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Potential bad news for Federal Employees who take Public Transit- The IRS recently announced that the maximum permissible mass transit benefit in Calendar Year 2014 is $130 (down from $245 in 2013).

This directly affects the Federal Transportation Incentive Program (TIP) for next year.  Here’s a quick sampling of monthly transit passes in different metro areas:

• San Diego North County Coaster – $165
• Chicago Transit Authority Monthly Pass – $100
• Seattle to Bremerton Ferry WSDOT Monthly Pass – $99.40
• Washington DC Metro 28-Day Pass – $230

… so TIP only falls short in DC and San Diego areas.

Private sector employers are rarely this generous with commuter benefits.  In fact, some employees are happy to have a Section 132 Flexible Spending Account (FSA), which is creatively named after IRS section 132.   The Section 132 FSA allows the employee to set aside up to $130 per month for mass transit and up to $250 per month for parking.  Unlike  TIP, there’s no stipend from your employer- you’re just purchasing mass transit tickets with before-tax dollars (which is a discount because FSA’s are Federal-, State-, and ‘Payroll’-Tax free).

If your city is not mentioned above, would love to hear the Public Transit pass costs in your town in the Comments Section.

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