Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits - Transit and Parking Eligible Expenses

Employers’ Commuter Benefits Programs — referred to by some as commuter FSAs or transit FSAs — give employees the ability to use pre-tax funds for work-related transit and parking expenses.

Governed under Section 132 of the tax code, eligible commuter expenses include public transportation used for your transit to work and many parking expenses. Only your work-related commuter expenses are eligible. This is an individual benefit only, so you are unable to use this benefit for your spouse’s or dependents’ commuter expenses.

Below are some examples of qualified and unqualified expenses.

commuter benefits - transit and parking 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.

Be sure to also check out our HSA, FSA, and HRA Eligible Expenses list and Dependent Care FSA Eligible Expenses list.

Your employer might have additional limitations. See your plan documents for more information. If you have additional questions regarding eligible expenses, please contact your accountant or financial advisor.