Taxi Improvement Fund - FAQ - TLC

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Taxi Improvement Fund - FAQ

Program Eligibility and Enrollment for Owners/Agents

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Who is eligible for this program?

Owners/agents of yellow cab medallions are eligible for the program for each approved accessible vehicle placed into service. See TLC Industry Notice #19-09 (PDF) for information on fund eligibility.
For information on the TLC’s accessible vehicle requirements for independent and unrestricted mini-fleet medallions, see TLC Industry Notice #16-06 (PDF).

How do I apply for the Program?

Follow the instructions on the enrollment packet (PDF) and mail the following forms to the PO Box in the instructions:

Owner Authorization Form (2 pages)

The City of New York Substitute Form W-9 (1 page)

Bank Document (1 page)

All documents must be mailed to the address listed on the instruction page of the Authorization Forms. Do not mail your documents to the TLC.

Within one month of submitting your application, you should receive notification by email regarding the status of your application.

What information must be present on the Bank Document?

For a bank document to be accepted it must include the following typewritten information: account-holder name, account-holder address, account number, and routing number.

Acceptable bank documents include a letter from your financial institution, a direct deposit form, a wire transfer form, or a voided check. See the examples in the enrollment instructions for more details.

Note that the name, account and routing numbers on the bank document must match the names used on the other enrollment forms.

I received a Missing Requirements Letter, what does that mean?

If you received a “missing requirements letter” or a “missing requirements notice” then we identified a problem with your application identified during the enrollment and validation process. This could be because the information you provided in your application either is incorrect or did not match TLC records, or your application is incomplete.

What do I do if I receive a Missing Requirements Letter?

The email you received should provide more detail on the problem with your application. You need to address the issues that are stated in the Missing Requirements Letter and resubmit a new application, complete with all three filled out forms, to the address listed in the instructions. Missing Requirements Letters will only be sent via email; be sure to provide the correct email address in your TIF application for the fastest response time.esubmit your application. Missing Requirements Letters will only be sent via email. Be sure to provide the correct email address in your TIF/SHLIF application for the fastest response time.

What do I do if my bank account closes or changes?

The TIF Program will make payments to an enrolled and eligible owner or agent until and unless the owner or agent informs us of an account change, or a payment is returned by the bank. We cannot return/reassign a payment that has already been made. If your bank account information changes, inform us immediately by submitting the TIF webform. You must then reapply with the new bank account information, and the TIF Program will make future payments to the new account once your re-enrollment is complete.

Can I update my information after I enroll in the Program?

Yes, if your medallion is enrolled and you wish to change any information on file with the TIF Program (agent or owner of record, banking information, contact information), you must submit a completely new application following the instructions above. TIF staff will contact you to verify that you wish to make an account update in the next enrollment cycle. If your medallion ownership or agent status changes, the new owner or agent must submit a new application to update your information with the TIF Program

If I hack-up a used WAV on a medallion to meet the accessibility requirement, will this vehicle be eligible for the TIF Program?

Any wheelchair accessible vehicle that that meets the requirements of Ch 67-06 of TLC rules (PDF). A vehicle may only receive one hack-up payment. A medallion that hacks up a wheelchair accessible taxicab that is not eligible for a hack-up payment may be eligible to receive operational payments

Program Payments for Owners/Agents

How do I get paid in this program?

Payments will only be made by direct deposit using the banking information you provide during enrollment. Payments are made near the of each month, and the transaction will appear as an “ACH Transfer” on your bank statement. Monthly payments are posted to the New York City Open Data portal.

What is the timeline from when I submit my documents to when I receive my payment?

The enrollment process for the owner program begins at the start of each month, and takes approximately one month to complete. Hack-up payments are also provided once a month, and operational payments are provided once a quarter. For more detailed timeline information, see the Owner/Agent Payroll Calendar (PDF).

When will I be eligible for a $14,000 hack-up payment?

Medallions that successfully enroll in the Fund and meet all program requirements are eligible to receive a hack-up payment after the purchase and hack-up of a TLC-approved Wheelchair Accessible Vehicle (WAV). Hack-up payments are made on a monthly basis For additional information on vehicle requirements, visit our Vehicles Approved as Taxicabs. For the latest rules on payment criteria please see TLC Industry Notice #19-09.

Are there specific criteria that vehicles must meet to receive maintenance payments after each inspection?

Yes. In order to receive maintenance payments, the following criteria must be satisfied:

The medallion completed at least 250 trips within a quarter;

The medallion was logged into the Accessible Dispatch program;

The medallion must not have any unpaid Taxi Improvement Surcharge payments;

The medallion must not have any outstanding debt with the City of New York.

Owners and agents will be notified of any such issues during the enrollment process. To review and pay and outstanding Taxi Improvement Surcharge bills, visit the online payment system LARS. For the latest rules on payment criteria please see TLC Industry Notice #19-09.

If I believe the payment I received is incorrect, whom do I contact?

Payments are posted to the New York City Open Data portal, one to two business days after each payment is disbursed. Once you have received a payment, visit this page to check which medallion(s) received what payment amount(s). Submit payment inquiries by using the TIF webform. Staff will respond to payment inquiries as quickly as possible.

What do I do if I am an agent with a medallion that has unpaid TIF Surcharge debt incurred before I became the managing agent?

We cannot make payments out of the Taxi Improvement Fund to any medallion that owes money into the Fund. It is the responsibility of the current agent to work with the owner to resolve any payments owed. If an owner or agent feels that a prior agent did not appropriately pay TIF Surcharge bills, contact tifcollections@tlc.nyc.gov to further discuss the issue and whether there is an appropriate case for prosecution.

Is this funding taxable?

Program participants should expect to receive a Form 1099 from the City of New York with their annual TIF income. Consult your tax professional for more information.

Program Eligibility and Enrollment for Drivers

Who is eligible for this program?

All current licensees who complete and submit program agreement documents are eligible to enroll in the Taxi Improvement Fund (TIF)/Street Hail Livery Improvement Fund (SHLIF) program. Only one enrollment is needed to receive payment from both funds. A driver will only receive payments for trips made in wheelchair accessible medallion and SHL taxicabs that take place after the driver is enrolled. See the Payments section below for more details.

How do I enroll in the Program?

Follow the instructions on the Enrollment Instructions for Drivers (PDF) and mail the following forms to the mailbox indicated in the instructions:

Driver Authorization Form (1 page).

The City of New York Substitute Form W-9 (1 page).

All documents must be mailed to the address listed on the instruction page of the Authorization Forms. Do not mail your documents to the TLC.

I received a Missing Requirements Letter, what does that mean?

If you receive a Missing Requirements Letter then we encountered a problem with the information you provided during our enrollment and validation process. Common problems include the information you provided in your application is incorrect or does not match TLC records, or your application is incomplete.

What do I do if I receive a Missing Requirements Letter?

The letter you received should provide more detail on the problem with your application. You need to address the issues that are stated in the Missing Requirements Letter and resubmit both forms in a new application packet. If there was a problem with your address, check the LARS online system and ensure that your mailing address and other information is up to date. If your mailing address is no longer accurate, update it in LARS and then resubmit your application. Missing Requirements Letters will only be sent via email. Be sure to provide the correct email address in your TIF/SHLIF application for the fastest response time.

I was notified that I have been enrolled in the program but I still have not received my card. What is happening?

Debit cards usually take 7-10 business days from the date you receive the confirmation email to arrive at the address provided in your application. Debit cards arrive by mail in a white unmarked envelope. If you suspect your card has been lost or stolen, or have any other problems with your debit card, contact Bank of America at (866) 213-4074 as soon as possible.

Program Payments for Drivers

How does this program work?

Enrolled drivers will receive $1.00 for every trip made in a wheelchair accessible yellow or green taxicab regardless of whether the passenger uses a wheelchair or not. When does payment start?

When does payment start?

The TLC will start counting WAV trips after the driver is successfully enrolled (drivers will be notified by email). All drivers are paid on the same bi-weekly schedule for the same trip dates. Drivers will not receive “back pay” so drivers should enroll as soon as they are licensed. How will I get paid?

How will I get paid?

The TLC will release payments every other Friday following the calendar available in TIF Driver Payroll Calendar (PDF). Drivers enrolled in this program will receive will have their funding distributed through Paypal.

What trips is a driver being paid for on a given pay date?

Payments look back by about one month. For example, a driver who enrolls in early November 2019 and gets their first payment on November 15 will be paid on that date for trips made between 10/5/2019 – 10/18/2019. All subsequent payments follow the same schedule. Drivers may refer to this calendar TIF Driver Payroll Calendar (PDF) for the exact payment schedule.

Is there a minimum number of trips I must drive in order to get paid?

A driver must complete at least 20 trips in any given two weeks period in order to receive payments for that period. If a driver does not complete 20 trips in any given period, the money the driver earned will be carried over and added to a future payment and paid once the driver has earned at least $20.

I think that I was not paid the correct amount. Who do I contact?

Submit payment inquiries via the TIF webform. Staff will respond to payment inquiries as quickly as possible. Be prepared to provide documentation for your claim.

Is this a reimbursement of the 50-cent MTA State Surcharge?

No, the TIF/SHLIF Driver program is not a reimbursement program for the 50-cent MTA State Surcharge. Visit the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance page or visit Department of Taxation and Finance - Information on the taxicab and hail vehicle trip tax for more information on this New York State program.

Will I receive deadhead payments for Accessible Dispatch trips through my debit card?

No, dispatch fees for the Accessible Dispatch program are managed by MTM and are disbursed directly to drivers by their Technology Service Providers. If you believe you have not received appropriate dispatch payments, contact your Technology Service Provider. For more information about this Program, visit Accessible Dispatch page for drivers or this TLC Industry Notice #17-02 (PDF).

Is this funding taxable?

Program participants should expect to receive a Form 1099 from the City of New York with their annual TIF/SHLIF income. Consult your tax professional for more information. If you are a medallion owner or agent, or a taxi or SHL driver, with a question about enrollment or payment, submit your question using the

If you are a medallion owner or agent, or a taxi driver, with a question about enrollment or payment, submit the TIF/SHLIF webform.