The Senate Finance Committee passed a bill Thursday that would bring back a federal tax break for commuters, according to Newsday.
According to Newsday [paid link]:
From 2009 until January, commuters could set aside as much as $230 a month tax free to cover their public transportation costs. When the law expired, the benefit rolled back to $120 per month. A similar tax break for those who drive to work increased this year from $230 to $240 a month.
This benefit would be retroactive to January.
While the Senate initially approved this measure in February, it did not pass as part of a transportation bill in June. At that time the New York State Transportation Equity Alliance and Long Island Rail Road Commuter Council “strongly supported” these pre-tax commuter benefits.
“This is a wrong which must be righted,” Long Island Rail Road Commuter Council Chairman Mark Epstein told Newsday.
