Generally speaking, expenses like personal training are not directly tax-deductible. Fortunately, there are ways to pay for training sessions with pre-taxed money.
Vitality Fitness partners with Dr. B, a telehealth company whose mission is to make preventative healthcare costs more accessible. Clients with HSA or FSA accounts can get reimbursed 30-40% of their session costs through their savings account provider.
You need to obtain a letter of medical necessity to receive reimbursements. The telehealth company will easily provide the needed letter or prescription. After a quick, one-time $15 consultation with the telehealth company, they will provide you with what you need. After you submit this letter and your Vitality Fitness training invoice to your savings account provider, you should receive your reimbursement in 7-10 days.
The reimbursement process is complicated. Here is the Vitality Fitness & Dr. B partnership website which will provide more details. https://hidrb.com/and/vitalityfitness
Here are some FAQs that may provide more insight:
What is a Letter of Medical Necessity?
A Letter of Medical Necessity is a document that details why you need a specific product or treatment (like a wheelchair, vitamin supplement or swim therapy) for medical purposes so that expense can be paid for with funds from an HSA (Health Savings Account) or FSA (Flexible Spending Account).
HSA and FSA accounts allow you to set aside pre-tax money you can use to pay for qualified medical expenses. But sometimes, these health care costs might not be automatically recognized as HSA or FSA-qualified expenses that can be reimbursed with those funds. In such cases, a Letter of Medical Necessity provides documentation explaining why that particular expense is medically necessary so that it meets the criteria for reimbursement under HSA or FSA guidelines.
Am I eligible for this?
You are eligible if:
You have an active HSA or FSA account.
You are preventing or reversing health conditions like depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue, insomnia, obesity, infertility, diabetes, heart disease and more through an exercise or fitness routine.
What is an HSA/FSA account?
Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) are tax-exempt accounts designated to reduce the cost of eligible medical expenses. The IRS determines the differences between HSA and FSA accounts, which are usually established and overseen by an HSA or FSA administrator. You can access that administrator via your employer’s HR department.
How much money will using my HSA/FSA card save me?
HSA and FSA accounts consist of pre-tax funds, meaning you won’t pay income tax on money you put into those accounts and then use to pay for qualified healthcare expenses.
Using tax-free money from an HSA or FSA account saves you money because you’re not paying tax on income you’ll then use to buy health-related items. This essentially increases your purchasing power for healthcare necessities. Individuals can contribute a maximum of $3,650 annually to their HSA. Most patients save between $1,000 and $2,000, depending on their state and tax bracket. (You can calculate your savings based on those parameters.)
What is the process for declaring these purchases on my tax returns?
You don't need to submit any additional IRS tax forms for personal purchases made with FSA funds. (If you use your FSA to pay for the care of a dependent, you’ll have to file Form 2441.)
HSA tax benefits filing involves three IRS tax forms: 1099-SA, 5498-SA and 8889. Form 5498-SA is filed by the provider of your HSA account. During tax season, your provider will send you Form 1099-SA with information you’ll use to complete Form 8889, which you’ll need to submit with your annual tax filings. Make sure to keep copies of all documents you submit. Contact your HSA provider's customer service if you need assistance.
How long does it take for HSA/FSA providers to reimburse qualifying purchases?
HSA/FSA providers typically approve expenses 7-10 days after you submit your Letter of Medical Necessity and receipts. But reimbursement timelines can vary depending on your particular HSA/FSA administrator.