Senate Restores Commuter Tax Break

Mass transit users are one step closer to getting a pre-tax transit benefit restored.

It would allow commuters to take out up to $240 a month from their pre-tax paychecks to pay for their mass transit bill. It’s part of the $109 billion transportation bill that passed the Senate on Wednesday, 74-22. The measure now heads to the U.S. House of Representatives.

The transit benefit would match the permanent tax credit offered to drivers to offset parking costs.

Last year, the commuter benefit was $230 dollars a month, until it was cut this January to about half that.

Under the new bill, the commuter tax benefit would be extended for one year and be retroactive to January first.

Another measure in the bill includes stricter federal oversight of long-distance and tour bus industries.