If you’re racking up child or elder care expenses, the Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) can help you stretch your dependent care dollars. Plus, Lam matches 15% of your contributions.
What you need to know
With a Dependent Day Care FSA, you save by making pretax paycheck contributions to a tax-free FSA. This reduces your taxable income, so you pay no income taxes on FSA expenses. On top of that, Lam matches 15% of your contributions, which means you have even more to spend on eligible adult and child care services.
- Note the contribution limit. You can contribute up to $5,000 a year if you’re single or married and filing a joint tax return, or $2,500 if you’re married and filing separate tax returns.
- Your contribution may be further limited. If you earn more than $150,000 per year, your contribution will be limited to $2,000. Your limit could be reduced further during the year if necessary for Lam to meet IRS rules.
- Deposits are automatic. Contributions are deducted on a pretax basis from your paycheck and deposited automatically into your FSA.
- Use for a range of expenses. Your Dependent Day Care FSA covers a variety of eligible dependent care expenses, including preschool, summer day camp, before- or after-school programs, or child or adult day care, while you work.
- Plan carefully. You must incur eligible expenses between January 1 and December 31. You’ll forfeit any funds remaining in your account if you haven’t used them by December 31.
- Don’t miss the reimbursement deadline. You have until March 31 of the following year to submit eligible expenses for reimbursement.
Claim your 2024 reimbursement by March 31
File your reimbursement request for eligible 2024 Dependent Day Care FSA expenses by March 31, 2025.
What you need to do
- Elect your FSA contribution during Open Enrollment. You must make an election every year, because your contribution amount does not roll over from year to year.
- Access your Dependent Day Care FSA account using the Optum Financial website or the Optum Financial app. You can use either to manage your account and submit claims and receipts.
- Choose to be reimbursed for payments you make to your care providers, or choose to pay providers directly from your FSA.
- Incur eligible expenses from January 1 through December 31, and claim reimbursements by March 31 of the following year.
- Save all your receipts; you may be asked to provide copies to confirm your expenses.