The new Illinois Transportation Benefits Program Act (HB 2068; P.A. 103-291) aims to promote the commuter benefits available to employees who use public transportation to commute to and from work.

Beginning January 1, 2024, certain employers located within designated Illinois counties and townships will be required to provide employees a “pre-tax commuter benefit.”

The pre-tax benefit means that employers must allow covered employees to use pre-tax dollars for the purchase of a transit pass through payroll deduction. A transit pass is any pass, token, care card, and the like entitling the employee to take public transit. Participating transit programs may include those offered by the Chicago Transit Authority (CTA) or the Regional Transportation Authority. More…