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Commuter Benefits Program

Save money while commuting to work

Commuter benefits overview

Now you can reduce your commuting expenses by taking advantage of Qualified Commuter and Parking Benefits. The IRS allows for certain transit expenses to be deducted from your paycheck on a pre-tax basis. Because you do not pay federal income or FICA taxes on these expenses, you can save hundreds on your commuting costs!

Download the 2021 Commuter Benefits Overview.

Download the 2022 Commuter Benefits Overview.*

*Effective January 1, 2022.

Account Advantages

  • Substantial Tax Savings – Reduce your taxable income by the amount of transit you purchase, subject to IRS limits.
  • Multiple Uses – Use for a number of work-related transportation and parking expenses, including trains, buses, subways, ferries, and vanpools.
  • Wallet Wise and Environmentally Friendly – Save money on gas while improving air quality and reducing energy consumption, automobile congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.

Eligible Expenses

Eligible Transit Expenses:

  • Buses
  • Trains & subways
  • Ferries
  • Vanpools
  • Commuter highway vehicles
  • Car Service Apps — uberPOOL and Lyft Line

Eligible Parking Expenses:

  • Parking at or near your place of employment
  • Parking at a location from which you commute to work

Ineligible Transit and Parking Expenses:

  • Bridge tolls
  • Highway tolls
  • Expenses for someone other than you
  • Fuel
  • Mileage
  • Uber and Lyft services not associated with uberPOOL and Lyft Line services

Business travel and other reimbursed expenses are also excluded from this benefit.

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Have questions or need help?

You can get support 24/7 at 833-881-8158.

Investments are not FDIC insured, are not bank issued or guaranteed by Optum Financial or its subsidiaries, including Optum Bank, and are subject to risk including fluctuations in value and the possible loss of the principal amount invested.

Self-directed mutual fund investment options are made available through the services of an independent investment advisor, or your plan sponsor. Discretionary advisory services are provided by Betterment LLC, an SEC-registered investment adviser, with associated brokerage transactions provided by Betterment Securities, Member FINRA/SIPC. For details and disclosures visit betterment.com. The Schwab Health Savings Brokerage Account is offered to certain account holders through Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. For details and disclosures, visit schwab.com. Brokerage services are offered to certain account holders through TD Ameritrade, Inc., Member FDIC/SIPC and a subsidiary of The Charles Schwab Corporation. For details and disclosures, visit tdameritrade.com.

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Health savings accounts (HSAs) are individual accounts offered through Optum Bank®, Member FDIC, or ConnectYourCare, LLC, an IRS-Designated Non-Bank Custodian of HSAs, each a subsidiary of Optum Financial, Inc. Neither Optum Financial, Inc. nor ConnectYourCare, LLC is a bank or an FDIC insured institution. HSAs are subject to eligibility requirements and restrictions on deposits and withdrawals to avoid IRS penalties. State taxes may apply. Fees may reduce earnings on account.

Flexible spending accounts (FSAs), dependent care assistance programs (DCAPs), health reimbursement arrangements (HRAs), Commuter and Parking Benefits, Tuition Assistance Plans, Adoption Assistance Plans, Surrogacy Assistance Plans, Wellness Benefits, and Lifestyle Accounts (collectively, “Employer-Sponsored Plans”) are administered on behalf of your plan sponsor by Optum Financial, Inc. or ConnectYourCare, LLC (collectively, "Optum Financial") and are subject to eligibility and restrictions. Employer-Sponsored Plans are not individually owned and amounts available under the Employer-Sponsored Plan are not FDIC insured. This communication is not intended as legal or tax advice. Federal and state laws and regulations are subject to change. Please contact a legal or tax professional for advice on eligibility, tax treatment, and restrictions. Please contact your plan administrator with questions about enrollment or plan restrictions.

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Your employer-sponsored plan may exclude reimbursement for certain categories of items. Check your plan document and summary plan description or contact your benefits department for specific coverage details.

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