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The
Commuter Choice Program
Employers already know that driving to work alone contributes
to more traffic, air pollution, energy consumption, and lost
time for employees. Traffic congestion can lead to lost productivity,
road rage, unnecessary stress, waste of energy resources, and
unhealthy air quality for everyone. So offer your staff a better
way to get to work with the Commuter Choice program.
Commuter Choice refers to recent changes in the Internal Revenue
Code [(26 USC 132(f)] which permit employers to offer employees
a tax-free benefit to commute to work by bus or vanpool. The
Commuter Choice program provides an attractive incentive for
employees to choose public transit or vanpools. Employers select
which one of the four program options to implement. These options
provide real savings to you and your employees. It’s a
great way to provide a low-cost employee morale boost and an
excellent employee recruitment and retention tool!
RideFinders was recognized by the EPA in Washington D.C.
as a Commuter Choice Initiative Champion in 2002.
Here’s
How The Commuter Choice Program Works
Option 1: Employer-Paid Benefit
The employer picks up the entire cost of the employee’s
public transit or vanpool commute trip up to the $100 per month
maximum allowance. This represents a business expense for the
employer and a tax-free benefit to the employee.
Option 2: Employee-Paid Pre-Tax Benefit
Employees exchange part of their gross income for employer-provided
transit passes or vanpool vouchers. The employees fund the benefit
with pre-tax dollars and the employer saves on federal payroll
and income taxes. This special commuter pre-tax benefit is exempt
from the restrictions common to cafeteria plans and flexible-spending
accounts. It can be started at any time of the year.
Option 3: Share-the-Fare Benefit
This benefit is a combination of Options 1 & 2. The employer
purchases the passes/vouchers using the contributions from employer
funds and employees’ pretax income.
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Here’s
How To Get Started!
Implementing a Commuter Choice program in your company is easy,
especially with RideFinders’ help.
Just follow these steps:
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Partner with RideFinders to determine how Commuter Choice can work for your company. Set a goal.
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| 2. |
Determine which of the four options is best for your company.
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| 3. |
Make
employees aware of the program. Enroll interested employees.
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Document payroll deductions, as needed.
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| 5. |
Purchase transit tickets and vanpool vouchers from RideFinders or enroll in the GRTC Transit System Swipecard program.
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| 6. |
Calculate your savings!
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Need more information about how Commuter Choice can work for your company? Give RideFinders a call at (804) 643-RIDE. RideFinders is prepared to assist you in setting up the Commuter Choice Program that is just right for you and your employees.
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Participating Commuter Choice Organizations. Join Them Today!
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Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms
Chesapeake Bay Local Assistance Department
Chippenham-Johnston Willis Hospital
Department of General Services
Department of Minority Business Enterprise
DEQ (Virginia Department of Environmental Quality)
House of Delegates
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission
Office of the Attorney General
Omni Richmond
Senate of Virginia
State Corporation Commission
The Retail Institute
Troutman & Sanders
Tucker Pavilion
U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development
Valentine Museum
Virginia Board for People with Disabilities
Virginia Department of Agriculture
Virginia Department of Correctional Education
Virginia Department of Corrections
Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services
Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice
Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services
Virginia Department of Transportation
Virginia Employment Commission
Virginia Lottery
Virginia Retirement System
Virginia State Police |
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Employer & ETC Registration
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| Ready to get your co-workers commuting? Want to add a great, tax-free benefit to your company’s portfolio? Click here to sign up. |
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