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.
Accor Services offers employers two program options to provide
commuter benefits to their employees. With the 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.
A
bout 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.
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.