Transit Benefit Program. The employer can deduct these costs as business expenses and the benefits are not taxable income to the employee. Vanpools must meet specific requirements to qualify for the program. The TransitChek program in the New York and Philadelphia region is one example of a successful program. Employers purchase regional transit vouchers for distribution to employees and receive tax benefits.
Employees use the vouchers with any of the region's public and private transit operators.
Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Milwaukee, Norfolk and Washington, D.C. all offer such programs. Commuterbucks is a successful vanpool voucher program run by VPSI, Inc., a national company, that simplifies the administrative burden for employers. Employers purchase vouchers for employees to use towards VPSI service fares. Guaranteed Ride Home. For those who ride public transportation, some transit agencies and private employers offer a guaranteed ride home to employees faced with home emergencies or illness.