| In our modern society, moving to a new location | | | | could we make such a simple issue so complex. |
| because of a job is a fairly frequent event. While | | | | You can run the calculation yourself, but an easier |
| moving is hardly enjoyable, you do get some | | | | guideline is just to figure out if your new job is |
| deductions out of it. | | | | more than 101 miles away. Why the IRS refuses |
| Deducting The Cost of Moving To A New Job | | | | to take the simple approach is anyone's guess. |
| The days of spending 30 years in one town at | | | | Alas, the IRS is paranoid about cheaters, which |
| one job seem to be a thing of the past. Even | | | | means there are a few other rules as well. First, |
| huge companies like General Motors are being | | | | you cannot deduct any expenses that your new |
| forced to redefine themselves. This redefining | | | | employer reimburses you for. Seems fair enough. |
| often comes in the form of letting employees go. | | | | You also must actually work in the area you |
| As this occurs throughout our economy, people | | | | move to for at least 39 weeks of the one year |
| find themselves moving numerous times to new | | | | period after you get there. You do not have to |
| take new employment positions. | | | | work at the same job or for the same company |
| I will not beat around the bush on this one. I | | | | the entire time. For professional loafers, this gives |
| HATE moving. Really bad. I am sure you feel the | | | | you 13 weeks to sit on your duff and enjoy the |
| same way. There is, however, one small silver | | | | new environment without working. |
| lining to the grueling, miserable process. Yep, you | | | | If you are self-employed, the moving test is a bit |
| can deduct the expenses you incur in getting your | | | | tougher. The distance test is the same, but you |
| stuff from here to there. | | | | must work in the new area for 78 weeks out of |
| In a shocking twist given the nature of the tax | | | | the two years immediately following your move. |
| code, the test to determine if your moving costs | | | | Yes, you must live there for two years to get |
| are deductible is fairly simple. Well, for the tax | | | | the deduction. Just more proof that the IRS hates |
| code it is. The test says that you can claim | | | | you. |
| deductions if the distance from your old home to | | | | Moving is a nightmare. If you meet the handy, |
| your new place of employment is more than 50 | | | | dandy tests of the IRS, at least you can deduct |
| miles than the distance from your old home to | | | | some of the cost. |
| your old place of employment. Only in America | | | | |