Pre-Tax Transportation Fringe Benefits:

On March 1, 2019, New Jersey becomes the first state to require employers to offer pre-tax transportation benefits to employees. A pre-tax transportation fringe benefit is a benefit that allows an employee to set aside wages on a pre-tax basis, which is then only made available to the employee for the purchase of certain eligible transportation services, including transit passes and commuter highway vehicle travel (vanpooling).

  • Every employer in the State of New Jersey that employs at least 20 employees is required to offer transit benefits to all employees who are not currently covered by a collective bargaining agreement (however employers with collectively bargained employees will be required to offer this benefit to them once the bargaining agreement in effect as of March 1, 2019 expires);
  • An employee is identified as anyone hired or employed by the employer and who reports to the employer’s work location. This mirrors the definition used in New Jersey’s unemployment compensation law;
  • There is no exception for non-profits or state and local governmental employers;
  • If an employer has less than 20 employees, there is no requirement to offer the benefit at this time;
  • Employers must provide pre-tax election transportation benefits that provide commuter highway vehicle and transit benefits at the maximum benefit level allowed under federal law (Section 132(f)(2)). For 2019, the maximum benefit level is $265/month for commuter highway benefits and any transit pass combined, as well as $265/month for qualified parking;
  • The law is effective 3/1/19 but penalties for non-compliance will not be assessed until the earlier of March 1, 2020 or the effective date of any implementing rules and regulations;
  • Non-compliance, when enforced, will be a penalty of not less than $100 and not more than $250 for the first violation of failure to offer transit benefits. The employer will then have 90 days to offer the employees the benefit if a penalty is imposed;
  • Associated program costs are not deductible from federal corporate income tax. Employers will need to discuss any New Jersey tax-favored status with their tax advisers.

For now, employers should monitor developments and news regarding the program. The New Jersey Transit Corporation, in conjunction with the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and the South Jersey Transportation Authority will be conducting public awareness campaigns encouraging the public to contact employers about the benefit. Additionally, employers may want to start talking to third party administrators who can administer the transportation fringe benefit program.

Diversified Group can assist you in the administration of Section 132 Parking and Transportation benefits. Please call Jamie Fazio for a quote at 800-322-2524 Ext. 391.

Health Insurance Mandate:

In 2018, New Jersey Governor, Phil Murphy signed into law The New Jersey Health Insurance Market Preservation Act. This law requires all New Jersey residents to have health insurance or pay a penalty. Lawmakers in New Jersey drafted this legislation in response to the decision to eliminate the ACA individual mandate with the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017. Although the law focuses primarily on the individual market, there will be reporting requirements on employers that provide health insurance coverage to New Jersey residents staring for the 2019 tax year. Visit www.nj.gov for instructions on reporting (anticipated to be posted by mid-2019).

Individual penalties will mirror the ACA individual mandate penalties; the greater of 2.5% of an individual’s income or $695. The penalty will be capped at the average annual premium for bronze level plans in New Jersey (currently $3,012 per year). Revenue collected (estimated to be between $90M and $100M annually) will be used to fund New Jersey’s reinsurance pool.

The New Jersey law will require certain entities—employers that offer job-based coverage, insurers, and the New Jersey Department of Human Services—to comply with new reporting standards. Under the law, entities that provide MEC to a New Jersey resident will be required to submit a return to the state treasurer. Employers must provide the same information (Form 1094-C and Form 1095-C or Form 1094-B and Form 1095-B) for New Jersey that they currently provide to taxpayers and the IRS. Employers who already use Forms 1094-C or B, and Forms 1095-C or B, to report health coverage information federally, will be required to remit copies of these documents to the New Jersey Division of Taxation on or before February 15th following the close of each calendar year, beginning in 2020.

Out-of-State Employers of New Jersey Residents
Out-of-State employers that withhold and remit New Jersey Gross Income Tax for New Jersey residents have the same filing requirements as businesses located in New Jersey.

Adult Children
Under the federal Affordable Care Act, adult children up to the age of 26 may be covered by their parents’ health plan. New Jersey does not require Forms 1095-B or 1095-C be provided separately to children who are covered by their parents’ health plans, regardless of their residency, beyond the current requirement under 26 U.S.C. s.6055, as that section was in effect and interpreted on December 15, 2017. It is recommended employers advise employees to provide a copy of any Form 1095-B or 1095-C containing coverage information to their children residing in New Jersey.

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