Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account

A Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account (FSA) helps you pay for eligible child and adult care expenses with pre-tax dollars. The funds can be used for care that is necessary for you and your spouse to work or attend school full-time. Eligible expenses can include:

• Day care inside or outside your home for children under age 13, or any age, if disabled.

• Tuition for pre-school, day camp, or before- and after-school programs for children under age 13.

• Day care for a disabled dependent or parent who lives with you at least eight hours a day and who you claim on your income tax return.

This account offers a key tax advantage: money you contribute is pre-tax, which can reduce your taxable income. When you use the funds for qualified expenses, the withdrawals are also tax-free.

Tax advantages described here are for federal income tax purposes only. State income tax treatment of contributions and earnings may vary. Check with your tax advisor for more information.

• Eligibility

  The Dependent Care FSA is available to all full-time Mountaineers (excluding employees in Puerto Rico). You do not need to be enrolled in an Iron Mountain medical plan to participate.

  To be eligible for this account, you must meet the following IRS requirements:

  • Work requirement: You must incur dependent care expenses so that you (and your spouse, if married) can work or actively look for work.

  • Spousal status: If you are married, your spouse must also be working, a full-time student (for at least five months of the year), or be physically or mentally incapable of self-care.

  • Qualifying dependents: Your children under age 13 and/or a spouse or tax dependent (such as an elderly parent) who lives with you and is physically or mentally incapable of self-care.

• How it works

  The Dependent Care FSA allows you to use pre-tax dollars to pay for eligible care for your children under age 13 or elder dependents who live with you, enabling you (and your spouse) to work.

  
  

  Contribute

  You elect your contribution amount during Open Enrollment.

  • 2026 standard limits: $7,500 per year (or $3,750 if you are married filing separately).
  • Highly compensated employees (HCE): If you earned $160,000 or more in 2025, your 2026 contribution is initially capped at $1,700; this amount may be further reduced mid-year if necessary to ensure the plan passes mandatory IRS nondiscrimination testing.
  • Changes: You can only change your contribution amount during the year if you experience a qualifying life event (e.g., a change in childcare provider or cost).

  
  

  Pay

  You can use your Fidelity debit card to pay for eligible child or elder care expenses directly at the point of service.

  • Fund availability: Unlike a Health Care FSA, your full annual election is not available on day one. You can only spend what has been accumulated in your account through your year-to-date payroll contributions.
  • Manual claims: If you prefer not to use the card, you can pay out-of-pocket and submit a claim for reimbursement on netbenefits.com. Always save your itemized receipts (including the provider’s Tax ID) for verification.

  
  

  Spend (The "use-it-or-lose-it" rule)

  The DCFSA has strict deadlines. Any funds not claimed by the deadline will be forfeited.

  For 2025 plan year balances:

  Plan year	Deadline to incur expenses	Deadline to submit claims
  2025 Balances	March 15, 2026	March 31, 2026
  2026 Balances	March 15, 2027	March 31, 2027

  Termination rule: If you leave Iron Mountain, you can still submit claims until March 31 of the following year, but the expenses must have been incurred prior to your last day of employment.

For more information, contact Fidelity at 833-299-5089.