Some workers with health flexible spending accounts may be on the verge of giving their employers an unintentional gift this holiday season.

Each year, the share of employees who miss the typical Dec. 31 deadline to spend their FSA money and end up forfeiting it to their companies is between 40% and 50%, according to ongoing research from the Employee Benefit Research Institute , which began tracking FSA data in 2019. Although some companies give account holders an extension, most — about two-thirds — employ a use-it-or-lose-it rule.

"People tell us one of the main reasons they forfeit FSA funds is because they aren't aware that they have a deadline in the first place, or they don't know how much they have left in their account," said Rachel Rouleau, chief compliance officer for He

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