Employer

Commuter benefits solutions for your organization.

WHO WE ARE

Our award-winning Employer Services team provides complimentary consultations to businesses starting or enhancing their commuter benefits programs.

WHAT WE DO

From transit benefits to secure bike parking and telework, we make it easy for your employees to choose sustainable, affordable and healthy ways to get to work.

WHY US

As a free service, we work with you to customize, create and easily administer employee transportation benefits. Our client-serving team is here to benefit both your bottom line and your employees.

300

EMPLOYERS ASSISTED

769

10K

EMPLOYEES HELPED

281 K

2K

COMMUTES CHANGED

33 K

10M KG

GREENHOUSE GASES REDUCED

54 M KG

OUR SERVICES

DC PARKING CASHOUT LAW

The DC Parking Cashout Law requires District employers with 20 or more covered employees that offer a parking benefit (free, subsidized, or reimbursed parking) to their employees to either: offer a Clean Air Fringe Benefit to employees offered the parking benefit, develop a transportation demand management plan, or pay a Clean Air Compliance fee.

All DC employers with 20+ covered employees must report to DDOT by January 15 annually or biennially. Read on to determine what and when you need to report.

Get started by browsing goDCgo’s compliance resources and materials to the left or get complimentary compliance help from goDCgo’s Employer Services team. 

Who is Required to Comply?

All District employers with 20 or more covered employees are covered by the law.  

If you provide a parking benefit, you need to implement a compliance option  and follow the reporting instructions for that compliance option.  

If you do not provide any parking benefits, or qualify for an exemption (see page 2 of our DC Parking Cashout Law toolkit for a list of exemptions), you do not have to choose a compliance option – but you do need to report.

Who is Required to Report?

All District employers with 20 or more covered employees need to report annually or biennially showing their compliance or exemption.

Helpful Tip for 2024: District employers who have 20 or more covered employees will need to report their compliance by January 15, 2025 if: 

  • They have not yet reported any compliance with the District’s Parking Cashout Law 
  • Their temporary Parking Cashout exemption has expired (i.e., parking garage lease ended) 
  • They created a TDM Plan in 2023 (must add last year’s plan to the reporting portal and submit annual commute mode data this year, showing a 10% decrease in drive alone rate) 
  • They complied by paying a Clean Air Compliance Fee but only provided proof of payment for one year (must submit proof of payment for 2024) 

Still not sure if you need to report? Take our reporting quiz to find out whether you need to report this year.

Take our reporting quiz to find out whether you need to report this year based on customized questions about your organization.

To view reporting requirements for multiple situations, read our blog post that outlines who needs to report to DDOT by January 15, 2024.

Where Do I Report My Compliance?

DC employers who are reporting this year must do so using DDOT’s reporting dashboard.

How Do I Use the Reporting Portal?

For more information on how to report your compliance or exemption, watch the recording of our DC Parking Cashout Law Compliance and Reporting webinar or read our How Do I Report blog

Overwhelmed by all the resources or not sure how to get started? If you’re new to the DC Parking Cashout Law use the following resources to get an overview of the law. 

DC PARKING CASHOUT LAW WEBINAR SERIES

New Reporting Process

New Reporting Process

Learn about what’s changed in the DC Parking Cashout Law reporting process and how to report your compliance.

 

October 11, 2023
11am-12pm

WATCH THE RECORDING

Compliance and Reporting

Compliance and Reporting

In depth coverage of the three different compliance options of the law and how to report your compliance.

 

October 25, 2023
11am-12pm

WATCH THE RECORDING

Office Hours

Office Hours

Chat with us and get your questions about compliance and reporting answered.

 

 

December 13, 2023
11am-1pm

REGISTER

CREATING A COMMUTE-FRIENDLY WORKPLACE

Commuter Benefits

Commuter benefits are transportation fringe benefits regulated under Section 132(f) of the IRS Tax Code, allowing employees to reduce their monthly commuting expenses for transit, vanpool, and parking. Employers can offer employees a range of pre-tax or subsidized transit benefits, as well as a host of related perks such as secure bike parking and assistance finding a carpool.

In DC, employers with 20 or more employees, must provide commuter benefits. See DC Commuter Benefits Law below for details. 

This law requires organizations and businesses with 20 or more employees who work in the District to offer commuter transit benefits—pre-tax or subsidized—for use on Metrorail, local and express buses, commuter trains and vanpools. Employer-provided transportation also complies with the Law.

Passed by the DC Council as part of the Sustainable DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2014, the Law aims to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions by reducing DC’s drive-alone rate. Similar to laws in San Francisco, New York and other metropolitan cities, this measure helps to reduce rush hour demands on our region’s roadways and expand access to public transit.

  • What Type of Commuter Benefits Comply with the Law

    1. Pre-tax Commuter Benefits: Employees can deduct up to $315 per month from their paycheck before taxes and use it towards Metrorail, bus, commuter rail and vanpool fares.

    2. Subsidized Commuter Benefits: Employers may offer financial support in the form of a fringe benefit (employee is not taxed) specifically to fund an employee’s daily commute.

    For information on the treatment of certain fringe benefits, including qualified fringe benefits, review the IRS 2019 Publication 15-B, the Employer’s Tax Guide to Fringe Benefits.

    Transit benefits can be administered in-house at no cost through WMATA’s SmartBenefits® program. On a monthly basis, pre-tax or subsidized funds are auto-loaded onto an employee’s SmarTrip® card for use on most regional transportation. If your employee(s) do not currently have a WMATA SmarTrip® card, they can conveniently purchase one online. Set up your organization’s SmartBenefits® account in the employer portal. Collect and enter employees’ SmarTrip® serial numbers and requested contribution amounts online by the 15th of the month. Funds appear on employees’ cards on the 1st of the following month. Watch the FICA and payroll tax savings roll in with praise from your satisfied employees!

    3. Employer Provided Transportation

    Employer provided transportation such as shuttles and vanpools also comply with the law. Contact goDCgo to learn more about these options.

  • Fines for Noncompliance

    Effective November 14, 2019, businesses operating in Washington, DC that are not in compliance with the DC Commuter Benefits Law, will be subject to fines. The Department of Employment Services (DOES) is enforcing the DC Commuter Benefits Law and can answer questions regarding compliance and enforcement. Please contact DOES, Office of Wage-Hour at 202-671-1880 or OWH.ask@dc.gov.

    For the first offense, each month that a business is not in compliance could result in a fine of $100 per covered employee. Repeat offenders would see fines of $200 per employee for the second offense, $400 per employee for the third offense, and $800 per employee for subsequent offenses.

  • Resources

    DC Commuter Benefits Law Education
    Employer Commuter Benefits Toolkit
    DC Commuter Benefits Law Infographic

    Employee Communication Templates
    Commuter Benefits Reminder Email
    Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits Announcement ENGLISH | SPANISH
    Pre-Tax Commuter Benefits Infographic ENGLISH | SPANISH

    DC Commuter Benefits Law Official Text
    Full Text of the Law
    Employee Notice for the Sustainable DC Omnibus Amendment Act of 2015
    Notice of Final Rulemaking

Reduced Cost and Tax Savings

-Save up to 9% on FICA payroll taxes
-Reduce employee commute costs by up to $1,200 in taxable income and out-of-pocket commute expenses

Recruitment and Retention

-Increase job satisfaction and improve employee retention
-Promote healthy, active transportation and lower healthcare costs
-Help reduce employee stress from commuting and related expenses

Sustainability and Recognition

-Be seen as forward-thinking and committed to being a green workplace
-Compete for elite designations like Best Workplaces for Commuters and Bicycle Friendly Business
-Earn Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) credits

Employers may provide a benefit to cover bicycle-related expenses. The benefit can be managed internally by reimbursing employees for bicycle-related expenses or by providing a monthly voucher, redeemable at local bike shops.

The Bicycle Commuter Benefit is only available as an employer-paid benefit. Employees can receive both the transit benefit and bicycle benefit in the same month. Access to a transit benefit and a bike benefit will have the most impact on an employee’s decision to travel to work sustainably.

Effective January 1, 2018, individuals who participate in an Employer-Provided Bicycle Benefit must report the benefit as taxable income.

Telework, Hybrid & Alternative Work Schedules

Telework, hybrid work, and alternative work schedules (AWS) are increasingly popular ways to ease the challenges of commuting. These innovative business strategies allow work to be performed outside the office and outside of the traditional nine-to-five schedule, allowing for both increased productivity and better work-life balance. Get started with our Employer Telework/Hybrid Work Guide and contact goDCgo for complimentary support establishing and administering a telework/hybrid policy or alternative work schedules at your office.

  • Teleworking

    Telework, often referred to as working remotely, is a work arrangement that allows an employee to perform work at an approved alternate worksite. An increasingly popular option for DC-area employees, telework helps reduce commute stress, improve productivity and cut overhead costs.

  • Alternative Work Scheduling (AWS)

    Alternative work scheduling allows employees to shift work schedules to avoid rush hour, accommodate personal appointments or complete their work in fewer days. Flextime, compressed work weeks and staggered work hours are all types of alternative work schedules, each representing a different kind of adjustment to the traditional nine-to-five, eight-hours-a-day schedule.

  • Staggered Scheduling

    Staggered work hours shift employees’ schedules from the normal starting time by 15 minutes or up to two hours, to help employees avoid rush-hour traffic congestion. Staggered schedules are determined on a departmental or individual basis:

    • Departmental: Departments are assigned different starting time.
    • Individual: Employees are assigned staggered starting times, which may vary within departments or work units.

  • Compressed Scheduling

    Compressed schedules allow employees to complete their work hours over fewer days. Two schedule configurations are common:

    • Four/Forty (4/40) Schedule: Employees work four ten-hour days and take the fifth day off.
    • Nine/Eighty (9/80) Schedule: Employees work 80 hours in nine business days and take the tenth day off.

  • Flexible Scheduling

    Flexible scheduling allows employees to arrive or leave work at different times, giving more flexibility for appointments and responsibilities outside of the workplace.

  • Employer Telework/Hybrid Work Guide

    A comprehensive step-by-step toolkit to help guide you through implementing a telework or hybrid policy at your workplace.

  • Alternative Work Schedules (AWS) Webinar

    Watch our webinar recording to understand alternative approaches to traditional work hours.

  • Telework Webinars

    Watch our webinar series recording to learn about implementing a telework policy at your workplace, what to include in your policy, managing remote workers, and more.

goDCgo Transportation All-Stars

The goDCgo Transportation All-Star program recognizes DC organizations for their commitment to sustainable transportation. Employers, hotels, schools, and residential properties that offer robust transportation benefit programs and/or amenities can earn recognition for their efforts. Help your organization stand out in your industry by gaining an All-Star designation.

Bike

Encouraging your employees to bike is a great way to promote a healthy workforce and an environmentally-friendly travel mode. Develop a bike culture by hosting monthly bike commuter breakfasts, participating in the region’s Bike to Work Day celebrations and starting a Bike Buddy program to help novice cyclists learn from the veterans. From bike rack installation to employee bike benefits, contact goDCgo for complimentary support as you improve your organization’s bike appeal!

  • Bicycle Benefit

    Employers may provide a bicycle benefit to cover bicycle-related expenses. Employees who participate in any employer-provided bicycle benefits program will have to report the benefit as taxable income.

  • Capital Bikeshare Corporate Memberships

    Companies can make it easy for staff to bike to work, around town for meetings or just for fun. Each one-year employee membership includes unlimited 45-minute rides and is a low-cost benefit to add to your wellness initiatives and commute program. Learn more by downloading the flyer below or enroll now

     

  • Maps & Resources

    Prominently display helpful, informational materials to show your commitment to bike commuting. Request free DC Bike Maps, Capital Bikeshare brochures and bike safety guides for your front desk and new employee orientation packets.

  • Showers & Lockers

    Having a convenient place to shower and change clothes removes one barrier to biking. Work with your building management to add facilities or allow free access to gym locker rooms for bike commuters.

  • Secure Bike Parking

    Secure bike parking for employees inside your building gives a rider peace of mind when they bike to work. Under DC’s Bike Parking Regulations, bike parking is required in all buildings with car parking. Submit a request to your building management team.

  • Streetside Bike Racks

    Placing bike racks in front of your business attracts customers and reduces the demand for parking. Standard bike racks are provided by DDOT at no cost, while custom art racks can be purchased for $500-$1,500. Request a free bike rack assessment from DDOT.

  • Classes

    The Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA) provides Everyday Biking Seminars* and Confident City Cycling classes. WABA can also customize a ride or class to support your organization’s unique location and culture. *Everyday Biking Seminars are free for Capital Bikeshare Corporate Members.

  • Real-time Transit Displays

    Installing a transit display in your reception area or lobby provides employees with real-time information about Capital Bikeshare bike and dock availability around your office. Contact TransitScreen® or Redmon Group to get started.

  • goDCgo Transportation All-Stars

    The goDCgo Transportation All-Star program recognizes DC organizations for their commitment to sustainable transportation. Employers, hotels, schools, and residential properties that offer robust transportation benefit programs and/or amenities can earn recognition for their efforts. Help your organization stand out in your industry by gaining an All-Star designation.

  • Bicycle Friendly Business℠

    The League of American Bicyclists’ elite Bicycle-Friendly Business designation acknowledges organizations that promote biking as a healthy, sustainable and fun form of transportation. goDCgo can help you earn points towards the Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum designation through fun activities, better bike parking, customized messaging and more.

The Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program provides commuters who regularly (twice a week) bike to work with a FREE reliable ride home, up to four times per year, for emergencies or unscheduled overtime. Maintain productivity, increase morale and continue the flow of business by encouraging participation in GRH. goDCgo can help you promote the program by providing customized marketing materials and hosting on-site events to answer questions regarding the service. Contact us for more information.

Transit

From commuter benefits to real-time transit displays, transit-friendly employer programs help maintain a competitive edge in today’s market while giving employees the work-life balance they need. Contact goDCgo for complimentary support creating a transit-friendly program that meets the unique needs of your organization.

Commuters can deduct up to $315 per month from their paycheck before taxes and use it towards Metrorail, bus, commuter rail and vanpool fares. Many employers choose to subsidize commuters’ transit fares or mix-and-match subsidies and pre-tax deductions. For more information, see Commuter Benefits section.

  • Real-Time Transit Displays

    Displays provide real-time arrival and departure information specific to your office’s location. Make it easy for employees to catch the next bus or train by installing a real-time transit display in your reception area or lobby. Contact TransitScreen®  or Redmon Group to get started.

  • Maps & Resources

    Make the most of your transit-friendly location by prominently displaying transportation maps for employees and visitors. Request free Metrorail, bus, MARC and VRE brochures for your front desk and new employee orientation packets.

  • Transit Passes

    Employees can conveniently buy a SmarTrip® card online with any major credit or debit card. SmarTrip® cards can also be purchased at any Metrorail station or at Metro sales offices, retail outlets and commuter stores.

The Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program provides commuters who regularly (twice a week) take transit to work with a FREE reliable ride home, up to four times per year, for emergencies or unscheduled overtime. Maintain productivity, increase morale and continue the flow of business by encouraging participation in GRH. goDCgo can help you promote the program by providing customized marketing materials and hosting on-site events to answer questions regarding the service. Contact us for more information.

Carpool & Vanpool

Commuters who share the ride arrive to work less stressed and exhibit higher productivity. If you own or lease parking facilities for employees, each employee who carpools or vanpools could also save your company up to 9% on employee payroll taxes. Contact goDCgo for educational materials and assistance setting up a rideshare program and incentives at your office.

  • Carpooling

    The most common form of ridesharing, carpooling is an arrangement by a group of commuters to drive together in one commuter’s personal car to their worksite(s). Carpools usually consist of individuals who live and work near each other and have the same schedule.

  • Vanpooling

    Vanpool commuters pay a monthly fare and drive together in a leased van to their worksite(s). Vanpools often originate at a park-and-ride lot and allow commuters to get the cost savings and convenience of public transit in areas with limited transit options. Vanpools are often the fastest and most cost-effective mode of travel for commuters traveling more than 15-20 miles to work.

  • Pre-tax and Tax-free Vanpool Benefits

    The IRS allows vanpool commuters in minivans and full-size vans (seven to 15 passengers) to use commuter transit benefits toward vanpool fares. Employers may offer a pre-tax deduction or subsidy of up to $315 per month. Most regional vanpool providers accept SmartBenefits® as payment. For more information on setting up a vanpool program, see Commuter Benefits section.

  • Carpool Benefits

    Employers may offer an additional, taxable incentive to employees who carpool and do not qualify for existing transit or vanpool benefits programs.

  • ‘Pool Rewards

    Carpool and vanpool commuters can earn cash incentives through the Commuter Connections ‘Pool Rewards program for each day they share the ride. New carpools and vanpools can earn up to $150 per month for choosing to share a ride to work.

  • Ridematching Assistance

    Conduct a survey or use employee zip codes to identify commuters who live near each other and would be willing to share the ride to work. Commuter Connections’ Ridematching service can also help find matches outside of your office.

  • Priority & Discounted Parking

    Encourage employees to share the ride by reserving prime parking spaces or offering discounted parking to those who carpool or vanpool.

  • Maps & Resources

    Show off your commitment to ridesharing by prominently displaying helpful informational materials in your reception area and in employee orientation packets. Request free Commuter Connections and vanpool provider brochures.

goDCgo Transportation All-Stars

The goDCgo Transportation All-Star program recognizes DC organizations for their commitment to sustainable transportation. Employers, hotels, schools, and residential properties that offer robust transportation benefit programs and/or amenities can earn recognition for their efforts. Help your organization stand out in your industry by gaining an All-Star designation.

The Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program provides commuters who regularly (twice a week) take transit to work with a FREE reliable ride home, up to four times per year, for emergencies or unscheduled overtime. Maintain productivity, increase morale and continue the flow of business by encouraging participation in GRH. goDCgo can help you promote the program by providing customized marketing materials and hosting on-site events to answer questions regarding the service. Contact us for more information.

Walk

Walking programs are a great way to energize and motivate your employees while cutting down on insurance and health care costs. Help your employees choose the healthiest, most sustainable mode of transportation there is—their own two feet! After all, the District has been designated a Gold-level Walk-Friendly Community. From supplemental commuter benefits to walking meetings and company-wide walk challenges, there’s a lot your organization can do to encourage walking to or during work. Contact goDCgo for complimentary resources, information and services to build a custom walking program at your workplace.

  • Maps & Resources

    Prominently display helpful, informational materials to encourage walking to or during work. Request free walking brochures and pedestrian safety guides for your front desk and new employee orientation packets.

  • Showers & Lockers

    Having a convenient place to shower and change clothes encourages employees to walk or run to the office. Work with your building management to add facilities or allow free access to gym locker rooms.

  • Health and Transportation Fairs

    Health and transportation fairs are the perfect opportunity to distribute information about walking initiatives, groups and meetups. Request goDCgo attendance for help answering questions at your event.

These national workplace walking programs offer ready-made resources to help establish your business as a walk-friendly workplace.

  • WalkingWorks

    Established by BlueCross BlueShield, WalkingWorks provides guidelines, resources and tips to help motivate employees to integrate walking into their everyday routine.

  • Start! Workplace Walking Program

    Start! The American Heart Association’s workplace walking program helps companies encourage employees to walk by setting up walking routes and routines.

  • Every Body Walk

    Every Body Walk focuses on working walking into all aspects of daily life. This site provides resources to promote walking at your workplace, including a walking pledge, helpful maps and health information.

  • National Walk to Work Day

    Held annually on the first Friday in April, National Walk to Work Day encourages participants to walk for all or part of their commute.

  • National Walk at Lunch Day

    Organized by BlueCross BlueShield and held on the last Wednesday in April, National Walk at Lunch Day aims to establish new workplace walking routines, helping employees improve their health step-by-step.

The Guaranteed Ride Home (GRH) program provides commuters who regularly (twice a week) take transit to work with a FREE reliable ride home, up to four times per year, for emergencies or unscheduled overtime. Maintain productivity, increase morale and continue the flow of business by encouraging participation in GRH. goDCgo can help you promote the program by providing customized marketing materials and hosting on-site events to answer questions regarding the service. Contact us for more information.

Parking

Employers who provide free or subsidized parking may offer employees a taxable cash payment in lieu of a parking space. This flexible commuter benefit, often referred to as a parking cash-out, encourages employees to use alternative commute modes and helps reduce a company’s parking costs. Offering daily parking rates, as opposed to weekly or monthly passes, also allows employees flexibility to adjust their daily travel choices to work. Contact goDCgo for complimentary support establishing and administering parking management strategies at your office.

The DC Parking Cashout Law, also known as the DC Transportation Benefits Equity Act of 2020, requires businesses in DC with 20 or more employees that lease their parking to either offer a Clean Air Fringe Benefit to employees receiving a free or reduced-cost parking space at work, develop a transportation demand management plan, or pay a Clean Air Compliance fee.

  • goDCgo Transportation All-Stars

    The goDCgo Transportation All-Star program recognizes DC organizations for their commitment to sustainable transportation. Employers, hotels, schools, and residential properties that offer robust transportation benefit programs and/or amenities can earn recognition for their efforts. Help your organization stand out in your industry by gaining an All-Star designation.

AMENITY VENDOR LIST

Need a recommendation for your transit display purchase or bike parking installation? We’ve got you covered! See our robust list of preferred vendors in Washington, DC.

DOWNLOAD VENDORS LIST

MEET OUR TEAM

  • Jessica helps manage the Employer Services Program, working with District employers find sustainable transportation to their commuting challenges. She loves the DC area and people, and is passionate about making this region even more sustainable, accessible, and equitable. Contact Jessica regarding any employer commuting questions, comments, or concerns.

    jessica.lin@godcgo.com

    Jessica Lin

    Employer Outreach Coordinator

  • Doriann helps manage the Employers Services Program, working with District employers find sustainable transportation to their commuting challenges. She wants to make DC an event better place to live, work and play by making sustainable transportation easy and accessible. Call Doriann with your commuter benefit questions.

    doriann.apice@godcgo.com

    202.643.3114

    Doriann Apice

    Employer Outreach Coordinator

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2023 Transportation All-Star Awards

Transportation All-Star Award Winners

The Transportation All-Star Awards is an annual ceremony hosted by goDCgo to recognize DC organizations for their exceptional commitment in promoting sustainable transportation. Check out this year’s awardees!

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