HSA is that after you turn age 65, you can withdraw money from your HSA for any reason without incurring a tax penalty. You are, however, subject to normal income tax on any non-qualified withdrawals.

When can I withdraw HSA funds without penalty?

After you reach age 65 or if you become disabled, you can withdraw HSA funds without penalty, but the amounts withdrawn will be taxable as ordinary income if not used for qualified medical expenses. Can I withdraw the funds from my HSA at any time?

How do I transfer money from my HSA to my bank account?

Online Transfer – On HSA Bank's Member Website, you can transfer funds from your HSA to an external bank account, such as a personal checking or savings account. There is a daily transfer limit of $2,500 to safeguard against fraudulent activity.

Health Savings Account (HSA) Withdrawal After Age 65 in Retirement - Tax Free!

19 related questions found

How do you get money out of an HSA account?

You can submit a withdrawal request form to receive funds (cash) from your HSA. If the cash is used to pay for ineligible purchases, it must be reported when you're filing your taxes. Once it's reported, it's subject to an income tax and treated as though it had never been in your tax-free HSA.

Can I transfer my HSA to a savings account?

You can rollover HSA funds once within a 12 month period. Even if you no longer contribute monthly funds to an HSA, you can still transfer your funds to a new account. That means whether you previously had a HDHP, are now on Medicaid, or something else entirely, you're still able to transfer and use your HSA funds.

How much are you taxed on HSA withdrawals?

IRS penalty and taxable income

Prior to age 65, if you use your money for non-qualified expenses, the IRS imposes a hefty HSA withdrawal penalty of 20 percent on the amount withdrawn. For example, if you spend $500 on non-qualified expenses, your penalty will be $100.

Why can't I withdraw money from my HSA account?

If you need to make a withdrawal from your HSA for something other than a qualified medical expense, there's a penalty to consider. Any HSA withdrawal you make without a qualified medical expense will be subject to income taxes. In addition to the income tax, you'll have to pay an additional 20% tax on the withdrawal.

Do I have to report HSA withdrawals on my tax return?

If you (or your spouse, if filing jointly) received HSA distributions in 2022, you must file Form 8889 with Form 1040, Form 1040-SR, or Form 1040-NR, even if you have no taxable income or any other reason for filing Form 1040, Form 1040-SR, or Form 1040-NR.

What happens to an HSA at age 65?

At age 65, you can take penalty-free distributions from the HSA for any reason. However, in order to be both tax-free and penalty-free the distribution must be for a qualified medical expense. Withdrawals made for other purposes will be subject to ordinary income taxes.

Can I use my HSA to pay for Medicare premiums?

The good news: You can keep using your HSA funds

You can even use your HSA to pay for some Medicare expenses including your Medicare Part B, Part D and Medicare Advantage plan premiums, deductibles, copays and coinsurance. Note: HSA funds cannot be used to pay for Medigap premiums.

Can you roll HSA into IRA?

HSA funds can't be rolled over into an IRA account. There's also no reason to do so, because you preserve your right to use the funds tax-free for medical costs at any time with an HSA.

What happens to my HSA if I retire before 65?

However, if you withdraw money before age 65 and spend it on non-healthcare expenses, you are subject to both income taxes and an additional tax penalty.

What is the average HSA balance?

The average HSA balance rose from $2,645 at the beginning of 2021 to $3,902 by the end of the year, the Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit independent research organization found in its analysis of its HSA database, which had information on 13.1 million HSAs in 2021.

Can you contribute to HSA while on Social Security?

If you have applied for or are receiving Social Security benefits, which automatically entitle you to Part A, you cannot continue to contribute to your HSA.

Does IRS audit HSA withdrawals?

However, total withdrawals from your HSA are reported to the IRS on Form 1099-SA. You are responsible for reporting qualified and non-qualified withdrawals when completing your taxes. You are also responsible for saving all receipts as verification of expenses in the case of an IRS audit.

Why am I being taxed on HSA distributions?

If you're under 65 and use the funds for other purposes, that money becomes taxable income, and you could face an additional 20% tax on the nonmedical use of HSA money. Once you turn 65, you can use HSA money for anything, but you'll owe tax on withdrawals that aren't used to pay medical expenses.

What can I use my HSA card on?

You can use HSA funds to pay for deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and other qualified medical expenses. Withdrawals to pay eligible medical expenses are tax-free. Unspent HSA funds roll over from year to year, allowing you to build tax-free savings to pay for medical care later.

Can I move my HSA to 401k?

You cannot roll over HSA funds into a 401(k). You also cannot roll over 401(k) money into an HSA.

Which is better Roth IRA or HSA?

If you do have to choose between an HSA or a Roth IRA, then HSAs potentially have more advantages. HSAs have a triple-tax advantage. The contributions are tax-deductible, the growth is tax-free and withdrawals are tax-free for qualified medical expenses.

Does an HSA convert to an IRA at 65?

Once you're 65, your HSA is treated like a traditional IRA if you withdraw money for non-medical expenses. A traditional IRA is a retirement account in which the contributions and gains are tax-free, but withdrawals are subject to income tax.

What is the 6 month rule for Medicare and HSA?

This is because when you enroll in Medicare Part A, you receive up to six months of retroactive coverage, not going back farther than your initial month of eligibility. If you do not stop HSA contributions at least six months before Medicare enrollment, you may incur a tax penalty.

How much can I contribute to my HSA in the year I turn 65?

Your maximum contribution is determined by adjusting the HSA maximum in accordance with how many months of the year that you were eligible. For example, if you turn 65 in April, you were eligible for the first three months of the year. You can then contribute 3/12 of the HSA annual contribution maximum.

What disqualifies you from having an HSA?

If you enroll in Social Security you will be automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A, which will disqualify you from contributing to an HSA. You can delay enrollment in Medicare Part A only if you delay taking Social Security. You can delay taking Social Security up until age 70 and one half years old.