Transportation legislation enables Sarah Lawrence College to offer employees the opportunity to set aside up to $255 a month ($3,060 a year) from their paycheck, on a pre-tax basis, to pay for commuting cost. In effect, the employees reimburse themselves on a tax-free basis for commuting expenses.
How Does It Work?
Employees should notify Human Resources by email of their interest in the program. Employees may then self-enroll and self-administer transit benefits at transitchek.com. Employees will receive up to $121 per month in the form of a MetroCard or up to $255 per month as a prepaid Visa Card to purchase mass transit. This amount is exempt from Federal Income, New York State and City Income, Social Security and Medicare Taxes.
TransitChek Policy and Advantages
- Sarah Lawrence College is offering the Premium TransitChek program as a pre-tax benefit. This program will allow eligible employees to commute tax-free up to $255 per month, $3,060 per year.
- By participation in the pre-tax TransitChek program, employees in effect give themselves a raise in pay. Depending on the tax bracket and the amount set aside, the tax-exemption will be at least 30% of the amount set aside – for example, an employee in a salary range of $20,000 to $40,000 who receives $1,200 a year in pre-tax TransitChek actually reduces his/her payroll taxes by over $360.
- This amount is exempt from Federal Income, New York State and City Income, Social Security and Medicare taxes.
- Commuting costs cannot otherwise be “written off” as income tax deductions.
- TransitChek prepaid Visa Cards are accepted by providers of mass transit in the New York Metro area, including LIRR, Metro-North, NJ Transit, PATH, MTA subways and buses, suburban buses, van pools and ferry service. For more information please consult the list of TransitChek Operators or go to the TransitChek website.
Procedure:
The following procedures shall apply to Premium TransitChek Program participants:
- Employees may enroll on a monthly basis.
- Employee must notify Human Resources by email of their interest in the program.
- Employees may review, change, and manage their monthly benefit online at transitchek.com.
- TransitChek products are paid for by Employee one month in advance.
- TransitChek products will be mailed to the employee's home and reloaded monthly thereafter.
- TransitChek products can be replaced if they are lost or stolen but a charge may be applied.
- TransitChek products will be made available at the end of each month for transportation the following month.
- In the event of separation from the College, the College shall reverse TransitChek payroll deductions for the month of separation.
- The College reserves the right in its sole discretion to modify, amend, suspend or terminate the TransitChek Program at any time without notice. No program is intended as a guarantee of benefits or rights.