Commuter benefit

[shivas]

I'm curious, I know a lot of folks here use their bikes to commute to work. Do any of you receive a $20-per-month bicycle commuter benefit.

I just got an email from people for bikes stating in part:
"Over the weekend the U.S. Senate passed their version of a new tax bill that eliminates the $20-per-month bicycle commuter benefit. This is a tax-free reimbursement that employers can pay their employees for expenses related to bicycle commuting."

Seems they left no stone unturned in their zeal to account for every nickel and dime. (Trying not to be political in my wording.)

 

[Citycrosser]

It's offered as a benefit through employers and my employer does offer that benefit.

 

[Over50]

I think I too could have received this benefit. In addition I could have received more to give up my parking space. But I only commuted by bike 2 to 3 days per week this year so I chose not to take advantage.

 

[Dewey]

Do any of you receive a $20-per-month bicycle commuter benefit?

No, I work in DC which has a law requiring non-profit employers with >50 employees provide some sort of cycling benefit, my employer chose to provide discounted membership to Capital Bikeshare, which is great but doesn't help those of us who ride our own bicycle to work. I have been lobbying HR for 2 years to adopt the cycling commuter benefit, among peers in the DC area the NIH, FCC, HUD, EPA, NSA, and American University provide this option for their employees. Congressman Earl Blumenaur has put forward a bill for this benefit every year in the past. This fall I spoke with the right HR person who promised to raise it at the next employee benefits meeting only for this benefit to be cut in the tax-bill. Big sigh.

 

[Dewey]

Congressman Blumenauer has introduced a bill HR1507 to restore the bicycle commuter benefit that was eliminated under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The wording now mentions ebikes up to 750w/20mph (Class 1 & 2), and bikeshare. Where the previous benefit was a $20/month reimbursement (typically on a debit card) in exchange for giving up your other employer transit/parking benefits the wording this time is a pre-tax wage benefit valued up to 20% of employee monthly parking. My University charges a $120 monthly motorcycle parking rate so 20% would be a small increase to $24/month. A pre-tax wage benefit would be simpler for HR to administer than a reimbursement on a debit card by a 3rd party company, so might be more palatable for them if the bill were to become law.

 

[Dewey]

BRAIN report Congressman Blumenauer has reintroduced the bill as the Bicycle Commuter Act of 2021 H.R. 384 increasing the amount of a pretax benefit to $81 per month and repeating that ebikes up to 750w/20mph are eligible. The last 2019 bill died in the House Ways and Means committee.