How do I avoid taxes on my HSA withdrawals?

Asked by: Dr. Maegan Halvorson  |  Last update: November 15, 2023
Score: 4.5/5 (41 votes)

If the HSA dollars are spent on eligible expenses, such as Medicare premiums or other healthcare needs, then those withdrawals are not subject to taxes (same as pre-retirement).

Why am I being taxed on my HSA distributions?

HSA distributions

The IRS requires you to prepare Form 8889 and attach it to your tax return when you take a distribution from an HSA. However, if your 1099-SA indicates you did not use the distribution for qualified medical expenses, you will pay income tax on the portion you used for nonqualified expenses.

What is the tax rate on HSA withdrawal after 65?

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!

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After you reach age 65 or if you become disabled, you can withdraw HSA funds without penalty, but the amounts withdrawn will be taxable as ordinary income if not used for qualified medical expenses.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

Do you pay Social Security tax on HSA withdrawals?

Distributions from an HSA that are used to pay qualified medical expenses aren't taxed.

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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.

Do you pay taxes on HSA when you retire?

Withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free. This is a key way in which an HSA is superior to a traditional 401(k) or IRA as a retirement vehicle. Once you begin to withdraw funds from those plans, you pay income tax on that money regardless of how the funds are used.

At what age can I withdraw from my HSA without penalty?

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 you withdraw from HSA for non medical expenses after age 65?

4. Pay for other expenses Once you hit 65, you can use your HSA to pay for any nonqualified medical expenses (including buying a boat, for example), but you don't get to take full advantage of the tax savings as you will be required to pay state and federal taxes on those distributions.

Can I transfer money from HSA to bank account?

Online Transfers – On HSA Bank's member website, you can reimburse yourself for out-of-pocket expenses by making a one-time or reoccurring online transfer from your HSA to your personal checking or savings account.

Which states tax HSA distributions?

State income taxes are also waived on HSA contributions in almost all states, with the exception of California, New Jersey, and Alabama. Depending on your state income tax rate, this advantage could save you up to an additional 8% on taxes in states with a state income tax.

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.

What happens when an HSA holder who is 65 years old decides to use the money in the account?

Once you are 65, you can withdraw funds for any reason without paying a penalty, but they will be subject to ordinary income tax. For any reason, but if you are under age 65 and use your HSA funds for nonqualified expenses, you will need to pay taxes on the money you withdraw, as well as an additional 20% penalty.

Does the IRS monitor HSA accounts?

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.

What is the penalty for taxable HSA distribution?

If you take a non-qualified distribution, you are subject to ordinary income tax on the distribution and a 20% penalty tax. The penalty may not apply: if you are age 65 or older, if you are disabled or.

Can HSA be used for dental?

You can also use HSAs to help pay for dental care. While dental insurance can help cover costs, an HSA can also help cover any out-of-pocket expenses resulting from dental care and procedures.

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.

What happens to unused HSA funds after death?

ANSWER: Upon the death of an HSA account holder, any amounts remaining in the HSA transfer to the beneficiary named in the HSA beneficiary designation form. (If a beneficiary is not named, the funds transfer according to the terms of the HSA trust or custodial account agreement.)

How do I use my HSA as a retirement account?

Using an HSA as an additional retirement plan

Once you reach age 65, money held in an HSA can be withdrawn and used for any reason, the only catch being that you'll pay ordinary income taxes on withdrawals not used for qualified medical expenses.

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.

What happens if you don't report HSA?

You must self-report any non-qualifying purchases on the Health Savings Account screen. Not claiming the non-qualifying expenses may lead to an audit, and you'll be subject to penalties and fines.

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.

Is Medicare going up in 2023?

For 2023, the Part A deductible will be $1,600 per stay, an increase of $44 from 2022. For those people who have not worked long enough to qualify for premium-free Part A, the monthly premium will also rise. The full Part A premium will be $506 a month in 2023, a $7 increase.

Can I pay my spouses Medicare premiums from my HSA?

As long as you – the HSA account owner – are age 65+, you can reimburse your spouse's Medicare premiums income tax-free. If you and your spouse have HSAs, it often makes sense to deplete funds from one HSA to avoid paying monthly administration or maintenance fees on two accounts.

Can my spouse contribute to an HSA if I am on Medicare?

Yes, being eligible to contribute to the HSA is determined by the status of the HSA account holder not the dependents of the account holder. Your spouse being on Medicare does not disqualify you from continuing contributions to the HSA up to the family limit, even if they are also covered by the HDHP.