University Programs Intern Housing & Transportation Policy

University Programs Intern Housing & Transportation Policy - 2018

This document outlines the policies regarding housing and transportation for all PayPal interns, as well as the roles and responsibilities of various groups and individuals.

All 2018 interns will be offered housing accommodations

Housing accommodations will be managed by University Programs for all interns participating in the 12 week Summer Internship Program.  Housing arrangements are based on graduation level as follows:

Housing will be located near Public transportation lines

Housing will be located along public transportation lines inside a 15 mile radius from work location, not to exceed a 50 minute commute. 

Commuter transportation (shuttles) will not be provided

Commuter transportation will not be provided by University Programs outside of the existing corporate commuter programs detailed below:

·         Public Transit reimbursement program. Interns can expense their monthly transportation passes through G.E.T (type “GET” into your browser address bar).

·         Ride Share opportunities between other interns and the greater site population.

·         Other options at an intern’s own expense can include renting a car.

Relocation transportation will be provided

Relocation transportation assistance will be managed by University Programs, in partnership with AIReS and National Corporate Housing.

• Air transportation will be provided for relocating interns and managed by AIReS

·         Two 1 way tickets to be issued rather than round trip – allowing for flight date/time changes on either end.

Ground transportation between airport and apartment must be arranged by the intern and reimbursed through the corporate GET tool.  Tax and other transport costs should be treated as normal business travel expenses and submitted through the GET system for approval by your manager. 

PolicyFine Print:

1. Interns must stay in housing located in their work geography. Example: San Jose interns cannot live in San Francisco. This is purely based on lack of availability in the most impacted cities.
2. Rental Cars will not be provided under any circumstance.
3. Room sharing is based on current degree being pursued and cannot be changed as an incentive.
4. Stipends and “upgrades” are not provided and must not be used to incent.
5. Reimbursement to interns who arrange their own housing will not be provided.
6. Cost to ship cars will not be reimbursed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q. Will I be taxed for my housing expenses?

A. Your intern housing benefits are considered taxable benefits for your internship. The cost of your housing is considered taxable income and must be reported on your W-2. All taxable relocation benefits must be reported as income regardless of who pays for them. However, PayPal also pays the tax for you!  Your taxable benefit is “grossed-up” for taxes by PayPal.

Q. What is tax gross-up?

A. PayPal recognizes that relocation benefits being provided to you are taxable and will create a tax liability so PayPal pays the tax related to these benefits directly to the government through PayPal payroll.  When our relocation company reports the amount of the tax benefit to payroll for purposes of including it in the W2 wage statement as taxable income, the payroll department will calculate the amount of taxes due on that additional income using statutory tax rates and will make a tax payment to the taxing authorities on your behalf. This tax payment is recorded on the W2 along with the taxable income. You may use the tax calculator to estimate your relocation cost impact.

Each time the company makes a “tax gross up payment” on your behalf, the company is making a separate payment to each taxing authorities in order to pay the applicable tax related to the taxable benefit.

Q. Regarding Family Housing Accommodations, can you define what you mean by “Spouse/Partners/Families”?

A. Housing will be provided for Spouse/Partner/Families that are considered “Dependents” who are relocating with the Intern. A good measurement for this is to ask yourself, “do you/would you claim this person as a ‘dependent’ when you file your taxes?”

Q. Can Housing accommodate pets?

A. Interns who requires a service dog or do not share accommodations with other interns are allowed to bring pets as long as it falls in the guidelines of the respective apartment complex. Please work with National Corporate Housing with these requests.

Q. What is the Public Transit Reimbursement Program?

A. In an effort to encourage PayPal employees to take public transportation, eligible employees who use an approved mode of public transit will be reimbursed up to a maximum of $125 per calendar month.

Q. What are “approved modes of transit”?

A. Public and private mass transit, public-or employee-operated van pools.

Q. Who is eligible to participate in the program?

A. Interns who take public transportation to work and provide receipts and/or copies of passes.

Q. Are family members eligible?

A. The reimbursement is not available to family members of a PayPal employee.

Q. What if I do not have a receipt?

A. You can still be reimbursed if you have a copy of your transit pass.

Q. How do you sign up?

A. You do not need to “sign up.” Just purchase your ticket(s) and then submit receipts or/a copy of your ticket/pass for reimbursement.

Q. What is the process for reimbursement?

A. Employees pay for the transit and then submit expense receipts through the

G.E.T. expense reimbursement tool. The employee will then be reimbursed up to the $125 limit.

Q. Are roll-over expenses allowed under the program?

A. No. All money must be spent in a one month period.

Q. Does the program cover car pools, gas or parking?

A. No, these costs are not covered.

Q. Is the reimbursement money taxed?

A. The employee will not be taxed on the amounts less than $125 per month.

Q. Who pays for the program?

A. PayPal pays for the program and the cost of the program will be charged to the cost center of the employee submitting the reimbursement request.

Q. Can I get reimbursed for both the Bicycle Commuter program and the Public Transportation program?

A. No. Under Federal Law, employees are not allowed to receive both Public Transportation Commute Reimbursement and Bicycle Reimbursement.