McTrip

Montgomery County Transportation
Reimbursement Incentive Plan
(McTRIP)

McTRIP is a program which allows employees to set up tax-free accounts to pay for certain transportation and parking expenses related to the work commute. All Montgomery County employees, regardless of benefits eligibility, may participate. Spouses and dependents are not eligible. Employees who pay to park due to their work location, or who ride the bus to work, will want to take advantage of this opportunity to save on federal and state income taxes. Employees who are monthly parkers in a County garage or lot already have a pre-tax payroll deduction to pay this expense directly. McTRIP is for those employees who pay out-of-pocket to park, either in a County garage or elsewhere. The 2008 monthly IRS limits are $220 for parking expenses and $115 for transportation expenses. You may elect any amount up to the limit(s) for parking and/or transportation. If you do both, you must designate 2 separate deductions. Money designated for parking cannot pay for transportation, and vice versa.

Eligible Expenses
Expenses eligible for reimbursement are parking expenses for monthly/daily parking fees at or near your work address (excluding residence), or at a location from which you commute to work and transportation expenses for mass transit (bus) passes, tokens and fares. Expenses not eligible for reimbursement include taxicab fares, car-pooling, tolls, and vehicle operation expenses. Expenses incurred prior to participation or after termination from the program are not eligible.

Enrollment
You can enroll in McTRIP at any time, not just once per year. Enrollments done by the 15th of a month will be effective the first of the next month. Your election will remain in effect indefinitely, unless you stop or change it. Enrollment forms are available in the Benefits Office of the County Personnel Department. You may complete a new enrollment form at any time to change or terminate your payroll deduction. Because McTRIP is a pre-tax program, you cannot change or revoke your election retroactively or for the current month. The change would be effective the first of the next month.

Reimbursement
In order to receive reimbursement of expenses, The Reimbursement Request Form must be completed, with receipts attached (receipts must be included except in situations where a receipt cannot reasonably be obtained). These forms are available in the Benefits Office, and must be submitted there for administrative approval and processing. You cannot be reimbursed for any amount that exceeds your current account balance or the IRS limits for each month. You may request reimbursement as often as once per month, after you have been enrolled for one month. Your reimbursement check will come from the County Auditor. Separate checks will be issued if you have both parking and transportation expenses.

Unused Balances
Unclaimed balances carry forward into the next month and even into a new calendar year, as long as you are an active participant. However, if there is an unclaimed balance in your account when you terminate participation in McTRIP or terminate employment, that money is not refundable and will be forfeited. You will have a month to claim expenses incurred while still a participant.


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	Montgomery County Transportation Reimbursement Incentive Plan (McTRIP) McTRIP is a program which allows employees to set up tax-free accounts to pay for certain transportation and parking expenses related to the work commute. All Montgomery County employees, regardless of benefits eligibility, may participate. Spouses and dependents are not eligible. Employees who pay to park due to their work location, or who ride the bus to work, will want to take advantage of this opportunity to save on federal and state income taxes. Employees who are monthly parkers in a County garage or lot already have a pre-tax payroll deduction to pay this expense directly. McTRIP is for those employees who pay out-of-pocket to park, either in a County garage or elsewhere. The 2008 monthly IRS limits are $220 for parking expenses and $115 for transportation expenses. You may elect any amount up to the limit(s) for parking and/or transportation. If you do both, you must designate 2 separate deductions. Money designated for parking cannot pay for transportation, and vice versa. Eligible Expenses Expenses eligible for reimbursement are parking expenses for monthly/daily parking fees at or near your work address (excluding residence), or at a location from which you commute to work and transportation expenses for mass transit (bus) passes, tokens and fares. Expenses not eligible for reimbursement include taxicab fares, car-pooling, tolls, and vehicle operation expenses. Expenses incurred prior to participation or after termination from the program are not eligible. Enrollment You can enroll in McTRIP at any time, not just once per year. Enrollments done by the 15th of a month will be effective the first of the next month. Your election will remain in effect indefinitely, unless you stop or change it. Enrollment forms are available in the Benefits Office of the County Personnel Department. You may complete a new enrollment form at any time to change or terminate your payroll deduction. Because McTRIP is a pre-tax program, you cannot change or revoke your election retroactively or for the current month. The change would be effective the first of the next month. Reimbursement In order to receive reimbursement of expenses, The Reimbursement Request Form must be completed, with receipts attached (receipts must be included except in situations where a receipt cannot reasonably be obtained). These forms are available in the Benefits Office, and must be submitted there for administrative approval and processing. You cannot be reimbursed for any amount that exceeds your current account balance or the IRS limits for each month. You may request reimbursement as often as once per month, after you have been enrolled for one month. Your reimbursement check will come from the County Auditor. Separate checks will be issued if you have both parking and transportation expenses. Unused Balances Unclaimed balances carry forward into the next month and even into a new calendar year, as long as you are an active participant. However, if there is an unclaimed balance in your account when you terminate participation in McTRIP or terminate employment, that money is not refundable and will be forfeited. You will have a month to claim expenses incurred while still a participant.