Commuter Expense Reimbursement Account


Employees deduct parking and commuter costs with pre-tax money.

A Commuter Expense Reimbursement Account (CERA) allows employees to have their parking and commuter expenses to and from work deducted on a pre-tax basis. Employees can set aside up to the IRS maximum amount per month for parking expenses and mass transit and vanpooling.

How does CERA work?

Employees who want to participate in a CERA must enroll for it each year. The annual election is divided by the number of payroll cycles during the plan year to determine a per pay period amount. This amount is reduced from the employee’s income prior to taxes.

When commuter expenses occur, employees submit a completed claim form along with the appropriate documentation required for reimbursement. Employees cannot be reimbursed more than the balance in their account. Claims are processed within 2-3 business days. Members are issued a check or they may have their reimbursement deposited into their bank account.

Do funds roll over at the end of the year?

The plan may allow remaining funds to roll over to the next year. If the plan does not allow funds to roll over, employees have a run-out period to request reimbursement only for commuter expenses from the plan year. Any funds remaining in the account at the end of the run-out period will be returned to the employer.




Resources

Didn’t find what you were looking for? Visit our Resources page for additional forms to make changes to accounts, determine eligibility and more!

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Contact us

To receive more information about our services, contact your agent or BenefitHelp Solutions sales representative by email or phone: 503-412-4210 or 888-398-8057. For specific account information, please contact a Customer Service representative at 503-219-3679 or 888-398-8057.

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