Use Your FSA to Stock Up On Back-To-School Supplies

The annual school supplies shopping trip can be an expensive endeavor. Did you know that some items commonly found on classroom supply lists are eligible for FSA accounts? Read on to learn more. FSA for Back-to-School Basic first-aid supplies and COVID-related PPE, including masks and hand sanitizer, are on many back-to-school supply lists this year. These are eligible for purchase with FSA funds. Many families also use back-to-school shopping time to buy over-the-counter medications that

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Tax Relief Changes for CTC and DCAP

In response to pandemic-related dependent care challenges, the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) added temporary relief to the Child Tax Credit (CTC) program for 2021. The changes were expected to become permanent, but as 2021 ended, the legislation to achieve this did not pass. Now, qualified parents/guardians will be receiving refundable balances due as part of their 2021 tax return. More information on this, along with tax relief changes to Dependent Care Assistance Program (DCAP) for 2022, are

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Heart Health in Women

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease is the leading cause of death for both African American and Caucasian women. Despite the launch of numerous awareness initiatives, only a little more than half of women understand the risks. With understanding comes preventative measures. So let’s look at what heart disease is and what we (especially women) can do about it. What is heart disease? “Heart disease” includes a variety of conditions

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Help Employees Understand Their Benefits

Companies spend a lot of time and money creating valuable benefits plans for employees. But even after all that work, they still often get low participation. Good benefit choices require employers to help employees understand their benefits. PlanSponsor recently reported that two-thirds of employees want year-round help understanding and using their benefits. That number goes up to 78% among Millennials. So, let’s take a look at what employees need to best use the benefits you provide.

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Cafeteria Plans Let Employees Choose Benefit Options

What is a cafeteria plan? Cafeteria Plans are an employer-sponsored benefit that lets employees pay certain qualified medical expenses – such as health insurance premiums for medical, dental, and vision coverage – on a pre-tax basis.  They are sometimes called Section 125 Cafeteria Plans. “Section 125” refers to the portion of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) that regulates these pre-tax plans. “Cafeteria Plan” reflects the fact that, similar to a lunch cafeteria, you can choose

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Dependent Care FSA vs. Dependent Care Tax Credit: Which is Best?

Families with young children can face enormous childcare costs. It’s not uncommon for daycare fees to add up to one of the family’s largest recurring expenses each month. Fortunately, there are several ways to offset a portion of childcare expenses, including Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts ( DCFSA ), also known as Dependent Care Assistance Programs (DCAP), and the Dependent Care Tax Credit. Dependent Care FSA The DCFSA does for childcare expenses what the Healthcare

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ARPA is Approved: COBRA Subsidies and DCAP Increase Part of Legislation

President Biden signed The American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 into law on Thursday, March 11, 2021. In addition to stimulus checks and child tax credits, ARPA features full COBRA subsidies for a limited time and an increase in the maximum contribution limits for people who use Dependent Care Assistance Plans (DCAP) through their employer. Learn more below. COBRA Subsidies Under ARPA Under very specific circumstances, the ARPA legislation provides full COBRA subsidies from

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Health FSA and DCAP Carryover Rules Approved for 2021

In December 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), a $900 billion COVID stimulus bill. The legislation was aimed at helping Americans cope with pandemic-related challenges. Along with stimulus payments and other financial provisions, the bill also included modified carryover and dependent rules for Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP) benefits, spend-down for health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), election changes, and other updates. Traditionally, DCAP benefits have not included a carryover provision. However, with

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Dependent Care FSA and Carryover – Is Relief Coming?

Since early 2020, the U.S. has been reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone throughout the country has been impacted in one way or another. From economic uncertainty to school and public safety concerns, adults and children alike have had to learn to deal with a new reality. One impact of COVID-19 that continues to trouble American workers is their employer-sponsored benefits. In particular, with schools, summer camps, and child care facilities closing or altering their

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FSA Mid-Year Elections, Grace Periods, Carryover and More: IRS COVID-19 Guidance

In May 2020, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) published COVID-19 guidance for employer-sponsored healthcare benefits. Drafted to address unanticipated changes in medical and childcare costs due to the COVID-19 emergency, the two Notices – Notice 2020-29 and 2020-33 – relax mid-year election changes for health Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Dependent Care Assistance Programs (DCAPs). They also provide more flexibility in grace periods for both types of accounts and increase the maximum annual carryover amount

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