Van Pools Blog

We know how important the commuter benefits are to our vanpoolers.  It’s nice to see we’re not the only ones wanting to get these benefits extended.  Here is a great story from Edenred, a commuter benefits company.  After reading this article, please take a minute to sign the petition below to show your support for maintaining the mass transit benefit at the current $230 per month maximum.

BOSTON, Nov 29, 2010 (BUSINESS WIRE) — Edenred, the provider of the premier commuter benefits programs, Commuter Check and WiredCommute, urges Congress to take action on transit benefit parity. Workers nationwide who commute using public transportation and vanpools to their jobs and participate in an employer-sponsored pre-tax transit benefit will have less to celebrate on New Year’s Day.

In February of 2009, the transit benefit pre-tax “cap” was increased as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) from $120 per month to $230 per month matching the amount allowed for parking expenses. This benefit, lead by Congressman Jim McGovern of Massachusetts (D), is set to expire at the end of 2010 and return to $120 per month. Thousands of commuters and employers will see a significant drop in their pre-tax savings. It is estimated that some commuters will see up to a 22 percent increase in the cost of commuting (assuming a national tax rate average of 31.6 percent).

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