FSA Calculator (Flexible Spending Account)

A Flexible Spending Account lets you set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible healthcare costs, lowering the income that gets taxed and stretching what you actually take home. For 2026, you can route up to $3,400 through a healthcare FSA (and up to $7,500 per household through a dependent care FSA), and figuring out how much of that limit to claim is the difference between a meaningful tax break and money left on the table.

The tax savings shown here come from multiplying your projected contribution by your combined federal, state, and FICA (Social Security and Medicare) tax rates. From there, the suggested election is built around the eligible healthcare expenses you expect to incur, so your pre-tax dollars cover real costs without overshooting. Any recommendation stops at the 2026 healthcare FSA ceiling of $3,400, or $7,500 for a dependent care FSA.

Because most FSA dollars are use-it-or-lose-it, the accuracy of your expense estimate matters more than anything else. Electing too much means forfeiting the surplus at year-end, while ignoring a grace period or carryover provision your plan may include can cost you flexibility you were entitled to. Check your specific plan documents to see which of those features apply before you lock in a number.