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27 Sep 2023

A recent survey of retailers across the UK has shown that cash remains a crucial payment method for independent shops.

27 Sep 2023

Almost 2,000 more British independent shops were left empty in the first half of this year, as small businesses struggled to cope with rising inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.

27 Sep 2023

An independent shop owner in Liverpool has said that independent shops in the city centre have taken to creating their own security WhatsApp group, warning each other of shoplifters in the...

27 Sep 2023

A focus on independent and ‘browse-only’ shops can help to reverse the fortunes of the struggling high street, according to an extensive study by Manchester Metropolitan University.

20 Sep 2023

ACT members will benefit from a long term discounted commission of just 3%

15 Sep 2023

The team from Whistler Adventure School (WAS), which recently became the only centre in Canada accredited to offer Cytech technical three, is to deliver a series of free sessions in Scotland,...

13 Sep 2023

The recent pledge by police forces across England and Wales to pursue every lead that holds a reasonable chance of apprehending criminals and solving crimes has been welcomed by Bira, which...

12 Sep 2023

A family-run Liverpool restaurant hidden inside a basement is officially Britain's best vegan venue.

11 Sep 2023

A warning has been issued that shoplifters in the UK are becoming increasingly “emboldened” and appear to be often orchestrated by organised criminal groups, which steal to order,...

11 Sep 2023

It has been suggested that some shop owners may be unaware or unprepared for the upcoming change to regulations on single-use plastics on plates, bowls, trays, containers, cutlery and balloon...

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US Cycle to work benefit could be scrapped

Posted on in Cycles News

A tax plan released in the US this week does away with the cycle to work initiative that allows employers to reimburse workers, tax free, up to $20 per month for expenses related to bike commuting.

cycle pathThe Bicycle Commuter Benefit was created in 2009 as a way to encourage more people to commute by bike in the US. It does so by allowing any employer to provide a reimbursement of up to $240 each year in tax benefits for ‘reasonable expenses' such as bike maintenance, clothing and accessories or even towards the cost of the bike.

But if the latest proposals by the Senate are accepted, this could soon come to an end.

The latest tax bill put forward by Senate Republicans includes the elimination of the Bicycle Commuter Act.

"For some reason, the voters of this bill want to eliminate a not-costly benefit that has many other positive benefits associated with it," said Ken McLeod, policy director at the League of American Bicyclists, a Washington, D.C.-based advocacy group.

The tax benefit costs the federal government about $5 million a year. Employers are not required to offer the benefit, but may choose to do so. Neither the employer nor the employee are taxed on payroll or income for the reimbursement.

People who drive to work currently get up to $255 a month to put toward parking. Yet under the Senate plan, bicycling is the only transportation-related benefit targeted for elimination.

"I don't know why this is the target," McLeod said. "We think if one benefit is touched, all should be touched. If not, we're going to fight hard to keep it in, or get it back in, so that bicyclists can benefit just like every transportation user."

"The bike commuter benefit can either be reinstated through an amendment in the Senate or when the House and Senate bills are reconciled in conference.

"We'll be looking for every avenue to reinstate the benefit and ensure that it survives conference."

Over the weekend, the League of American Bicyclists called on its members to reach out to Congress and speak against the elimination of the benefit. Around 1,200 people contacted the Senate Finance Committee, McLeod said.
President Trump has said that he hopes to have the plan finalized and approved by the end of the year.

 

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