Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
Health care and dependent care expenses are a regular part of life, and they can add up quickly. By setting aside tax-free money in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) administered by Fidelity, you can save money and lower your taxable income. Additionally, San Jose employees may take advantage of the Transportation FSA to save on commuter expenses.
HOW IT WORKS
- When you have eligible expenses, you can use your tax-free FSA dollars to cover them.
- The amount you elect each year is deducted from your paycheck before taxes are withheld.
- Per IRS regulations, unused funds are forfeited and do not roll over.
- Keep in mind that each FSA functions separately. You cannot transfer money from one account to the other.
- You can contribute up to the IRS / ZOLL Plan limits noted below.
* Note: Our Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (DCFSA) is subject to specific IRS regulations, including annual nondiscrimination testing to ensure fair benefits for all employees. Employers may set their own plan limits to maintain compliance with these federal rules, therefore, we have set our plan’s maximum annual contribution limit at $5,000 / $3,000 which is below the overall IRS-allowed maximum $7,500 for 2026 per household.
- As with ALL FSA accounts, the IRS requires documentation for reimbursement. Review required documentation under each FSA type.
- Always retain receipts for documentation, even those paid with your FSA debit card.
- Changes to your annual FSA elections can only be made if you experience a qualifying life event (QLE) AND submit the change request to your HR Advocate within 30 days of the event, no exceptions can be made as this is an IRS rule.
- A QLE is defined as:
- Marital status: Marriage, divorce, legal separation, or death of a spouse.
- Dependents: Birth, adoption, or death of a child; a dependent losing or gaining eligibility (e.g., a child turning 13).
- Employment: Change in your employment status, or that of your spouse or dependent, that affects eligibility.
- Residence: Change in your or your dependent’s work or home location.
- Dependent care: A change in your dependent care provider or cost.
- Medicare/Medicaid: A change in eligibility for you, your spouse, or a dependent.
- FSA Debit cards are mailed within 45 days of account enrollment.
- They arrive in a non-descript envelope with NO Fidelity markings. Please review your mail carefully until you receive your card.
- Lost your FSA or Transportation debit card?
- Call Fidelity Reimbursement Accounts Services Consumer Service at 1-833-299-5089, available Monday – Friday, 8am – 8pm EST.
| Flexible Spending Account (FSA) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Who can participate? | 2025 Annual Limits | 2026 Annual Limits | |
| Health Care FSA | PPO Plan Members Surest Plan Members |
$3,300 | $3,400 |
| Limited Purpose FSA | Saver Plan with HSA Members | $3,300 | $3,400 |
| Dependent Care FSA | All employees regardless of medical plan enrollment | Less than $155,000 earnings $5,000 per household/ $2,500 filing separate |
Less than $160,000 earnings* $5,000 per household/ $2,500 filing separate |
| $155,000 earnings or more $3,500 |
$160,000 earnings or more* $3,000 |
||
| Transportation FSA | San Jose Employees | $325 per month | $340 per month |
* This is based upon ZOLL wages in 2025.
Health Care FSA
- Set aside up to the annual IRS maximum to use for eligible medical, dental and vision expenses.
- You have immediate access to your annual contribution. Funds are taken each pay period up to the total contribution you have elected. You may use any amount up to your total contribution, even if you have not yet contributed that amount.
- The deadline to incur expenses is March 15th.
- Any claims incurred through March 15th must be postmarked for reimbursement no later than March 31st, or any remaining funds in the account will be forfeited based on IRS regulations.
- Use your FSA debit card to pay for eligible expenses.
- To pay for eligible expenses, use your FSA debit card at the point of service, or for reimbursement of eligible out-of-pocket expenses, log into netbenefits.com, select your Flexible Spending and Reimbursement Accounts. Then select your method of reimbursement. Alternatively, you may complete and return the Fidelity Reimbursement Request form.
- Documentation for health care expenses required by the IRS includes a third-party receipt containing the following information:
- Date service was received or purchase made
- Description of service or item purchased
- Dollar amount (after insurance if applicable)
LIMITED PURPOSE FSA (SAVER PLAN WITH HSA)
- Set aside up to the annual IRS maximum to use for eligible dental and vision expenses only. (Limited Purpose FSA funds can not be used for medical purposes.)
- You have immediate access to your annual contribution. Funds are taken each pay period up to the total contribution you have elected. You may use any amount up to your total contribution, even if you have not yet contributed that amount.
- The deadline to incur expenses is March 15th.
- Any claims incurred through March 15th must be postmarked for reimbursement no later than March 31st, or any remaining funds in the account will be forfeited based on IRS regulations.
- To pay for eligible expenses, use your FSA debit card at the point of service, or for reimbursement of eligible out-of-pocket expenses, log into netbenefits.com, select your Flexible Spending and Reimbursement Accounts. Then select your method of reimbursement. Alternatively, you may complete and return the Fidelity Reimbursement Request form.
- Documentation for limited purpose expenses required by the IRS includes a third-party receipt containing the following information:
- Date service was received or purchase made
- Description of service or item purchased
- Dollar amount (after insurance if applicable)
Dependent Care FSA
- Set aside up to the ZOLL Plan maximums to use for eligible dependent care expenses, such as preschool, summer day camp, before or after school programs, or child or dependent adult daycare.
- Employees with 2025 earnings of $160,000 or more may contribute $3,500 to their DCFSA unless the IRS requires us to reduce that amount.
- Speak to your tax advisor regarding maximizing your pre-tax contributions to the IRS maximum limit in conjunction with any spousal plan
- The deadline to incur expenses is March 15th.
- Any claims incurred through March 15th must be postmarked for reimbursement no later than March 31st, or any remaining funds will be forfeited based on IRS regulations.
- For reimbursement of eligible out-of-pocket expenses, log into netbenefits.com, select your Flexible Spending and Reimbursement Accounts. Then select your method of reimbursement. Alternatively, you may complete and return the Fidelity Reimbursement Request form.
- Documentation for dependent care expenses required by the IRS includes a third-party receipt containing the following information (Please be advised: if a receipt is unavailable, a signature from the provider is sufficient):
- Incurred dates of service
- Dollar amount
- Name of day care provider
- For Adult Care Services, a letter from the doctor or a Medical Necessity Form is required to identify that the dependent is physically or mentally disabled and unable to self-care.
- Please be advised: If a receipt is unavailable or unable to confirm day care provider, additional provider verification will need to be provided which includes either a provider signature or tax identification number.
- Unacceptable forms of documentation include the following:
- Provider statements that only indicate the amount paid, balance forward or previous balance
- Credit card receipts that only reflect a payment
- Bills for prepaid dependent care/medical expenses where services have not yet occurred
- When submitting a receipt for a co-payment amount, please be sure the co-payment description is on the receipt. In some cases, you will need to ask for a receipt at the point of service. If “co-payment” is not clearly identified, have the provider write “co-payment” on the receipt and sign it.
Transportation FSA for San Jose Employees
- Set aside up to the monthly IRS maximum in pre-tax dollars for parking and transit-related expenses that you incur for your job. You can change or stop contributions at any time.
- Eligibility: You must be a full time or part time employees working at least an average of 20 hours per week
- You cannot be a seasonal or temporary employee who works 120 days or less within the calendar year
- You MUST enroll via Workday AND on netbenefits.com before the benefit becomes active
- You must have eligible commuting expenses such as Public Transit, vanpooling or qualified parking
- ELIGIBLE commuting expenses include:
- Mass Transit: Transit passes, tokens, fare cards, and vouchers for buses, trains, subways, and ferries.
- Vanpooling: Commuting in a vehicle with at least six adults, where at least 80% of the mileage is for commuting and employees occupy at least half the seats.
- Parking: Expenses for parking at or near your workplace or a mass transit station. Parking at or near your home is not eligible.
- ELIGIBLE commuting expenses include:
Please contact your local HR Benefit Advocates for more information.
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