Question

Kristen’s employer owns its building and provides parking space for its employees. The value of the free parking is $150 per month. Karen’s employer does not have parking facilities but reimburses its employees for the cost of parking in a nearby garage up to $150 per month.
a. Kristen and Karen must recognize gross income from the parking services.
b. Kristen can exclude the employer-provided parking from gross income, but Karen must include her reimbursement in gross income.
c. Kristen must include the value of the employer-provided parking from her gross income, but Karen can exclude her reimbursement from gross income.
d. Neither Kristen nor Karen is required to include the cost of parking in gross income.
e. None of these.

Answer 1

Answer:

Neither Kristen nor Karen is required to include the cost of parking in gross income.

Explanation:

As a qualified transportation fringe, both Kristen and Karen's benefit can be excluded from gross income. Karen's reimbursement is less than the maximum exclusion amount allowed. Likewise, the value of Karen's free parking is less than the maximum exclusion amount allowed.