On the first weekday commute of the new year, the city wants to remind you about the new commuter benefit law.
Mayor Bill de Blasio and Senator Chuck Schumer greeted subway riders this morning at the Atlantic Avenue-Barclays Center stop in Brooklyn to spread the word about the law that requires business owners to help workers take advantage of commuter tax breaks.
The city's Commuter Benefits Law took effect January 1.
Under the law, for-profit and non-profit businesses with 20 or more full-time non-union employees must offer workers the chance to put money aside before taxes to pay for their commute.
"We are starting the year off right by putting hundreds of dollars back in the pocket of straphangers and commuters who work very, very hard and need every break they can get," De Blasio said.
"Put in a nutshell very simply, if you're a commuter, if you take the bus, if you take the train, if you take the commuter rail, you can now deduct up to $255 a month from your taxes to pay for your commuting costs," Schumer said.
The law is expected to help more than 45,000 New Yorkers save up to $800 a year.
The pre-tax money can be used on subways and bus fares, Metro-North, Long Island Rail Road, certain ferries, and Access-A-Ride.
Employers will be given a six month grace period to comply before facing violations.