What happens if you don't provide FSA receipts?

Asked by: Prof. Emerson Will PhD  |  Last update: April 28, 2025
Score: 4.1/5 (57 votes)

What happens if I cannot provide a receipt? Generally, your employer or benefits company allows a specific amount of time–often 60 days–for you to submit your required documentation. If you miss the deadline, or the claim is denied, your employer must follow the IRS' rules.

Does the IRS require receipts for FSA expenses?

Be sure to keep receipts and other supporting documentation related to your FSA expenses as well as your reimbursement requests. Per IRS rules, you may be required to submit itemized receipts to verify your expenses.

Do you need to keep FSA receipts?

Purchase verification

However, even when you use your FSA benefits card, your administrator may still ask that you turn in your receipts to verify the purchase. Of course, if you don't have a benefits debit card and pay out of pocket, you should always keep your receipts or else you will not get reimbursed.

What happens if you misuse FSA funds?

Your FSA account can be used for eligible medical expenses only and you are solely liable for the use of the plan. If the Benefits Card is accidentally or intentionally utilized for ineligible expenses, you are responsible for reimbursing your account.

What happens to my FSA money if I don't spend it?

The IRS created the ""use or lose"" rule, which states that all money left in your FSA is forfeited after the benefit period ends . If you don't use all of your FSA funds during the benefit period, you risk losing money.

What happens to the money you don't use in your FSA?

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What happens to unclaimed FSA money?

This means that money that is contributed to a FSA must be spent during the year it was contributed or it is forfeited. This is known as the “Use It or Lose It” Rule. Unused dollars do not just disappear; rather the responsibility shifts to the employer as to how to use the forfeited money.

Can I use FSA 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 double dipping FSA?

What is “double dipping”? Double dipping is paying for an expense on a tax-free basis and also being reimbursed (or receiving a tax deduction) for the same expense on a tax-free basis. This is forbidden by the IRS.

Where does FSA money go if you don't use it?

For employees, the main downside to an FSA is the use-it-or-lose-it rule. If the employee fails to incur enough qualified expenses to drain his or her FSA each year, any leftover balance generally reverts back to the employer.

What happens if I accidentally used my HSA card for groceries?

You can repay the incorrect distribution before filing your federal taxes for that tax year. However, if you do not correct the mistake, the unqualified amount will be subject to income tax, and you may also face an additional 20% tax penalty.

What happens if you don't submit receipts for FSA?

If you miss the deadline, or the claim is denied, your employer must follow the IRS' rules. They may put a temporary hold on your debit card or request repayment until you can locate and produce appropriate documentation. Or your employer may report unsubstantiated amounts as taxable income on your form W-2.

Is FSA reported to IRS?

If I participated in a Health Care FSA, do I need to report anything on my personal income tax return at the end of the year? No. There are no reporting requirements for Health Care FSAs on your income tax return.

What is the IRS 6 year rule?

6 years - If you don't report income that you should have reported, and it's more than 25% of the gross income shown on the return, or it's attributable to foreign financial assets and is more than $5,000, the time to assess tax is 6 years from the date you filed the return.

What is acceptable documentation for FSA reimbursement?

documentation can either be in the form of a receipt from the provider, or the provider can sign the claim form verifying the information listed is correct.

Are tampons FSA eligible?

Feminine hygiene products: Pads, liners, and tampons all qualify as FSA-eligible expenses. The end of the year is a good chance to stock up if you need to. Pain relievers: Over-the-counter pain medications such as Aleve, Tylenol, and generic versions of the drugs are available for purchase through FSA funds.

Can I pay for massage with FSA?

Massage Therapy may be eligible for reimbursement with a Letter of Medical Necessity (LMN) with flexible spending accounts (FSA), health savings accounts (HSA) and health reimbursement arrangements (HRA).

Can an employer refund unused FSA funds in the IRS?

Commonly referred to as the “use-or-lose” rule, this requires that unused benefits or contributions remaining as of the end of the plan year (that is, amounts credited to a health FSA participant's account that remain unused, referred to below as “unused amounts”) be forfeited. See Prop. Treas. Reg.

What happens if I use my FSA incorrectly?

What Happens If I Use My FSA Incorrectly? If the benefits card is accidentally or intentionally used for ineligible expenses, you are responsible for reimbursing your account. You will be notified if you have an ineligible expense, and your benefits card may be deactivated until your account is reimbursed.

Can you buy food with FSA?

While food undoubtedly plays a major role in an individual's state of health, such as gluten-free foods for those with gluten allergies or healthy foods for those fighting obesity, reimbursement for specialty food items is largely ineligible with consumer-directed healthcare accounts like FSAs, HSAs and HRAs.

Does FSA Feds roll over?

Any money not used in your account(s) by the end of the Benefit Period will be FORFEITED. This is known as the “use or lose” rule. The FSAFEDS Carryover allows you to bring up to $660 of unspent funds into the following year when you re-enroll in a HCFSA or LEX HCFSA.

What is considered stockpiling FSA?

Buying any more than three of the same item could be considered "stockpiling." By the very nature of FSAs, any product you buy should be to fill a need for you, your spouse, or a qualified dependent.

Does FSA cover teeth whitening?

Dental care can certainly be a part of those expenses, but teeth whitening is not considered to be an FSA eligible expense. Because it's considered cosmetic in nature, teeth whitening will not be reimbursed with your FSA.

Can I use my FSA to buy a treadmill?

If you have a letter from a medical professional stating that exercise equipment is a medical necessity, your FSA can cover it.

Can you use FSA for vitamins?

Are vitamins FSA/HSA eligible? You want to be careful when trying to buy vitamins with your FSA or HSA. They are not always deemed a qualified expense. If your vitamins are not prescribed by a healthcare professional or used to treat a specific condition, your purchase most likely won't be FSA or HSA eligible.