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Frequently Asked Questions

Once you enroll in TransitChek^®, using tax free dollars toward your commuting costs is easy and convenient to do. To help you get started, here are some Frequently Asked Questions about the program.

1. How do I get my company to start offering a TransitChek^® program?

   Many of the companies we serve started offering our TransitChek^®  Program because employees like you asked for it. You can notify your employer through this website and we could help by providing you with materials that you can pass on to your benefits administrator. Find out more.

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2. What are the monthly tax-free IRS allowable limits that I can use toward my commuting costs?

   The current monthly tax-free allowable limit for transit and eligable vanpooling is $125 per month and an additional $240 per month for qualified parking.

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3. How does paying for my commute with pretax dollars save me money?

   Paying with pretax dollars means that you pay for your commute before federal taxes are taken out of your paycheck by your employer. Depending on where you live, you may also save on state and local taxes too. Paying this way decreases the amount of the taxes that are normally taken out of your paycheck.

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4. How much can I expect to save with TransitChek?

   TransitChek^® doesn’t just help you save money on your commute every month; you’ll also be reducing your carbon emissions by using transit instead of driving. Find out how much you can save by using our Savings Calculator and Carbon Footprint Calculator.

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5. What public transportation services do commuter benefits cover?

   TransitChek^® programs allow you to use tax-free dollars toward commuting by virtually any public transportation service which may include subways, buses, ferries, commuter rail and vanpools.

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6. Can I use my benefit for other commuting expenses like tolls and gas?

   No. Benefits may not be used for tolls, gas, or other driving-related expenses.

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7. What are park & ride tax benefits?

   Park and ride benefits cover the cost of parking at a facility from which you commute to work by transit. For example, if you drive to a railroad station and pay to park at the station parking lot or at a privately owned parking lot adjacent to the railroad station, you may set aside up to the monthly IRS allowable limit for parking, pretax, from your salary monthly to cover this parking expense.

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8. I carpool, but I don't drive to the parking lot from which I carpool. Am I eligible to receive a carpool tax benefit?

   No, you cannot receive a tax benefit if you don't pay to park at a facility from which you carpool.

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9. I carpool to work and pay to park near my worksite. Am I eligible to receive a carpool tax benefit for my parking?

   Yes, if it's part of your regular commuting pattern. However, only one member of the carpool can claim the parking expense as a tax benefit. However, only you can claim the parking expense as a tax benefit.

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10. I drive to a parking lot where I am picked up by my vanpool and taken to work. Can I claim a tax benefit for my parking expenses?

    Yes, if you are charged to park, you can set aside up to the monthly IRS allowable limit for parking, pretax, from your salary monthly to pay for your parking expense. You may also be eligible to set aside an additional amount, pretax, up to the monthly IRS allowable limit to pay for your vanpool expense. The tax-free monthly limits for each must be observed.

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11. Does my employer have to offer me the commuter tax benefit?

    No, participation in this tax benefit is voluntary and your employer is not required to offer it to you. But, there are valuable tax savings that employers will receive if they let employees participate in a TransitChek^®  Program.

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