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The Commuter Spending Account (CSA) is a valuable benefit program that allows you to save money on your eligible commuting expenses. The CSA allows you to pay for qualified transportation expenses (e.g., transit and parking) on a pre-tax basis, subject to IRS-required maximums.
The Commuter Spending Account offers flexibility and convenience by allowing you to enroll or change your plan elections via the internet, as often as once a month throughout the year. To enable this convenience, we have partnered with WageWorks (www.wageworks.com) to administer this new program.
Highlights of the Commuter Spending Account (CSA)
How the Commuter Spending Account (CSA) Works
Plan Eligibility
Enrolling in the Commuter Spending Account
How Payroll Deductions Work
Highlights of the Commuter Spending Account (CSA)
- Purchase your commuting passes and make parking payments directly online, which eliminates the need to file a claim form
- Free mail delivery to your home of your transit passes
- Arrange for automatic payment of your parking fees which eliminates the need to file a claim form if you pay for your parking on a monthly basis
- Pay for eligible costs related to commuting to work through convenient payroll deductions
- Increased flexibility that allows you to change your election or terminate your participation if your monthly commuting needs change
- If your commuting expenses vary (for instance, if you take the train on some days but the bus on other days), you can select a new option for a "commuter card" so that you can make purchases as needed each month.
- No receipts are required for most options. However, for those who pay for parking on a daily basis, you will have to file a claim for reimbursement
| How the Commuter Spending Account (CSA) Works |
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There are two categories of eligible commuting expenses:
- Transit (bus, ferry, and metro) passes or van pooling expenses - the transit pass that you normally purchase through the transit agency can now be purchased via WageWorks' website. WageWorks will mail your pass to your home address before the beginning of the month.
- Commuter parking expenses - you can choose one of two ways to pay for your commuter parking expenses. You can either direct WageWorks to make payments on your behalf OR you can first pay the expenses yourself and then submit a simple claim form with proof of service.
The amount of before-tax dollars that you can use to pay for qualified transportation and parking expenses is subject to monthly limits, which are set by the IRS. If you participate in CSA, your contributions - up to these monthly limits - are deducted from your paycheck before taxes are withheld, and the balance of your CSA contributions will be deducted from your paycheck on an after-tax basis. As a result, participating in CSA can help you reduce the amount you pay in federal income taxes, Social Security taxes and, where applicable, state and local income taxes.
The following are limits to how much you can contribute on a pre-tax basis:
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For public transit or vanpooling expenses |
For parking expenses |
| Minimum contribution (per month) |
$25 |
$25 |
| Maximum contribution (per month)* Per IRS regulations |
$115 |
$220 |
To be eligible for CSA, you must be a regular Full-Time Faculty member, or a Physician or Staff member with base hours of 17½ or more per week. Please note that Faculty and Scientists must earn a base salary of at least $30,00 | | |
