take the smart approach to tax-free benefit plans
Compare—and see why eTRAC® Commute is the superior choice
What other tax-free commuter benefits management programs are you considering, or using? Click on any of the following to see a comparison to eTRAC Commute:
For a customized look at how eTRAC Commute stacks up against your commuter benefits management program, contact us.
| Voucher
Programs |
eTRAC Commute |
| Monthly or quarterly order-taking and fulfillment |
Self-serve model: HR signs
up participants once and after that they manage their own
accounts |
| Physical handling of vouchers, which are like cash |
No vouchers to handle;
participants receive the eTRAC MasterCard® in
the mail |
| Time-consuming management of lost or damaged vouchers |
| Total
time to manage can be upwards of 20 hours per month |
HR spends
only minutes per month transferring participants' files to Benefit
Resource |
| Employees stand in line
at staffed transit booths to purchase passes |
No lines! Participants can
use their eTRAC cards at any available transit vending
machine or buy passes online from their transit authority |
| The hassle of no-change policies: employees either lose some of their voucher's value or dig into their pockets to make up the difference |
Participants buy just what they
need; no waste promotes greater usage and tax savings |
| A lost voucher = lost cash |
Lost eTRAC Card = guaranteed funds |
| Vouchers, and the passes they purchase, have expiration dates; employees lose real money |
eTRAC MasterCard cards
are good for the whole year; participants can buy just the
fares they need—daily, weekly, monthly |
| All these hassles lead to lower participation rates |
Hassle-free approach means higher participation—greater employee satisfaction and more tax savings for everyone |
| Administration fees based on percentage cost + lower usage = more costs to company |
Administration fees based on flat fee + higher usage = lower costs to company |
Employer-Administered
Cash Reimbursement |
eTRAC Commute |
| Participants must gather receipts
and hand in to HR for reimbursement |
No receipts needed. eTRAC card patent-pending software guarantees employee funds are used for qualified expenses only |
| HR must do the math, keep records & receipts,
reimburse participants |
In few instances where cash reimbursement is necessary (i.e., a parking lot vendor who doesn't accept MasterCard), Benefit Resource handles all of the work directly with employee |
| Company must handle monthly administration and claim forms |
Employee self-serve model means
company enroll participants just
once and after that, they manage their own benefits online
with Benefit Resource |
| Company must stay on top of legal and regulatory requirements |
Benefit Resource experts handle all legal and regulatory issues |
| All these hassles lead to lower participation rates |
Hassle-free approach means higher participation—greater
participant satisfaction and more tax savings for everyone |
| Monthly Pass Distribution |
eTRAC Commute |
| HR must gather and fulfill monthly pass orders |
No monthly orders to fulfill. Enroll employees just once and Benefit Resource takes over the work |
| Participants forced into purchasing
a monthly pass generally underestimate usage to protect against
losing unused funds. Drives down usage and tax savings |
eTRAC Commute allows participants
to purchase just the fares they need—as they need them.
Drives up usage and tax savings |
| Lost monthly pass = lost cash |
Lost eTRAC Card = guaranteed funds |
| All these hassles lead to lower participation rates |
Hassle-free approach means higher participation—greater
participant satisfaction and more tax savings for everyone |
Annual Pass
with Monthly Load |
eTRAC Commute |
| HR must gather and fulfill monthly pass load orders. May need to purchase customized software |
No monthly orders to fulfill. Enroll employees just once and Benefit Resource takes over the work. No software to purchase or install |
| Participants forced into purchasing
a monthly pass generally underestimate usage to protect against
losing unused funds. Drives down usage and tax savings |
eTRAC Commute allows participants
to purchase just the fares they need—as they need them.
Drives up usage and tax savings. |
| Lost pass = lost cash |
Lost eTRAC Card = guaranteed funds |
| All these hassles lead to lower participation rates |
Hassle-free approach means higher participation—greater
participant satisfaction and more tax savings for everyone |
| Other Card Programs |
eTRAC Commute |
| Often require purchase and installation of customized software |
No software to purchase or install |
| Daily withdrawals by your administrator can result in higher transaction costs and hassles for you |
eTRAC Commute withdraws
funds only on a pre-scheduled basis (as few as 12 times a year)
for lower transaction costs and accounting expenses |
| Proprietary cards do not have
the universal acceptance of MasterCard and limit participants
to use with certain transit agencies or parking vendors |
eTRAC card welcome at approved transportation merchants
that accept MasterCard |
