Late in 2016, the Internal Revenue Service released an announcement to remind eligible employees to commence their tax planning to take full advantage of their employer’s health flexible spending account, also known as a flexible spending arrangement (FSA), during 2017. A qualified tax professional may offer complete assistance to any working taxpayer fortunate enough to have access to an FSA. Employers are not required to offer FSAs. Thus, interested employees should consult with their employer for more information.
What Is A 125 Cafeteria Plan?
A Cafeteria Plan, sometimes called a “Flexible Spending Account” or FSA, is available to taxpayers under §125 of the Internal Revenue Code. It derives its name from the earliest plans of this form that allowed employees to choose between different types of benefits, similar to the ability of a customer to choose among available items in a cafeteria. Qualified cafeteria plans are excluded from gross income. To qualify, a cafeteria plan must allow employees to choose from two or more benefits consisting of cash or qualified benefit plans.