Switching to Alice from a current commuter benefits provider

You can switch commuter benefits providers mid-year. Most employers move from a traditional administrator to Alice within a few weeks, depending on how quickly payroll credentials are shared, and employees can keep contributing without a gap in coverage. There is no IRS rule that locks you in to a calendar-year change.

Step 1: Tell your current provider you are leaving

Send your current administrator a written termination notice. Most providers require 30 days. Confirm the last contribution date, the run-out period for any unused balances, and how forfeitures are handled. Keep a copy of the confirmation in writing.

Step 2: Pick a cutover pay period with Alice

Alice will look at your payroll calendar and pick the cleanest cutover date. The goal is one pay period where the old provider's last deduction posts and Alice's first deduction starts on the next cycle. Employees never see a paycheck without the benefit available.

Step 3: Connect payroll

Alice has connections to ADP, UKG, Paylocity, Paycom, Paychex, Toast, Workday, and 25+ others. The connection is what makes pretax reclassification automatic. Alice handles the setup. You confirm the payroll codes and we test one cycle.

Step 4: Issue Alice Card

Employees get Alice Card, a Visa commercial credit card issued by Celtic Bank and powered by Stripe, with program funds at Fifth Third Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC). Cards arrive ahead of the cutover so they can be active on day one.

Step 5: Communicate to employees

Alice supplies the announcement copy. The key message for employees: their commute is still covered and there is no annual election to lock in. They get up to the 2026 IRS limits of $340 per month for transit and $340 per month for qualified parking (garages, lots, meters, and parking apps).

What happens to leftover balances at the old provider?

Most balances roll out during the old provider's run-out window. Transit fares purchased in a transit account are typically usable for a limited time after termination. Parking accounts behave similarly. Confirm the specific rules with the prior administrator and your HR team.

What we replace

Traditional office-worker benefit providers make you pay up front and manage enrollment and payroll yourself. Alice replaces the platform fee, the election forms, the reimbursement requests, the receipts, and the year-end forfeitures.

There is no up-front employer cost, no manual open enrollment, and no employee pre-funding. The employer keeps a reserve amount in its Alice plan account; it belongs to the employer and is not a fee.

Talk to sales

sales@thisisalice.com or (929) 552-4625. Setup starts with one call.

Specific benefits, election rules, and run-out periods depend on your employer's plan design. Check with your HR team or plan administrator for details.

Pretax Hero Visa Commercial Card is powered by Stripe and issued by Celtic Bank. Program funds held at Fifth Third Bank, N.A. (Member FDIC). Use of card and program is subject to the cardholder terms and related agreements presented at issuance.

Figures shown are for the 2026 plan year and are set by the IRS. Limits are indexed annually by the IRS.

Trademarks, brands, and product names referenced in this article are the property of their respective owners. References are for descriptive purposes only and do not imply endorsement. For definitive information about a third party's products or services, contact that party directly.

Alice does not provide tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult your own tax preparer, lawyer, or financial advisor for guidance specific to your situation.