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Employer Services & Programs
 COTA offers several employer discounted pass programs through COTA Direct, Commuter Checks and WageWorks to help you and your employees or visitors get to and from work or around town in an affordable, convenient, environmentally friendly fashion. These programs also help reduce parking problems, congestion and pollution. If you have requests for a specific pass program, please contact sales@cota.com. A customer pass program can be created that's just right for you and your company.
COTA Direct
Employer Pass Purchase Programs
IRS Regulation 132 offers substantial dollar savings to transit riders on the cost of their daily commute. These savings are generated from the federal, state, and FICA taxes that are not accessed on transit costs when paid by employees on a pre-tax basis. The IRS establishes employers as the gatekeeper for this federally approved program and their responsibility is to deduct the cost of the pass each month from the employee's paycheck. COTA offers a choice of either a voucher system provided by Commuter Check Corp., an easy COTA direct pre-paid pass distribution program, or a fully administered 3rd party program offered by Wage Works to offer employer's in developing a pre-tax benefit program. More information may be had by calling the COTA sales office at (614) 228-1776.
Examples of current programs:
City of Columbus Pass Program
COTA offers employees of the City of Columbus a payroll deduction monthly Pass Purchase Program. Enrollment forms are available from the City of Columbus Payroll Department. Passes will be mailed, each month to the employee's home.
Franklin County Pass Program
Employees of Franklin County may participate in a pre-tax payroll deduction monthly Pass Purchase Program through COTA Direct. This program, with n cost to either the employer or employee, is easy and simple. For more information call the COTA sales office at (614)228-1776.
State of Ohio
State of Ohio employees may participate in a pre-tax payroll deduction monthly Pass Purchase Program. Enrollment is available on-line at www.wageworks.com or by phone at 1-877-924-3967. Passes are mailed each month to the participant's home.
COTA Discounted Pass Programs
COTA 7-Day Pass
The COTA 7-Day Pass is good for unlimited rides on all COTA routes for any seven consecutive days. The passes may be purchased in bulk or individually.
Why should you invest in COTA 7-Day Passes?
• A COTA 7-Day Pass costs only $18.00 and is less expensive than renting a car (or cars), paying for taxis, or catching a shuttle service.
• With COTA routes going from downtown to almost all central Ohio attractions, out-of-town visitors have an opportunity to enjoy convenient travel around town.
• Many business travelers bring along their spouse or travel companion. A COTA 7-Day Pass can ensure they enjoy their time in central Ohio.
• Providing COTA passes to customers and clients can decrease your costs and increase customer satisfaction and retention.
Who should invest in COTA 7-Day Passes?
Hotels
Convention organizers
Businesses with frequent out-of-town visitors
Employers with short-term transportation issues
Auto repair shops
Seniors groups
Youth groups
How to purchase COTA 7-Day Passes
• Regular price: $18.00 each
• COTA 7-Day Passes may be purchased in bulk or individually.
• To purchase COTA 7-Day Passes in bulk, contact COTA Sales Operations at (614) 228-1776 or e-mail sales@cota.com.
• Available at the COTA Connection Customer Service Center, 60 E. Broad St. in Downtown Columbus, at designated pass outlets, or by mail.
 COTA Commuter Checks
Commuter Checks can be used to purchase COTA passes, pay for monthly vanpool fares or as a benefit for employees. For more information about Commuter Checks, e-mail sales@cota.com or call (614) 228-1776.
A Tax-Free Employee Benefit
• A Commuter Check program can be customized to fit the needs of any company.
– From single-person businesses to multiple-locations enterprises
– Non-profit, private or public
• They can be used as a pre-tax salary reduction, monthly benefit, incentive or bonus, to assist new employees moving to a new location, or to encourage employees (both old and new) to use mass transit.
• Most employers give Commuter Checks to employees as an inexpensive benefit.
• Some employers simply allow employees to take advantage of the tax savings by using pre-tax dollars to purchase Commuter Checks.
• Many employers find Commuter Checks to be an effective recruiting tool that also helps reduce turnover.
• Employers who offer Commuter Checks have reported reduced stress, increased job satisfaction, improved on-time arrival and enhanced productivity.
Employee and Employer Savings
• Thanks to the tax savings, employees who currently ride COTA can save up to 40% on transit costs by using Commuter Checks.
• Employees who currently drive to work can save hundreds of dollars each year by using Commuter Checks to purchase monthly COTA passes and leaving their cars at home.
• Employers can save 8% in payroll-related costs (i.e. FICA, disability, unemployment and workers compensation).
• Commuter Checks cannot be exchanged for cash or used for any purchase other than transit fares.
Redeeming Commuter Checks
• Commuter Checks can be used to pay for monthly COTA local and express passes, COTA day passes and monthly vanpool fares.
• They can be redeemed at over 100 central Ohio COTA sales outlets - including many Kroger stores, check cashing services, and drug stores.
• Commuter Checks are available in five denominations: $20, $25, $30, $32, $35, $36, $40 and $45. These denominations were created to match (either singularly or in combination) the prices of most COTA passes.
Ordering Commuter Checks
• Commuter Checks are easily purchased through Commuter Check Services Corp.
• COTA provides Commuter Check order forms - call COTA Commuter Check Information Request Line at (614) 228-1776 or e-mail sales@cota.com.
• Simply fill out the form and send it with your payment to Commuter Check Services Corp.
• Your first order will arrive in 2 to 3 weeks - subsequent orders will arrive more quickly.
• Expedited delivery options are available.
Rolling Out Your COTA Commuter Check Program
• COTA can assist you with your roll out.
• You can also visit www.commutercheck.com for recommended steps to roll out your Commuter Check program and how to get started.
 WageWorks
COTA WageWorks is a pre-tax commuter benefits plan that employees use to purchase COTA monthly passes. For more information about WageWorks, e-mail sales@cota.com or call (614) 228-1776.
Q: How do employees save on taxes through WageWorks?
A: Employees do not owe personal income tax, Social Security or Medicare tax on wages or employer contributions used to purchase COTA passes through WageWorks. The typical employee saves about $350 per year in reduced taxes.
Q: Do employers save on their taxes, too?
A: Yes. Employers do not owe payroll-linked taxes on wage or employer contributions to this benefit. Employers typically save about $70 per year per participating employee in reduced payroll taxes.
Q: Can employers contribute to the cost of employee transit on WageWorks?
A: Yes. As with 401(k) plans, employers can make monetary contributions or match a percentage of employee contributions up to a fixed dollar amount. However, contributions are not required.
Q: Can employees make changes to their benefits online?
A: Yes. Employees can purchase transit one time only or subscribe to receive a pass on a regular basis. Employees are not limited to a single annual enrollment.
Q: Are there dollar limits on tax-free transit?
A: Yes. Under federal law, the current limit is $65 per month for transit.
Q: Can any employee participate?
A: Yes. All common law and statutory employees are eligible. The employer determines which employees are eligible. Self-employed persons, independent contractors, partners in a partnership and 2% shareholders in an S-Corporation are not eligible.
Q: Is WageWorks subject to FICA, FUTA or federal income tax withholding?
A: No. Wages and employer contributions used on WageWorks are not subject to federal withholding. Employers are not required to record WageWorks benefits on employee W-2's.
Q: Where can I find laws and regulations relevant to WageWorks commuter benefits?
A: Commuter benefits are authorized under Internal Revenue Code Section 132(f). The IRS has proposed detailed regulations under this Code Section (proposed Rulemaking 113572-99). Both the Code and proposed regulations are available at www.irs.gov.
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