HSA Distributions

[skidf]

In 2023 I took a $2,500 distribution from my HSA. I have accumulated HSA-eligible medical expenses over a period of 10 years following the establishment of my HSA amounting to $30,000. In 2023 I have large medical expenses which can be included as an itemized deduction. Turbotax is applying the $2,500 HSA distribution as an offset to my 2023 medical expenses, which effectively reduces my 2023 medical tax deduction. My understanding is that the 2023 HSA distribution can be applied against any of my HSA medical expenses, including those that arose prior to 2023. The software does not appear to be allow me to make this type of designation. My workaround would be to inflate my 2023 medical expenses by $2,500 so that the net deduction is correct (meaning that I am applying the HSA distribution to pre-2023 medical expenses).

Thoughts?

[dmertz · Accepted solution]

You have found the correct workaround.  You must enter as Other medical expenses the amount of your HSA distribution that you used to reimburse yourself for prior-year qualified medical expenses.  This is necessary to accommodate TurboTax's built-in assumption that an HSA distribution is only being applied to current-year qualified medical expenses.

[Mike9241]

since you are reimbursing prior years did you take a tax deduction for those medical expenses? if not everything is fine. if so, then there would be a tax benefit in 2023 that likely would need to be reported as income not a reduction of the current year's medical expenses. 

[dmertz]

Also, qualified medical expenses with respect to an HSA distribution are only those incurred after establishment of the HSA.  Medical expenses incurred before establishment of the HSA are not qualified expenses.

[skidf]

Thanks

[skidf]

Only using HSA to reimburse medical expenses that arose after the establishment of the HSA and that were incurred during a year where I did not otherwise receive a tax benefit via itemizing my medical expenses.