If you have a Commuter Benefit Plan (CBP), you may have heard that it’s “evergreen.” How so? Well, you can look at it three different ways. It puts more green in your pocket, it helps you go green, and your account election is evergreen. Evergreen commuting is the best way to commute!
More green in your pocket
By signing up for a Commuter Benefit Plan, you immediately put more money in your wallet since the money is set aside is tax-free. If you’re new to pre-tax commuter benefits, here are five basic facts you should know:
- You can have either a Mass Transit Account or a Parking Account or both at the same time
- The maximum amount you can put in each account every month is $280
- Leftover or unused funds automatically roll to the next month
- You can’t use money from your transit account for parking expenses (and vice versa)
- Your taxable wages are reduced by 30% to 40%
By setting aside commuting funds in a Mass Transit Account or Parking Account on a pre-tax basis, you could save hundreds of dollars annually. For example, if your monthly transit expense is $125, you could save an estimated $450 annually. If you have a higher commuting expense, you could save as much as $936* annually for both mass transit and parking. If you max out each account for the year, that’s more than $1,800 in savings! Calculate your savings and see how much green can go back in your pocket.
Going green
By commuting via mass transit- whether it’s a train, bus, or vanpool you are reducing your carbon footprint. Going green takes small, conscious steps and if you’re already commuting for work, you’ve won half the battle. The other half is signing up for a green commute (which is the best way to commute.) That’s what we call an automatic win-win!
Evergreen account election
There is a common misconception among those who have an account through a CBP that they need to enroll each plan year. The confusion is understandable, as many other pre-tax benefit plans require re-enrollment. However, with a Mass Transit Account or Parking Account, re-enrollment isn’t necessary. Any funds remaining in your account at the end of the year roll into the next plan year and are immediately available for use via your Beniversal® Prepaid Mastercard®. If you want to change your election, you can easily do so by logging into your account on BRIWEB.
If you’re new to having a Mass Transit Account or Parking Account, visit our Commuter Benefits Plan page to learn more about the key features of a Beniversal Commute!
