What happens if I buy something with HSA card?

Asked by: Morton Gutmann DDS  |  Last update: January 6, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (4 votes)

What happens if I spend my HSA money on something other than a qualified medical expense? If you use your HSA money on something other than qualified medical expenses before retirement, your withdrawal will be subject to taxes, and it may be subject to a 20% penalty.

What happens if I accidentally use my HSA card for non-medical expenses?

Nothing happens immediately if you accidentally use your HSA card for non-medical expenses. However, you should be aware that all withdrawals from your HSA for non-medical expenses are taxable as income plus a 20% penalty. After age 65, the 20% penalty goes away but income tax still applies.

Can I get in trouble for using HSA money?

When health savings accounts aren't used for their intended purposes, account holders are often assessed penalties. When an account holder under the age of 65 uses their health savings account's funds for non-medical expenses, they have to pay income tax on the money spent plus a 20-percent penalty.

What happens if you use HSA for non-qualified expenses?

The federal penalty for using HSA funds for non-qualified expenses is 20 percent if you are under age 65, plus the loss of tax-free treatment for the distribution. Keep itemized receipts and copies of prescriptions for over-the-counter drugs in case of an IRS audit.

What triggers an HSA audit?

Does HSA spending trigger an audit? The IRS doesn't monitor how you spend your HSA funds throughout the year, but that doesn't mean they won't ask for proof that your expenses were eligible. And if your tax return contains unrelated IRS audit red flags, your risk for an HSA audit could increase.

What Can the HSA Debit Card Buy? (What Can You Purchase with HSA Funds?)

33 related questions found

How does IRS know what you spend HSA on?

Verification of expenses is not required for HSAs. 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.

How do they know what you buy with a HSA card?

Because HSA administrators don't track the purchases employees make with their HSA, employees should make it a habit to save receipts for all HSA-eligible goods and services, so they can easily reimburse themselves when they are ready, or when they need the money.

What if I accidentally bought food on my HSA?

Yes, you read that correctly—even if you accidentally paid for a burger with your HSA debit card, you will have to report it on your annual income tax return and pay taxes on it. If you're under 65 and spend the money on unqualified purchases, you must also pay a 20% penalty on top of the income tax.

Can HSA pay for gym membership?

Gym memberships. While some companies and private insurers may offer discounts on gym memberships, you generally can't use your FSA or HSA account to pay for gym or health club memberships. An exception to that rule would be if your doctor deems fitness medically necessary for your recovery or treatment.

What is the penalty for using HSA?

The HSA money you take out will be added back to your gross income. Meaning you'll owe taxes. Let's say your tax rate is 20% and you withdraw $1,000 for that new TV - you'll also have to pay back $200 in taxes! On top of the taxes above, there's ANOTHER 20% penalty for non-qualified withdrawals.

Can I use my HSA card to buy groceries?

No, you can't use your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) for straight food purchases like meat, produce and dairy. But you can use them for some nutrition-related products and services. To review, tax-advantaged accounts have regulatory restrictions on eligible products and services.

What happens if I use my HSA card for other things?

Unfortunately, you can't just let mistakes like this slide. You can be charged a 20% penalty if you use your HSA funds to pay for a non-qualified medical expense, which would have been $70 in my case (not to mention traditional income taxes would apply, too).

Why does my HSA lower my tax refund?

When you contribute money to an HSA, it decreases your adjusted gross income (AGI) which determines your taxable income. Since the U.S. runs on a tax rate system based on your income, the lower your AGI, the lower your tax bill.

What happens if you spend HSA money wrong?

If you've mistakenly used HSA funds for nonqualified expenses, you must repay the distribution amount back into your HSA by the tax filing deadline for the year in which the distribution occurred. By reimbursing your HSA, you can avoid the income tax and the 20% penalty on nonqualified distributions.

Is it illegal to use HSA money for anything?

You generally can't use HSA funds to pay premiums. Once you turn 65, you can use the money in your HSA for anything you want. If you don't use it for qualified medical expenses, it counts as income when you file your taxes.

Why is my HSA card getting declined?

Reasons for Declined HSA/FSA Transactions

There are several reasons why your client's HSA/FSA cards are declined, including: Insufficient funds. Funds have expired or do not roll over. Card has not been activated / set up by the client for utilization.

Can I buy an Apple Watch with HSA?

Even though Fitbits and Apple Watches measure important health data, they currently do not qualify for HSA reimbursement, as they are considered for general health use and not intended to treat or manage a specific medical condition.

Can I use HSA for vitamins?

In general, vitamins are not considered an HSA eligible expense unless they are prescribed by a doctor for a specific medical condition. For example, if your doctor prescribes prenatal vitamins during pregnancy or recommends vitamin D supplements to treat a deficiency, those could be eligible expenses under your HSA.

What are the most common mistakes for HSA?

Common HSA mistakes and how to avoid them
  • Using an HSA when you're not eligible. ...
  • Paying for ineligible expenses. ...
  • Contributing too much to your account. ...
  • Paying someone else's medical bills. ...
  • Using all of your funds. ...
  • Using both an HSA and FSA. ...
  • Stay ahead of mistakes with HSA Store.

Do they check HSA for receipts?

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.

Can I buy deodorant with HSA?

Deodorant reimbursement is not eligible with a flexible spending account (FSA), health savings account (HSA), health reimbursement arrangement (HRA), limited-purpose flexible spending account (LPFSA) or a dependent care flexible spending account (DCFSA).

What happens if you buy something with HSA?

When you use it to pay for an expense, the money will be withdrawn directly from your HSA. However, you should always save all your receipts in one organized place (like the HSA Store Expense Dashboard) to have a record of how you've used your HSA funds — in case the IRS ever audits you.

Do you get audited for HSA?

It is important to keep the receipts to prove that the payment was indeed for a qualified medical expense in case of an audit. HSA spending may be subject to IRS audit. Even if HSA funds were used for qualified medical expenses, the IRS may ask for proof that the funds were spent correctly.

Can you buy tampons with HSA?

Yes! Thanks to the CARES Act, tampons are now considered a “medical expense.” That means you can use pre-tax income to pay for them through your HSA. More questions about tampons? Learn the truth behind some of the most common tampon myths.