LEARN MORE ABOUT THE COMMUTER BENEFIT PLAN
The Commuter Benefit Plan (CBP) is a voluntary employee benefit that allows employees to save money by using pre-tax dollars to pay for work-related commuting expenses such as bus/rail passes, transit vouchers, Metrolink passes, Transit Access Pass cards (TAP cards), vanpool fees, and parking. The CBP also offers automatic payment and delivery features for these purchases.
Click here for instructions on how to access your new CBP account
Per IRS regulations, County employees, through the CBP, can contribute up to $315 per month in pre-tax payroll deductions to purchase transit products and up to another $315 per month to pay for parking expenses. Accordingly, employees can make a pre-tax contribution of up to $630 per month for eligible expenses. Please note that pre-tax contributions cannot be refunded.
Employees do not have to pay Federal or State taxes or the Hospital Insurance Tax (HIT), if applicable, on the pre-tax money used to pay for eligible transportation and/or parking expenses under the CBP, thus reducing their overall taxable income. Eligible expenses that exceed the IRS limit are deducted from an employee’s paycheck on an after-tax basis. There is a monthly after-tax administrative fee of $4.00 for plan participation, paid by employees only if there is a current paycheck deduction.
Employees can enroll, make changes, or suspend their participation in the CBP anytime during the year. Commuter orders placed by 8:59 pm PT on the 10th of each month will be fulfilled by the following month. The payroll deduction will appear on the second paycheck of the same month of the associated CBP deadline. For example, an employee placing an order by January 10th will receive that order by February 1st, and the payroll deduction will be reflected on the second paycheck in January.
SEIU Local 721 Subsidy
Employees represented by SEIU Local 721 may be eligible to receive a $70 subsidy while supplies last towards commuting expenses if they meet the following conditions: (1) currently are enrolled in the CBP, (2) spend at least $70 each month on transit pass(es), and (3) do not currently receive the Civic Center monthly transportation allowance. Please note that vanpool expenses do not qualify.
Questions?
For CBP elections, you can contact the current CBP administrator by phone at (866) 225-0067, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m., Monday to Friday (except for some holidays).
Should you have any questions about CBP benefits prior to the 2023 benefit year, please contact HealthEquity customer service at (877) 924-3967 or visit their website at www.wageworks.com.
Affiliated
Transportation Agencies
For More Information:
Please Call: (866) 225-0067
7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday
(except some holidays)