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PROGRAMS

Benefits & Incentives

Whether you’re an employer attempting to enhance the companies’ environmental strategies or a commuter trying to find ways to save money, there are many benefits associated with participating in a rideshare program.

EMPLOYER	COMMUTER
Tax Savings	Cost Savings/Insurance Rates
Improved employee recruitment and retention	Minimize car maintenance
Reduced demand for parking	Preferential parking
Access to labor markets	Reduced traffic congestion
Enhanced productivity & punctuality	Social aspects
Reduced absenteeism	Guaranteed Ride Home
Corporate environmental performance & citizenship	Free commuter matchlist
COMMUNITY
Improved quality of life	More effective transportation system
Improved air quality	Fewer road construction impacts

Tax Credits

Changes to the federal tax code have made transportation fringe benefits more appealing than ever.  Four tax advantage transportation benefit options are available.

Benefits in Addition to Salary: Employers may provide up to $115 per month to employees who commute to work by transit or vanpool.  The employer pays for the benefit and receives the equivalent deduction from business income taxes.  Employees receive the benefit completely free of payroll and income taxes, in addition to their current salary.  Employers can pay directly for vanpool expenses or purchase transit passes for employees.  Alternatively, they can reimburse employees if these passes are not available and the employee provides a receipt.

Benefits Instead of Salary: Employers may permit their employees to set aside up to $115 per month of their pre-tax income to pay for transit and vanpools.  Employees save on income taxes since that amount is no longer reported as taxable salary.  Employers are able to reduce their payroll costs.

Combination: Employers may share the cost of commuting with their employees.  Employers can give their employees part of the cost in addition to salary and allow their employees to set aside part of their pre-tax income to pay the remaining amount.  The employer can subsidize any amount, but only $115 per month is tax deductible.  Any amount over that is taxable.

Qualified Parking: Employers may offer employees the option of cashing out the value of employer provided parking.  Employee may receive up to $220 per month tax free for giving up their parking space.

Vanpool Subsidies

The San Joaquin Council of Governments currently offers new vanpools a $150 subsidy per month per van for one year.

The San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District (SJVAPCD) offers a $350 Commuter Vanpool Passenger Subsidy for new vanpools for one year.  The commuter must reside within the geographic area of the SJVAPCD and meet a one-way mileage requirement.  Other eligibility requirements may apply.