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Register for Employer Seminars
Apply
for a SmartBenefits® account
D & B Bus/Quick's Commuter, MARC, VRE, CommuterDirect and Van Pools
CY 2008 Benefit Increases
The monthly Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefits limits for transit and vanpools will increase from $110 to $115 and for parking from $215 to $220 in calendar year 2008. http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-drop/rp-07-66.pdf
SmartBenefits® is a better alternative to Metrocheks. Washington Post article: "GAO Finds Fraud in Commuter Program"
How to Use SmarTrip Video
Important news about the switch from Metrochek to SmartBenefits®
The Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) is focusing on SmartBenefits® as the primary means of providing transit benefits. SmartBenefits® is a Web-based program whereby employers load the dollar value of employees' Metrochek commuter benefits electronically onto their SmarTrip® cards.
In addition to Metrorail and Metrobus, SmarTrip® is now accepted on DASH, Ride On, Fairfax Connector, CUE, Loudoun County Transit and registered vanpools. The remaining commuter bus and rail systems will accept SmarTrip® soon.
It’s never been a better time to switch from paper Metrocheks to SmartBenefits®. And it couldn’t be easier to sign up. Go to MetroOpensDoors.com and click on SmartBenefits®. Or call 202-962-1326 and choose Option 1 for details. Join the other employers who’ve discovered how convenient SmartBenefits® really is.
While WMATA is pleased to assist employers with the establishment of their SmartBenefits® program, it is the responsibility of each employer to ensure that their program complies with all IRS requirements. We therefore recommend that each employer discuss their program with their own tax advisor to ensure compliance with IRS requirements.
Federal legislation allows employers to provide employees with a
tax-free or pre-tax transit benefit of up to $115 per month and a
parking benefit up to $220 per month. SmartBenefits participants
can use their SmarTrip® card for Metrobus, Metrorail, parking at
Metro operated facilities, and participating van pools. Employees
enroll in the new SmartBenefits® Official Travel program to assign
value to SmarTrip® cards for employees to use for local business travel
on Metro.
Just 3 Easy Steps To Start SmartBenefits®
1. Apply
for a SmartBenefits® account
2. Collect employee’s SmarTrip® serial number. Employees who use
their Metrochek benefit for Metrobus, Metrorail, participating van
pool services and Metro station parking give you the serial number
of their registered SmarTrip®
card. (NOTE: employees who use their Metrochek benefit to purchase
Metro passes for MARC, VRE, and commuter buses and other types of
transit services cannot use SmartBenefits® at this time).
3. Logon to your
SmartBenefits® account between the first and 15th day of the month,
enter the SmarTrip® serial numbers and benefit amounts and your employees
will start in the program the first day of the upcoming month. You
can also add Metrochek cards to your SmartBenefits® order. For example:
logon to your SmartBenefits® account sometime between September 1
and September 15 - do your data entry and employees will get their
SmartBenefits® starting October 1.
You can access your account using Internet Explorer version 5.0 or
above, or Netscape 7.1. If you use Internet Explorer 5.0 or above
and experience any difficulties logging on or navigating in your
account, click
here for information. You can also download Netscape 7.1 and
use it as your primary or alternative browser to access SmartBenefits®.
Questions? Call your assigned Metro Account Representative or Metro's
Office of Marketing at 202-962-1326 and select option one.
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