What is the FSA rollover?

Also known as the "FSA carryover," this provision was introduced in 2014 by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) to give FSA users additional flexibility in managing their funds with plan-year forfeiture deadlines. When setting up an FSA plan, employers can choose to implement either the FSA carryover or an FSA Grace Period (which gives FSA users 2.5 months after their plan year ends to spend their remaining funds). Employers are not obligated to offer either feature, but if they do they cannot offer both features under the same plan. So whether you are starting a new job, or have been with yours for quite some time, be sure to ask your HR department to find out if these types of deadline extensions are in place with your plan.

Now here's the big change to keep in mind: when the FSA rollover was created back in 2014, the IRS would only allow up to $500 to be rolled over into the next year's plan allocation. But in a big change for 2020, the IRS increased the threshold for the rollover to $550, to be adjusted for inflation on an annual basis. (For plan years starting on January 1, 2022 or later, account-holders can now rollover $570 into the next plan year). That may not seem like a lot, but it's a new degree of flexibility that account holders can take advantage of whether they are worried about forfeiting their last few dollars or budgeting for a big-ticket medical service down the road.

Now that we know what the FSA rollover is, let's explore how you can best take advantage of it with these tips:

1. FSA rollovers don't count against your yearly contribution limit

This is probably the biggest piece of information to keep in mind when you're planning your budget around your FSA rollover. FSA contribution limits for 2022 have increased to $2,850 . If your employer offers the FSA rollover, you can add $570 of your 2022 funds to your 2023 contribution, which would give you $3,420 to spend in 2023. And remember, your FSA contribution is available in full from the beginning of your plan year, so if you're planning on covering the cost of a bigger medical procedure like LASIK, you'll have your full contribution to work with as you make your decision.

2. Carryovers make it easier to plan for unexpected expenses

One tip that we always recommend to FSA users, whether they have the FSA carryover or not, is to give yourself enough of a cushion in your yearly contribution to handle sudden medical emergencies and illnesses that may come up. After all, if for some reason you have to visit a specialist or have medical tests done, being able to cover part or all of that extra expense should be factored into your yearly contribution. Of course, if you stay happy and healthy all year long, that could leave you with extra money to spend at your plan year deadlines.

FSA carryovers provide a measure of relief for FSA users when preparing for the worst. As long as they spend their FSA dollars down to the $610 threshold, they can ensure that they won't forfeit funds at the end of their plan years and have a reserve to cover unexpected medical expenses if they happen.

3. FSA rollovers and HSA compatibility

Finally, if you're interested in making the switch to an HSA in the near future and you're currently enrolled in an FSA with a rollover, there is an important piece of information to keep in mind. 

With a Healthcare FSA with Carryover, you can carry over up to $570 into an HSA to maximize your savings. Without an HSA-compatible FSA, you’ll forfeit the remaining balance in your Healthcare FSA. 

In other words, if you're planning on switching to an HSA in the future, you can't be enrolled in a general healthcare FSA and an HSA at the same time. You'd have to switch to a limited purpose FSA (which is used to pay vision and dental expenses only, and is HSA-compatible) to rollover that money into in order to contribute to an HSA. Because this money bridges multiple plan years, it's an important factor in determining your eligibility for other types of tax-advantaged healthcare accounts like an HSA. So factor this into your long-term benefits planning if you think an account switch may be on the horizon.

If you have an FSA rollover, be sure to give your employer a big "thank you!" You have a lot more freedom to take advantage of your FSA funds to reduce your tax burden, treat medical conditions as they arise and help support your long-term health for the future.

4. The Consolidated Appropriations Act

Legislative changes were enacted in 2020 that gave employers the option to extend FSA grace period deadlines by 12 months for plans ending in 2021 or to allow a rollover of all unused funds from 2021 into 2022. This means that your deadline could have changed, or you may have even more funds than you thought to spend this year. 

What does that mean for me? You might still have 2021 FSA funds available to spend in 2022 that you thought you lost or your new deadline could be quickly approaching.

How can I find out? We have outlined three easy methods to help you confirm your deadline (and maximize your FSA dollars).

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