topic HSA account closed- how to transfer money in Deductions & credits

HSA account closed- how to transfer money

rockyr9 — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 19:53:35 GMT

My HSA account was closed by bank for inactivity. Unfortunately they have been sending all the communications to my closed account and they put my account as "Account Escheated". When I contacted my bank they sent me the check of remaining balance. Now I don't know what to do with this remaining balance to avoid the penalty.

I've HDHP plan through my spouse who has a HSA account under her name. My question is that if I can transfer my check to her HSA account and if that will help me in avoiding penalty. If yes, how can I do it? Should I deposit check to my checking account, and then transfer money to my spouse's HSA account? Would that work?

Re: HSA account closed- how to transfer money

dmertz — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 21:55:55 GMT

No, you are not permitted to deposit the money into your spouse's HSA.

To avoid the distribution from you old HSA being a distribution subject to tax and likely early-distribution penalty you must either apply the distribution to qualified medical expenses or open a new HSA in your name and within 60 days of receipt deposit the money into the new account as a rollover contribution.

Re: HSA account closed- how to transfer money

rockyr9 — Mon, 06 Jan 2020 22:25:09 GMT

Thanks for your response. However I am currently enrolled under my spouse's health insurance plan. Can I still open an HSA account in my name? Looking online it says, I should have my own HDHP in order to have an HSA account.

Re: HSA account closed- how to transfer money

dmertz — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 01:07:28 GMT

Any individual can open an HSA to receive an eligible rollover from another of that individual's HSAs.

Re: HSA account closed- how to transfer money

Critter — Tue, 07 Jan 2020 00:13:25 GMT

Correct ... you open the account to receive the rollover NOT to make new contributions which you are referring to in the post. They are NOT the same thing.