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Commuter Benefits Assistance

Commuter benefits, or transportation fringe benefits, allow employees to use tax-free dollars on transit, vanpool, or qualified parking expenses under Section 132(f) of the IRS tax code. By offering these cost-effective fringe benefits, employers can save money on payroll taxes, attract and retain top talent, and help alleviate parking issues. Arlington Transportation Partners (ATP) offers complimentary assistance to local organizations that want to enhance commuter benefits offered at their workplace. When commuter benefits are successfully implemented, they positively impact both the employer and the employee. ATP can help you choose the best program to meet your business needs and provide on-going support to ensure program success.

Learn more: Perks of the Benefits | Tax Savings | Benefit Options | Employer Services & Support | Resources

The Perks of Commuter Benefits

A successfully implemented commuter benefits program benefits both the employer and employee.

Employers can:

Save up to 9% on federal payroll taxes
Reduce parking demand and costs
Recruit from a wider geographical area
Enhance employee retention and satisfaction
Win recognition through Champions, Best Workplaces for Commuters, Bicycle Friendly Business, and more

Employees can:

Reduce taxable income and out-of-pocket commute costs
Minimize wear and tear on personal vehicle
Automatically load transit fare on SmarTrip card
Save time, money, and the environment by riding transit

Commuter Benefits Options

1. Pre-Tax Benefit
Employees have the option to allocate pre-tax income towards transportation costs.

2. Direct Benefit
The employer provides a subsidy for employee transportation costs.

3. Combination Benefit
The employer provides a direct benefit and also allows employees to allocate pre-tax income towards transportation costs.

Benefit providers

Employers can choose from a variety of benefit providers to administer their commuter benefits, either through a paid service or a free service like SmartBenefits.

Eligible transportation expenses

Employees can use commuter benefits on a variety of transportation options, depending on the benefit provider. In the DC metro region, commuters can use SmartBenefits on the following transit options:

Commuter bus: OmniRide, Loudon County Transit, MTA Commuter Bus

Local bus: Metrobus, MetroAccess, Arlington Transit (ART), CUE, DASH, King Street Trolley, DC Circulator, RideOn, TheBus

Parking at Metro stations

Train: Metrorail, VRE, MARC

Vanpool

Employer Services and Support

ATP can help your organization establish a commuter benefits program that meets IRS requirements.

Easy step-by-step implementation process.

Identify commuting patterns and employee needs with complimentary commute surveys.

Sample HR policies, enrollment forms, and custom transit resources for your workplace.

Host on-site workshops to educate employees on the perks of commuter benefits.

Participate in open enrollment events to encourage employees to sign up.

Latest information on federal tax laws and local commuter benefits regulations.