2017 flex spending purchase. Want to return in 2018 (HSA, credit, dollars)

[jobseeker2013]

I bought contacts last December on my fsa card . I had lasik in February and want to return 500 dollars worth of unopened daily wears. The company will accept the return since its less than a year. But since its fsa what are the tax implications since I had to use the fsa in 2017. Obviously I need to report this. Do I contact them and what is the penalty and best solution?

[dspguy]

I'd imagine that if they credit your 2017 FSA, you'll just be losing the $500 anyway.

[hikernut]

Originally Posted by dspguy

I'd imagine that if they credit your 2017 FSA, you'll just be losing the $500 anyway.

The law was recently changed to allow a $500 carry forward from one year into the next. It's a welcome change, but I'd still rather have an HSA if I had a choice.