Are there any tax benefits to transferring money from a checking account to an HSA before covering medical expenses?

[irsyad2147]

My HSA is still below the annual contribution limit, and I have a medical bill to pay. The current balance in my HSA consists entirely of payroll deductions and employer contributions. Adjusting my payroll contribution to the HSA can take 30-60 days. Would there be any tax advantages to moving money from my checking account to the HSA before paying the medical bill?

[rjs]

Yes, you should do if you can do it without exceeding your annual contribution limit. By taking money from your checking account and putting it in the HSA you are making a contribution to the HSA. You will be able to get a deduction for the contribution on your 2024 tax return. You can then take money from the HSA to pay the medical bill, so you will be paying the bill with tax-free money.

BUT - It doesn't matter that your HSA contributions, or the balance in your HSA, are below the annual limit now. You have to make sure that your total contributions during the year do not exceed the limit. Your total contributions include payroll deductions, employer contributions, and any additional contribution that you make from your checking account. Taking money out of the HSA to pay a medical bill does not mean that you can contribute more. What matters is the total amount that you put into the HSA during the year, regardless of how much you take out, not the balance in the HSA at any particular time.

If you do not have enough money in the HSA now to pay the medical bill, you can pay it from your checking account. Then later on, when there's more money in the HSA, you can reimburse yourself for what you paid by taking money out of the HSA. You still get the same tax benefit.

[irsyad2147]

Thanks!

[dmertz]

You are permitted to reimburse yourself for qualified medical expenses incurred anytime after the establishment of your HSA, so with regard to covering this expense with an HSA distribution, it doesn't matter when the contribution for the year is made.  Because HSA contributions through your employer are not subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes, it's generally better to make all of your HSA contributions through payroll deductions.  However, keep in mind that reducing the amount of income subject to Social Security taxes can potentially reduce the amount of your eventual Social Security benefits slightly because these benefits are calculated using your 35 highest earning years.