Does Money in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) Roll Over?

A flexible spending account (FSA) is an account into which a worker can contribute pretax earnings to pay for qualified medical expenses, including co-pays, prescription medications, chiropractor visits, eyeglasses, and LASIK eye surgery. But what happens if you don’t use all the money in your account during the calendar year? Does that money rollover? Keep reading to find out more about the FSA, how it works, and what happens to any unused money you may have left over after the tax year ends.

What Is an FSA Rollover?

An FSA is a savings account offered by employers. It allows individuals transfer contributions using pretax earnings through payroll deductions. Some employers also match a certain percentage of their employees’ contributions. The money can be used for things like medical expenses and child/dependent care. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allows a maximum contribution of $2,750 for an FSA for the 2021 tax year.

This was traditionally a use-it-or-lose it account—you were only able to use an FSA for one calendar year which means any money leftover at the end of the year was forfeited. But the U.S. Treasury Department amended the original use-or-lose rule for these accounts to allow some funds to roll over at the end of the plan year.

According to the new rules, employers have one of two options available for FSAs. They can either allow a maximum of $550 in unused funds in a health-related FSA to be rolled over from 2021 into the following plan year or they can offer employees a grace period of up to 2.5 months for employees to use the money.

For example, if you elected to contribute $2,600 for a year, but only spent $2,300, you could carry over the remaining $300 to use next year. Keep in mind, if you only spent $2,000, you could still carry over $550, but you would lose the remaining $50. If your employer allows you the grace period, you can use your account until March 15, 2021, unless your employer has another end date. You can’t have both options available.

Contribution Limits vs. How Much You Should Contribute

The IRS sets the FSA contribution limit, which is annually indexed to inflation. As mentioned above, that figure for the 2021 tax year is $2,750. There are ways to get around that cap. For example, an individual employed by two different companies during the tax year could contribute $2,750 under each employer’s FSA plan, provided the employers are unrelated.

This determines how much money one should annually allocate to an FSA account, based on the following qualified medical expenses:

• Prescription drug co-pays
• Dental and orthodontic expenses
• Eye exams
• Contact lenses and eyeglasses

To determine your FSA contribution for a year, estimate these expenses as a baseline while you factor in other potential family medical expenses.

Grace Period

The FSA grace period is a period at the end of the year, during which time you can use any unspent money in your FSA. The grace period can be up to a maximum of two and a half months but may be shorter depending on the way the plan is setup.

For instance, if your plan runs from Jan. 1, 2021, through Dec. 31, 2021, you would have until March 15, 2022, to use all of your FSA funds. Any unused FSA balance for the 2021 plan year would be lost after the grace period ends.

Run-Out Period

Run-out is a predetermined period during which you can file claims for the previous year. For instance, if your run-out period lasts until March 31, you have until that time to file claims for expenses you incurred before December 31.

Let’s say you visited the dentist on November 1, but you didn’t file the claim right away. You could still file before March 31 and be reimbursed. If you wait until after March 31, you forfeit any unused funds.

Run-out periods can vary by plan, so it’s important for you to speak with your plan administrator or human resources (HR) department to find out important dates and information about your plan.

FSAs vs. Health Savings Accounts (HSAs)

Although they may seem the same, the differences between FSAs and HSAs can be confusing. So it’s important to understand how they work. The following are some of the main differences between the two.

FSAs are only offered through employers, so if you’re unemployed or self-employed, you can’t open one. HSAs, on the other hand, are individual accounts, which means anyone can have one. You These accounts can be set up through a qualifying financial institution.

Both accounts can be funded through your employer. But if you leave your employer, you can’t take your FSA with you. Fortunately, your HSA is a portable account, which means even if you quit your job, you can still access the money you’ve saved.

The maximum contributions for each account are different, too. The FSA has a maximum limit of $2,750 for 2021. The IRS set the limit for HSAs at $3,600 for individual accounts and $7,200 for family-coverage.

Qualification is also different. There are no thresholds for FSAs but there are for HSAs. According to the IRS, you must have a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) to qualify. Your deductible must be more than $1,400 for individual coverage or $2,800 for family insurance and your out-of-pocket expenses can’t exceed $7,000 or $14,000 for self- and family coverage respectively.

The Bottom Line

Flexible spending accounts are tax-advantaged accounts that are only available to people through their employers. They provide an excellent way to save money for medical expenses or child/dependent care using pretax dollars. This not only helps you save for a rainy day but it also lowers your tax burden by lowering your taxable income. But these accounts do have restrictions, including what happens to any money left over that you don’t use. Be sure you do your research before you sign up for an account and speak with your administrator if you have any questions during the tax year.