Commuter Benefits Program Leader Delivers New Commuter Benefit Cards for Transit and Parking
WATERTOWN, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Accor Services USA, leader in innovative employee benefits solutions and premier provider of national commuter benefit programs with its Commuter Check® and WiredCommute® programs, today announced the availability of its new Commuter Check Card Prepaid MasterCard®, a new prepaid card commuters can use in accordance with the Qualified Transportation Fringe Benefit (IRS Tax Code Section 132(f)) to pay for commuting and commute-related parking expenses. Commuter Check Cards make paying for commuting and commute-related parking easier and more convenient than ever before.
Compliance
A fully compliant commuter benefit product, the Commuter Check Card is ahead of the curve in terms of adhering to the guidelines set forth by the IRS Ruling 2006 – 57 and subsequent notices issued by the IRS that delayed the implementation of the ruling to January 2011. Commuter Check Card prepaid products for transit and parking employ terminal restriction technology that limits usage of the cards to specific Merchant ID codes for transit and parking. The Commuter Check Card is already in compliance with the IRS Ruling ahead of the implementation deadline.
Commuter Benefit Cards for all commuting needs
Accor Services’ commuter benefit cards come in two varieties; Transit and Parking, to enable both transit riders and parkers to easily take advantage of the qualified transportation fringe benefit at automated vending machines across the country. Automated vending machines are fast becoming the fare collection choice of transit agencies and parking providers equally. With Accor Services new commuter benefit prepaid cards, it will be a breeze to purchase transit and parking with pre-tax dollars for commuters and parkers alike. The cards are also accepted at transit agency and parking provider operated staffed sales locations.
Commuter Benefit Cards for all Employer needs
Accor Services caters to employers nationwide with both anonymous and personalized versions of the Commuter Check Card for Transit and Parking.
With Accor Services offers employers two program options to provide commuter benefits to their employees. With he Commuter Check Office solution, employers that administer commuter benefits in-house can benefit from anonymous prepaid cards that are not specific to an employee, and are intended to be distributed, used and disposed of every month or quarter. The anonymous version of the Commuter Check card is not reloadable, rather will be loaded with funds once and used until the funds run out.
On the other hand, with the Commuter Check Direct and WiredCommute solutions, clients that outsource the administration of their commuter benefit program can benefit from personalized, reloadable version of the Commuter Check Card Prepaid MasterCard for transit and parking. These prepaid cards are assigned to employees, with their names associated with and imprinted on the cards for continuous use. These Commuter Check Card Prepaid MasterCards are reloaded with value based on the employees’ need for the following month, and can also be linked to commuters’ transit smart cards in markets where smart card administration is available via such as San Francisco’s TransLink Card.
Both anonymous and personalized Commuter Check Cards are enabled for pre and post tax funding and are fully compliant with Section 132 f and IRS Ruling 2006 – 57.
Taking advantage of the full benefit, commuters can save over $2,000 per year while employers save over $400 per employee in payroll taxes.
“We are excited to offer Commuter Check and WiredCommute program participants this option,” said Gerard Bridi, President of Accor Services USA. “These two Commuter Check Cards options are just our latest offering to make it ever-easier and convenient to take advantage of commuter benefits that help encourage public transit use and help protect our environment.”
Where Commuter Check Card Prepaid MasterCards Are Accepted
The Commuter Check Card for Transit, whether anonymous or personalized, is accepted at transit agencies or designated transit retail centers that accept Debit MasterCard where only transit passes, tickets, fare cards, and vanpool passes are sold. The Commuter Check Card for Parking is accepted at any parking provider that accepts Debit MasterCard for payment.
For more information, please visit www.commutercheck.com.
About Accor Services USA
Accor Services USA is a leader in innovative employee benefits solutions and premier provider of national commuter benefit programs: Commuter Check Benefit Solutions, a nationwide transit and parking voucher program; and WiredCommute, a program for private labeled commuter benefits. Its mission is to make tax-free commuter benefits a staple in employee benefits packages throughout the American workplace – while helping protect the environment.
About MasterCard Worldwide
MasterCard Worldwide advances global commerce by providing a critical economic link among financial institutions, businesses, cardholders and merchants worldwide. As a franchisor, processor and advisor, MasterCard develops and markets payment solutions, processes approximately 21 billion transactions each year, and provides industry-leading analysis and consulting services to financial-institution customers and merchants. Powered by the MasterCard Worldwide Network and through its family of brands, including MasterCard®, Maestro® and Cirrus®, MasterCard serves consumers and businesses in more than 210 countries and territories. For more information go to www.mastercard.com.
Commuter Check is a registered trademark of Accor Services USA. All other names may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.
The Commuter Check Card Prepaid MasterCard is issued by MetaBank™ pursuant to license by MasterCard International Incorporated. MasterCard is a registered trademark of MasterCard International Incorporated.
