Proof of payment for HSA accounts

[Anonymous]

I have a HSA that I max out but never use because I cash flow the health care expenses. I keep copies of the billing statements as proof of expenditure and I also have the CC statements. When the time comes down the road, how would you "prove" the health expenditures when withdrawing money from the HSA? Do you include the billing statements with the tax returns or do you need to show the CC statements? Or both?

[Anonymous]

We've never had to prove the individual health expenditures, but we keep record of them all in case ever needed.

[Anonymous]

The statement of services from the physician will have a line showing payment amount/received with the date. yOu don't need credit card statements.

You can say something like "I need a statement for HSA purposes."

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The statement of services from the physician will have a line showing payment amount/received with the date. yOu don't need credit card statements.

You can say something like "I need a statement for HSA purposes."

isn't OP talking about the situation where we have 10-20 years of paying into HSA will cash paying our medical bills. And 20 years down the road, we want to pay $50,000 or whatever for a big time medical expenditure (or the many small medical expenses that will come up in 20+ years)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The statement of services from the physician will have a line showing payment amount/received with the date. yOu don't need credit card statements.

You can say something like "I need a statement for HSA purposes."

isn't OP talking about the situation where we have 10-20 years of paying into HSA will cash paying our medical bills. And 20 years down the road, we want to pay $50,000 or whatever for a big time medical expenditure (or the many small medical expenses that will come up in 20+ years)

OP here. What I am envisioning is a situation where upon retirement, I withdraw a large sum from the HSA tax free because I will be deducting all the medical expenses up to that point that I paid in cash. I'm just using the HSA as another investment account. For example, assume I withdraw 50k from the HSA, I will also simultaneously withhold 50k from the taxes by including "proof" of prior medical bills so it becomes a tax-free withdrawal. Was wondering what people use for the proof.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The statement of services from the physician will have a line showing payment amount/received with the date. yOu don't need credit card statements.

You can say something like "I need a statement for HSA purposes."

isn't OP talking about the situation where we have 10-20 years of paying into HSA will cash paying our medical bills. And 20 years down the road, we want to pay $50,000 or whatever for a big time medical expenditure (or the many small medical expenses that will come up in 20+ years)

OP here. What I am envisioning is a situation where upon retirement, I withdraw a large sum from the HSA tax free because I will be deducting all the medical expenses up to that point that I paid in cash. I'm just using the HSA as another investment account. For example, assume I withdraw 50k from the HSA, I will also simultaneously withhold 50k from the taxes by including "proof" of prior medical bills so it becomes a tax-free withdrawal. Was wondering what people use for the proof.

We're investing in HSA in the same way. Not sure what proof will be required, but certainly upon the unlikely audit, we can produce decades of medical receipts. So I'l make sure I have some digital "paper" trail of those receipts (even including credit card statements)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The statement of services from the physician will have a line showing payment amount/received with the date. yOu don't need credit card statements.

You can say something like "I need a statement for HSA purposes."

isn't OP talking about the situation where we have 10-20 years of paying into HSA will cash paying our medical bills. And 20 years down the road, we want to pay $50,000 or whatever for a big time medical expenditure (or the many small medical expenses that will come up in 20+ years)

Right, and that's when he/she needs to get teh statement of services. If she/he isn't using the HSA now for payments, then the statements aren't needed (other than to remember what you your medical treatments have been).

[Anonymous]

When withdrawing from hsa they take EOBs so that might be easier to save.

[Anonymous]

I keep a running spreadsheet with date, expense, and provider details. Then I also scan all my receipts or save PDFs of EOBs. It's a little tedious, but worth it.

[Anonymous]

Use it for your nursing home and it will just be one big bill!