Pre-tax transit benefit information

Federal law allows a pre-tax transit benefit of up to $325 per month. Transit benefit programs are administered by employers and third-party transit benefit providers, not by the MTA. If you need help with your pre-tax transit benefit, you should contact your transit benefit provider.

Over the next several months, as we retire MetroCard and transition to Tap-and-Go for subway and bus fares, customers who previously received a preloaded MetroCard from their benefit provider will switch to Tap-and-Go. The exact date when this switch will happen, and the options available, will be different depending on your transit benefit provider.

Most providers offer debit cards preloaded with your pre-tax funds. Sometimes, these are contactless cards you can tap to pay for the subway or bus. Some providers don’t offer contactless cards. In that case, you can use your preloaded debit card to add value to an OMNY card. Some providers also allow you to load pre-tax funds directly onto an OMNY card. Look for information from your transit benefit provider to find out when your program will transition from MetroCard and which of these options will be available to you. If you don’t already have an OMNY card, you can buy one with pre-tax funds from a vending machine, but not a retail store.

No matter what payment options your transit benefit provider offers, you’ll be able to take advantage of the convenience and savings of Tap-and-Go. When you tap to pay your fare, you'll only pay for the subway and local bus rides you take up to a cap of $34 in a 7-day period. If you ride less, you’ll only pay for the rides you take.

Some transit benefit providers are still offering a prepaid MetroCard for now. These providers will be transitioning to Tap-and-Go soon. Your transit benefit provider will provide you with more information about this change.

We’re not able to resolve any issues you may have with a pre-tax MetroCard received through a transit benefit provider unless it is damaged or covered by the Balance Protection Program. Contact your provider for other issues.

You can also use pre-tax funds to pay for LIRR and Metro-North tickets. Use your transit benefit card to buy your ticket. If you subscribe to Mail&Ride, your monthly ticket can be automatically delivered to your mobile device every month.

Transit benefit providers aren’t part of the MTA. Refunds can only be made back to your transit benefit card, not by check or to another card. If you’re trying to get a refund for funds remaining on a transit benefit card, you must contact your provider. Each provider will have its own terms and conditions.