Commuter benefits overview
The money you spend on your work commuting expenses can be deducted from your paycheck pretax, within IRS limits.
Eligible expenses include buses, trains, subways, ferries, vanpools and even shared ride services. If your plan includes parking, you can also pay for parking near your work or at your commuting lot.
Watch our commuter benefits video to learn more about how you could save thousands of dollars — or more — with pretax funds.
Employer election model: Year-round savings for your commute
If your employer’s plan design includes the employer election model, you’ll enroll annually during open enrollment to save throughout the plan year.
- Choose how much you want to contribute, within IRS limits.
- Your contribution amount will be deducted from your paycheck before taxes.
- Use your Optum Financial payment card to access your funds for qualified parking costs.
Swipe and save at parking providers
When you use your payment card for qualified parking expenses, there’s no paying cash upfront, no claim forms to fill out and no waiting for reimbursements.
Use your card at parking providers to pay for qualified expenses. The cost of the expense is automatically deducted from your account. You can check your account balance at any time by signing in to your account.
Transit expenses will be reimbursed by entering a manual claim in your Optum Financial account.
- Buses
- Trains and subways
- Ferries
- Vanpools
- Commuter highway vehicles
- Parking at or near your place of employment
- Parking at a location from which you commute to work
- Highway tolls
- Expenses for someone other than you
- Fuel
- Mileage
Business travel and other reimbursed expenses are also excluded from this benefit.
Answers to common questions about commuter benefits
Substantial Tax Savings
Reduce your taxable income by the amount of transit you purchase, subject to IRS limits.
Multiple Uses
Use for a number of work-related transportation and parking expenses, including trains, buses, subways, ferries, and vanpools.
Wallet Wise and Environmentally Friendly
Save money on gas while improving air quality and reducing energy consumption, automobile congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.
Sign in to view your account and check your balance.