Tax Advantage Stressed

Officials say that employees should bear in mind that even if they have to pay the fees to participate in the program they stand to get back much more as a tax saving. An official said that, for example, an employee might otherwise be paying 27 or 28 percent in federal income tax alone on the money that could be shielded from taxes by putting it in an FSA. “For me, that’s a large return on investment,” he said. “Anybody who will give me a quarter for a penny and a half, I’ll take them up on it all day.” The open season for opening FSAs runs May 19 through June 20. Starting May 19, a website, www.fsafeds.com, and phone number, (877) 372-3337, will be available for enrollment.