Taking advantage of Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Description

Abstract: An employee wishing to take advantage of an employer’s health care and/or dependent care FSA must specify, before year end, how much of his or her 2015 salary to convert into tax-free contributions to the plan. It’s then possible to take tax-free withdrawals next year as reimbursement for out-of-pocket medical and dental expenses and qualifying dependent care costs. But FSAs are “use-it-or-lose-it” accounts, so it’s important for employees to not set aside more than what they’ll likely have in qualifying expenses for the year. This article offers an example of how a couple with a high income and a low one can allocate their funds to an FSA in the most tax-efficient manner.