How long should you keep your HSA receipts?

Asked by: Gina Sauer  |  Last update: November 20, 2023
Score: 4.3/5 (11 votes)

Hold onto every receipt and statement
Cheekiness aside, keep every single receipt and HSA statement like it's going out of style. You want to hold onto all those HSA records as long as your tax return is considered "open," which is about three years after you file, or as long as you have your HSA account.

Do I need to keep HSA receipts?

Always save your receipts and supporting documentation for your records. While Benefit Resource will not ask you to provide a receipt for an HSA expense, you are responsible for maintaining documentation of account use in the event that you are ever audited by the IRS.

How old can HSA receipts be?

Receipts should be kept for as long as your tax return is open and subject to an audit; usually three years. Or as long as your HSA is open. Whichever is longer.

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.

How do I store my HSA receipts?

But for HSA receipts, you may wind up reimbursing yourself 20, 30, or 40 years from now. When that's the case, you should also plan to keep your receipts. For physical receipts, you can scan them into your computer or use a new folder for each year's receipts to keep them somewhere safe.

What is the Best Way to Keep Track of HSA Expenses?

20 related questions found

Do I keep HSA forever?

Myth #2: If I don't spend all my funds this year, I lose it. Reality: HSA funds never expire. When it comes to the HSA, there's no use-it-or-lose-it rule. Unlike Flexible Spending Account (FSA) funds, you keep your HSA dollars forever, even if you change employers, health plans, or retire.

What happens to leftover HSA money?

No. HSA money is yours to keep. Unlike a flexible spending account (FSA), unused money in your HSA isn't forfeited at the end of the year; it continues to grow, tax-deferred.

What can you do with HSA receipts?

Keep records of all HSA documentation for as long as your income tax return is considered “open” (subject to an audit), or as long as you maintain the account, whichever is longer.

How do I avoid taxes with HSA?

Your contributions may be 100 percent tax-deductible, meaning contributions can be deducted from your gross income. All interest earned in your HSA is 100 percent tax-deferred, meaning the funds grow without being subject to taxes unless they are used for non-eligible medical expenses.

Can you use your HSA to pay rent?

If necessary, you can withdraw money from your HSA for non-medical things, but Hogan doesn't recommend it. If you use your HSA to pay rent or get a new dye job, you will end up being taxed.

Can I use HSA to pay insurance premiums?

Generally, HSAs cannot be used to pay private health insurance premiums, but there are 2 exceptions: paying for health care coverage purchased through an employer-sponsored plan under COBRA, and paying premiums while receiving unemployment compensation.

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.

What is HSA receipt loophole?

Again, you don't have to reimburse yourself for those medical expenses in the same year, or the same plan year that you incur those medical expenses. If you incur that medical expense, you can just write it down. And then you can reimburse yourself from the HSA at a later date.

What happens if you don't include HSA on taxes?

In addition to the 20 percent penalty, the IRS will also consider any HSA funds spent on non-qualified expenses as taxable income. This means they must be included as part of your total income when filing your taxes, which could increase the amount you owe or reduce any refund to which you may be entitled.

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.

Is it worth it to claim HSA on taxes?

HSA Tax-Deductible Contributions

When you're trying to lower your tax bill, it's in your best interest to claim every deduction possible. Deductions reduce your taxable income, which can potentially push you into a lower tax bracket. With an HSA, you're allowed to write-off the money you contribute for the year.

Do you have to report HSA to IRS?

You must file Form 8889 if any of the following applies. You (or someone on your behalf, including your employer) made contributions for 2022 to your HSA. You received HSA distributions in 2022. You must include certain amounts in income because you failed to be an eligible individual during the testing period.

Do you ever pay taxes on HSA money?

Money goes into and comes out of an HSA tax-free (as long as funds are used to pay for qualified medical expenses). Earnings to an HSA from interest and investments are tax-free. Distributions from an HSA to pay for qualified medical expenses are tax-free.

Can I use my HSA money for other things?

If you have money in your HSA when you turn 65, you can spend it on anything you want — but if you aren't spending it for a qualified medical expense it will be taxed as income at your then current tax rate. You can use HSA funds to pay for deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, and other qualified medical expenses.

Can I use my HSA for anything after age 65?

At age 65, you can use your HSA to pay for Medicare parts A, B, D and Medicare HMO premiums tax-free and penalty-free. You cannot use your HSA to pay for Medigap insurance premiums.

What happens to my HSA after I leave my job?

Unlike a Flexible Spending Account, you can keep your Health Savings Account (HSA) when you leave your job. Even if you opened your HSA in association with a high deductible health plan (HDHP) you got from your job, the HSA itself is yours to keep.

Can HSA money be rolled over if not used?

Unlike most flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), unused funds in an HSA automatically carry over to the next year. Even if your employer provided the account and made contributions, the account belongs to you, so you can roll over any remaining funds every year.

Can you use HSA for gym membership?

Physical therapy is an approved medical expense. Can I use my HSA for a gym membership? Typically no. Unless you have a letter from your doctor stating that the membership is necessary to treat an injury or underlying health condition, such as obesity, a gym membership isn't a qualifying medical expense.

Can you move HSA money to a 401k?

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

Can you transfer an HSA to an IRA?

No, there's no way to convert an HSA to an IRA. And there's really no advantage to doing it, anyways. Both IRAs and HSAs allow you to deposit money into them before taxes. Your total yearly contributions to either type of account are deducted from your income before the taxable amount is computed.