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06-25-2020, 10:52 AM
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#1
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Northern Ohio
Posts: 3,182
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Using HSA receipts
I see mention of "using my receipts when I get money out of my HSA". I realize that the receipts are the proof that you spent money on valid medical expenses back in 2011 (or whenever). I keep all my receipts for later reimbursement too.
My question though is has anyone actually done this. And if so, has anyone ever had the IRS want to see the actual receipts?
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06-25-2020, 11:17 AM
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#2
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Elyria, OH
Posts: 1,937
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We reimburse ourselves from DH's employer HSA in a lump sum early in the year for medical expenses we paid the previous year. I put the receipts in the applicable tax folder. We've never been audited by the IRS.
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06-25-2020, 11:26 AM
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#3
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Cholula
Posts: 1,595
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We keep an annual spreadsheet to record qualified HSA expenses that includes dates, amounts paid, provider names and what the expenses entailed. We pay all of our medical expenses using CC's and don't keep the paper receipts. Never been audited.
__________________
“Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you’ll be a mile from them, and you’ll have their shoes.” – Jack Handey
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06-25-2020, 11:36 AM
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#4
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Posts: 38,153
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mpeirce
I see mention of "using my receipts when I get money out of my HSA". I realize that the receipts are the proof that you spent money on valid medical expenses back in 2011 (or whenever). I keep all my receipts for later reimbursement too.
My question though is has anyone actually done this. And if so, has anyone ever had the IRS want to see the actual receipts?
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I think you would only have to show the receipts if you were audited. So keep the claimed ones with your filed tax returns until past the date of possible audit.
__________________
Retired since summer 1999.
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06-25-2020, 03:31 PM
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#5
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,375
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mpeirce
I see mention of "using my receipts when I get money out of my HSA". I realize that the receipts are the proof that you spent money on valid medical expenses back in 2011 (or whenever). I keep all my receipts for later reimbursement too.
My question though is has anyone actually done this. And if so, has anyone ever had the IRS want to see the actual receipts?
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I did it recently for 2010-2019. I had Quicken records of our medical costs from 2010 to 2019, EOBs for all those years and many receipts (but not for all EOB amounts due). In some cases where I had negotiated a discount with the provider/hospital for an additional discount for immediate payment I used that lower amount that I actually paid rather than the EOB. Total was about $18k so about $2k a year.
I have a 1-2" thick file of a memo, Excel printout and EOBs and receipts in case the IRS ever asks.... but I doubt that they ever will... I think they have bigger fish to fry.
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
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06-25-2020, 03:32 PM
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#6
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 14,328
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Like others, I keep a spread sheet and staple the receipts to it whenever I make a withdrawal. If in the unlikely case the IRS wants proof, I'll go through it with them. They seem to have bigger fish to fry, though, so I'm not overly concerned.
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06-25-2020, 04:04 PM
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#7
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 3,024
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I also have a spreadsheet with out-of-pocket medical/dental/vision/prescription expenses going back to 2008 when I first started the HDHP and HSA. The spreadsheet has basic data like date, provider, patient, description, and amount.
In my closet, is a box with all the receipts in the same order as they were entered on the spreadsheet. The receipts include both the invoice and proof of payment, usually a credit card receipt. I remember reading some IRS guidance that said you need both if audited.
I've taken no actual distributions yet. But after 65, the plan is to withdraw whatever amount we want for whatever purpose. Then use the spreadsheet to find a block of receipts that support that amount, probably on a FIFO basis. Then find the corresponding physical receipts in the box and file them away with that year's tax return.
DW has been trained on how this works. It's also written up in a Word document in case she forgets.
__________________
Retired at 52 in July 2013. On to better things...
AA: 85/15 WR: 2.7% SI: 2 pensions, SS later
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06-25-2020, 04:07 PM
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#8
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,375
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^^^ you have what I would have in an ideal world.... but I think what I have is enough, albeit less than perfect evidence of the expenses.
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
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06-25-2020, 05:22 PM
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#9
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NC
Posts: 21,305
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I've just kept all the CC receipts for every medical expense we've charged, and the annual statement for the CC. No one has ever asked for proof, but I'll keep the file for at least 7 years. It's taken 9 years, but we just spent the last $38.01 remaining in our HSA account, so it's no more...
__________________
No one agrees with other people's opinions; they merely agree with their own opinions -- expressed by somebody else. Sydney Tremayne
Retired Jun 2011 at age 57
Target AA: 50% equity funds / 45% bonds / 5% cash
Target WR: Approx 1.5% Approx 20% SI (secure income, SS only)
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06-25-2020, 10:50 PM
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#10
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Moscow
Posts: 1,572
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mpeirce
I see mention of "using my receipts when I get money out of my HSA". I realize that the receipts are the proof that you spent money on valid medical expenses back in 2011 (or whenever). I keep all my receipts for later reimbursement too.
My question though is has anyone actually done this. And if so, has anyone ever had the IRS want to see the actual receipts?
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Yes, I have. Yes, they did.
I was NOT fully audited. They just asked for the proof on this particular issue. I sent the receipts along with a note documenting the use of the money. No more questions asked.
Just did it again last month. Hopefully that won't trigger any IRS interest.
__________________
You can't enlighten the unconscious.
But you can hit'em upside the head a few times to make sure they are really out...
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06-27-2020, 06:53 AM
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#11
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,172
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If you like to worry, don't forget that you will need all your relevant tax returns to show that you never took a medical deduction , or if you did that you never used any of those receipts either for the 7.5% floor or for the rest of the medical deduction previously.
If you are one of those HSA "hoarders" that save up receipts for decades, this means all your tax returns for those years.
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06-27-2020, 07:15 AM
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#12
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 13,150
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I keep all the receipts in a couple of folders in a filing cabinet. One folder contains the receipts I've reimbursed myself for. I reimburse each January for the prior year's qualified expenses and use one of those hefty black paper clips to clamp down the receipts for that year. The other folder contains receipts for expenses not yet reimbursed.
I also have a spreadsheet showing the history by year.
Have not been audited.
__________________
Have you ever seen a headstone with these words
"If only I had spent more time at work" ... from "Busy Man" sung by Billy Ray Cyrus
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06-27-2020, 11:51 AM
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#13
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,375
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kaneohe
If you like to worry, don't forget that you will need all your relevant tax returns to show that you never took a medical deduction , or if you did that you never used any of those receipts either for the 7.5% floor or for the rest of the medical deduction previously.
If you are one of those HSA "hoarders" that save up receipts for decades, this means all your tax returns for those years.
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Fair point, but the IRS already has those returns and the Schedule A's. FWIW, I've never exceeded the floor so never benefited from the medical deduction.
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
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06-27-2020, 12:45 PM
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#14
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,172
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pb4uski
Fair point, but the IRS already has those returns and the Schedule A's. FWIW, I've never exceeded the floor so never benefited from the medical deduction.
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Assuming their storage/filing systems are as you hope, they would know if you claimed the medical deduction if they bothered to look (tho not so sure their systems would have the hoarder's data back decades). However if you did take the medical deduction , they would not know what specific medical bills you had already used for them or if you were claiming them again for the HSA.
Probably they would not ask unless they got up on the wrong side of the bed that day or taxpayer provoked them but just to be sure.............
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06-27-2020, 12:52 PM
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#15
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 7,591
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keim
Yes, I have. Yes, they did.
I was NOT fully audited. They just asked for the proof on this particular issue. I sent the receipts along with a note documenting the use of the money. No more questions asked.
Just did it again last month. Hopefully that won't trigger any IRS interest.
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Can you share what proof you offered? It can range from lists of medical expenses from quicken, to original bills with credit card receipts attached, to insurance EOBs, etc.
Or ONLY insurance EOBs.
Just wonder what you presented that was accepted (thought clearly that could vary depending on the particular IRS agent).
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06-27-2020, 12:56 PM
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#16
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 7,591
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kaneohe
If you like to worry, don't forget that you will need all your relevant tax returns to show that you never took a medical deduction , or if you did that you never used any of those receipts either for the 7.5% floor or for the rest of the medical deduction previously.
If you are one of those HSA "hoarders" that save up receipts for decades, this means all your tax returns for those years.
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HSAs began in 2003 so the history is actually not that long. Obviously you do have to be organized to do this but I have all my tax returns from those periods, so that would not be a large concern.
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06-27-2020, 02:33 PM
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#17
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Moscow
Posts: 1,572
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Copies of the cashed in receipts. And an explanatory note detailing condition they were treating.
__________________
You can't enlighten the unconscious.
But you can hit'em upside the head a few times to make sure they are really out...
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06-27-2020, 02:41 PM
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#18
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Rio Grande Valley
Posts: 38,153
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keim
Copies of the cashed in receipts. And an explanatory note detailing condition they were treating.
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Why would they need to know the condition being treated? It’s just whether it’s a qualified expense.
__________________
Retired since summer 1999.
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06-27-2020, 04:33 PM
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#19
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Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 7,591
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Keim
Copies of the cashed in receipts. And an explanatory note detailing condition they were treating.
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EOBs? Credit card statements? Cancelled checks?
Just curious what worked.
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06-27-2020, 04:50 PM
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#20
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Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Moscow
Posts: 1,572
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I literally photocopied the receipts I'd been holding.
__________________
You can't enlighten the unconscious.
But you can hit'em upside the head a few times to make sure they are really out...
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