FSA Claims -Are original receipts needed?

[Guest S WINK]

Are employees required to submit an original receipt in making a claim to a FSA account? I have been told that the IRS "implies" that original receipts from an independent third party be submitted. I have also been told that original receipts are not needed. If the employer is ultimately responsible for non-compliance, wouldn't it be prudent to require originals to minimize fraudulent or altered claims. I would like to be able to tell employees that this is an IRS requirement.

[Joe Priselac]

I don't know of any IRS requirement that original receipts be submitted for reimbursement. In fact we encourage participants to send us Xerox copies of receipts and insurance statements. The mail is not 100% reliable; things do get lost. Replacing a copy is easy, but replacing an original can sometimes be time consuming and difficult. Cheaters can produce excellent fake originals if they are so inclined.

[SLuskin]

We also do not require originals. We receive many faxed claims, and as long as we can read them, they are processed.