travel tax workbook

Travel Nurse Tax Guide 2023

Navigating travel nurse taxes can be a challenge, especially because travel nurse tax amounts can be a bit different depending on what state or states you worked in. In general, however, taxes are very different for travel nurses compared to traditional staff nurses. From choosing a tax home to keeping your receipts to knowing exactly how your income will affect your long-term financial goals, here is the information you need to know about travel nurse taxes.

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Travel Nurse Taxes + Income Breakdown

Travel nurses are paid differently than staff nurses because they receive both a base hourly pay that is taxed and additional “payments” that are non-taxed to make up their “total” pay. When you sign up to commit to a travel nurse position you’ll receive a pay package that will detail all of the different aspects of what will make up your actual compensation.

Essentially it’s in the travel nursing agency’s best interest to keep the base rate of a travel nurse’s pay package low, so many travel nurses have a modest base pay but will receive additional stipends. In a technical and legal sense, those additional stipends — which typically cover things like meals, housing , and work-related expenses — are expense reimbursements for doing your job as a travel nurse, which is why they aren’t considered income and are non-taxable.

Travel agencies offer “standardized” bill rates. This means that there is one rate for all workers with any given license covered by the contract. For example, all Registered Nurses have the same bill rate, all Physical Therapists have the same bill rate, and so on. It’s also possible for the licenses to be broken down by specialty and every so often by level of experience. For example, Medical Surgical and Telemetry Registered Nurses have one rate while all other Registered Nurses have another. Registered Nurses with 1-3 years of experience get one rate, while those with more than 3 years of experience get a slightly higher rate. The important thing to understand is that standardized bill rates are set in stone by the contract for all intents and purposes. There is no possibility of negotiating a higher bill rate based on a particular travel nurse’s salary history or work experience.

Joseph Smith, EA/MS Tax, an international “taxation master” and founder of Travel Tax , explains that in addition to their base pay, most travel nurses can reasonably expect to see $20,000-$30,000 of non-tax reimbursement payments in a typical year working as a travel nurse.

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Qualifying For Non-Taxable Income

In order to avoid being taxed on those reimbursement payments, however, you need to clearly prove that you have what’s called a “tax home” to the IRS. The IRS defines a tax home as “the entire city or general area where your main place of business or work is located, regardless of where you maintain your family home.”

Smith explains that you can qualify for a tax home in two main ways:

• If your primary area of residence is also your main area of income, which typically does not apply to travel nurses.
• You visit your primary residence at least once every 12 months and can prove that you are paying for expenses to maintain your primary home.

If you can’t prove that you have a tax home, or don’t meet the qualifications for having a tax home, you will be taxed on the stipend payments you receive as part of your travel nurse pay package. Additionally, Smith cautions that most travel nursing agencies will not verify that you qualify for a tax home, so it’s up to you, the travel nurse, to ensure that you are meeting all requirements for establishing a tax home in order to collect your non-taxable stipends.

Joseph Smith, EA/MS Tax, an international “taxation master” and founder of Travel Tax, explains that in addition to their base pay, most travel nurses can reasonably expect to see $20,000-$30,000 of non-tax reimbursement payments in a typical year working as a travel nurse.

While many people commonly believe that you must have your tax home at least 50 miles away from where you work as a travel nurse, there’s actually no specific distance requirement . The only real requirement is that you must prove that it’s farther away than a reasonable commute and requires rest and sleep before going back and forth.

You should always check with a tax professional, but in general, travel nurses can take the following steps to help ensure that they qualify for a tax home in the eyes of the IRS:

• Keep proof of any payments you are making to show that someone else is maintaining your primary residence, such as receipts for a house sitter, mortgage, rent, utilities, or home maintenance expenses.
• Maintain your driver’s license and voter registration in your home state.
• Keep your car registered in your home state.
• Keep a per-diem position, if possible, in your home state.
• Return to your permanent home at least once every 13 months.
• File a Residence Tax Return with your home state.

To file taxes correctly, it’s very important to maintain your tax home and prove that you have to actually pay for “double” of everything—for both your tax home and your new living situation as a travel nurse. That means that if you rent out your home temporarily while you’re gone, you no longer can classify it as a tax home.

What About State Taxes?

Travel nurses should plan on filing their taxes by the April 15th deadline, just like everyone else in the United States, although there may be a little wiggle room for extensions due to the nature of being a multi-state professional as a travel nurse, according to Smith. Every state has different laws for filing taxes, but travel nurses may need to file a non-resident tax return in every state they have worked in, as well as the state that they consider their permanent tax home.

Travel Nurse Tax Tips

Smith advises travel nurses to keep a receipt book to help them make tax preparation a little easier by having all of their paperwork in one place. Although digital receipts may be more convenient or “modern” for younger nurses, keeping paper copies as a backup is always recommended. Your receipts can include things like:

• Housing and lodging expenses while traveling
• Mileage travel
• Uniform and scrub expenses
• Work-related expenses, such as continuing education courses or certifications you must maintain to keep your position
• Costs for Internet and phone providers

The 2022 tax reform laws did away with many job expenses at the federal level , which means that travel nurses can’t deduct certain travel-related expenses such as food, mileage, and gas on their federal return. You can still get a stipend or reimbursement from your travel agency for those expenses, but they may not count as deductions.

That being said, a handful of states still allow job expense deductions on your state tax return, such as New York , California , Alabama, Hawaii , and Arkansas, so there may be additional tax deductions you can make if you’ve worked in a qualifying state.

Smith also adds to be careful when filling out residency on your tax return, as he sees many travel nurses make the mistake that working a travel assignment means they have moved. However, working a temporary (under 12 months) travel nursing position does not qualify as a move of your permanent residence — instead, they are just away from home temporarily and that’s an important distinction to make come tax time.

Keep your tax home as a permanent residence address, and don’t change it unless you actually move permanently!

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Can You Get Audited As A Travel Nurse?

The travel nursing industry as a whole does tend to be scrutinized closely, says Smith. As a travel nurse, you may be more at risk for an audit if you’re displaying high expenses and low income. For instance, if your mortgage is $10,000 a month, but your overall income with your base pay as a travel nurse is only $20,000 annually, the IRS may be puzzled as to how you’re actually affording your lifestyle.

You can reduce your risk of an audit, or increase your risk of getting through an audit favorably by always making sure to work with a certified tax professional who is familiar with traveling healthcare professionals and not solely relying on your nurse recruiter or travel staffing agency for tax advice.

Lower Taxable Income Considerations

One of the appeals of travel nursing is that you have the potential to make a high income, especially through non-taxed stipends. And although at first glance, having non-tax stipends for things like housing may sound like a great deal for you as a travel nurse, it does come with a catch: because the additional stipends you receive as a travel nurse are not taxed, they are not considered income, and as such, will not be reflected in your annual income.

That may not sound like that big of a deal unless you find yourself in need of a loan, mortgage, or disability payment, or are nearing the age to collect Social Security. All of the aforementioned items are calculated based on your income. The lower your income, the lower the loan amount you will qualify for, and the less you are contributing to Social Security and therefore will be eligible to collect when you’re ready for retirement.

If you know that you will be needing a loan or a mortgage in the near future, Smith suggests talking to your lender as far in advance as possible to explain your situation and plan ahead. Working with a lender who is familiar with the pay structure for travel nurses can also be helpful.

In some circumstances, such as for nurses who are nearing Social Security’s retirement age, it may also be helpful to legally declare that you don’t have a tax home on your tax return, and instead, pay taxes on all of your stipends, so you can count it as taxable income.

And remember – you should use this guide as information to help you learn more about filing taxes as a travel nurse but remember that it is not tax advice. You should always consult your own CPA or tax professional before filing your tax return.

Travel Nurse Tax FAQs

Yes, all travel nurses must pay taxes on all income that they earned. They will need to file a tax return for every state that they worked in, as well as their home state where they have permanent residence.

If possible, it’s always beneficial to work with a tax professional, such as a Certified Public Accountant who can help you file and pay taxes that you owe as a travel nurse. An accountant can provide you with the physical paperwork that you can use to mail your tax payment in or help you set up an online account if digital payments are acceptable. If you file your own taxes using TurboTax or another software, you will be provided with the exact mailing address and instructions to submit payment. If you don’t have one already, you may need a book of checks in order to pay your taxes. The most important thing you need to know about paying taxes as a travel nurse is that you will need to both pay taxes and file a tax return in every single state you have worked in. If you’ve worked in many different states, that’s where hiring a CPA can be very helpful to help you navigate all that paperwork and payment.

It depends. American Traveler explains that you may end up paying taxes in every state you worked in as a travel nurse, depending on which states those are. Some states have what’s called a “reciprocity” agreement, which means that they have agreed that travel nurses working in those states will only be responsible for paying taxes to one state in total. You will have to check with your accountant or look into the tax rules for each state that you’ve worked in to determine exactly how much you owe in taxes. You should also check with your travel nursing agency if this is your situation because you will most likely need to file tax exemption paperwork through them as well. You will also need to pay taxes in both your home state and any state you worked in. That means that all income you make will be ultimately taxed through your home state taxes as well as the state where you earned the money. That might look like getting taxed twice, but the good news is, your home state will deduct the difference if the percentage rate of your home state is higher. And if it’s the other way around, you will generally only pay the higher state rate. This can get a little confusing, which is why we recommend hiring a tax professional.

Some states do not have an income tax , including Alaska , Washington , Wyoming, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas , Florida , New Hampshire, USVI, and the District of Columbia (if you don’t live there.) If you live in one of these states, you will still need to pay any set income tax rate in the state where you work. If you don’t live in those states but you do work in those states, you will still pay your home state tax rate, so be sure you keep that in mind with your total earnings so you can have enough to pay your taxes come tax time.

This depends on if you’re considered a W2 employee or a 1099 contractor, but in general, travel nurses may be able to deduct the following expenses: – Mileage or the cost of gas – A rental car – Uniform and equipment costs – Continuing education – Licensing fees – Travel expenses – Some meals – Retirement and insurance contributions – Expenses that go into paying for your tax home

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Travel nurse taxes: 9 things to know before filing this year.

Travel nurse taxes can be especially tricky. You’re often filing in multiple states and dealing with uncommon concepts like per diems. To help you navigate your travel nurse taxes this year, we spoke with Joseph Smith, tax guru and president of TravelTax . The following nine tips can make filing your travel nurse taxes easier, save you money, and help you avoid future tax liability.

1. Make sure you qualify for all non-taxed per diems

Everyone has to have somewhere to live and something to eat, but since that financial burden may be double for traveling workers, the cost is alleviated through per diems paid to you by your agency on a tax-free basis. However, you can only take advantage of this benefit if you can prove you are duplicating expenses at home and at your work assignment or have a regular job that you return to annually in the same area. Be sure you qualify for tax-free per diems before accepting them as part of your compensation package.

2. Be careful when using tax software

If you’re filing travel nurse taxes in two or more states, everything gets more complicated. Smith warns, “Even with a professional-level software, for multi-state taxes there are overrides that have to be done and you have to know where those overrides are.” This means it’s easy to misread instructions and make mistakes when using programs like TurboTax for filing in multiple states. “Tax software is only as good as the person inputting the numbers,” he says.

3. Keep your contracts (and read them)

Simply enough, Smith says he wishes more travelers would keep their work contracts and read them, because that’s where to find so many answers for your taxes. “When you’ve got a question about how you’re paid, it’s right there,” he says. “If it’s not being done as written then you want to say something, because it has tax implications as well as affecting your paycheck.”

4. Don’t change your address when you travel

If you’ll be filing taxes in multiple states, things can get messy if one of your temporary residences looks like your permanent residence. To keep everything straight, Smith recommends thinking of your work assignments as vacations: “You are not moving, you’re just on a vacation. You don’t change your address when you’re on a vacation — even though it’s a working vacation.”

5. Know what defines a tax home

To qualify for tax-free per diems and deductions, your tax home must meet two out of three of these qualifications:

• Have regular employment in that area
• Have a permanent residence in that area that you are financially responsible for the upkeep of when you’re away
• Plan to return and spend at least 30 days there per year

6. Don’t be surprised if a state wants more information

“States can track things pretty well now, and they’re out for revenue,” says Smith. This means if you’re getting a notice, the government may ask questions to verify your permanent residence or tax home.

7. Keep all your documents together

Smith says a common mistake he finds with travel nurses is that they don’t save their documents. If you’re wondering which documents to keep track of, here’s a handy list. (Note: these should be saved for six years in case of an IRS audit)

• Copies of all contracts
• Mileage log
• Receipts (except grocery/food receipts and gas receipts)

8. Subscribe to a tax newsletter

Smith says that tax laws are always changing, so it’s important to keep up-to-date on tax reforms. For example, the tax regulations on remote work (such as working for a telehealth provider) are evolving and may add complexity to state taxes. He recommends subscribing to a newsletter or the TravelTax blog to stay up to date on the latest tax developments that might affect you.

9. Consider using a tax advisor

A tax advisor can be helpful in filing travel nurse taxes with everything from understanding the original contract to calling payroll offices and agencies. Smith says, “If there’s a problem, I get results whereas if people try to call themselves, they won’t get results.” So if you feel overwhelmed by your taxes, don’t forget that there are professionals who can help.

Following these nine tips will help you in your tax preparation, however, this is not an exhaustive list and every tax situation is unique. So be sure to consult with a tax professional for answers to specific questions about your travel nurse taxes.

RNnetwork creates custom pay packages for every travel nurse job . Give us a call at 800.866.0407 to discuss optimizing your pay to better suit your individual circumstances.

The information contained herein is general in nature and is subject to change. Tax information contained in this document is not intended to be used, and cannot be used, by any person as a basis for avoiding tax penalties that may be imposed by the IRS or any state. We recommend each taxpayer seek advice based on their circumstances from an independent tax advisor.

Last updated 01/31/22

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Travel Nurse Taxes: Preparing for Tax Season

• Travel nurses have unique tax situations that require special consideration.
• Travel nurses are strongly encouraged to use a tax professional with experience.
• There are concrete steps you can take to make tax season easier for yourself as a travel nurse.

Travel nursing is a unique form of employment with many different tax considerations. Travel nurses are paid a premium to be available on short notice and jump into work virtually without orientation.

Traveling reached all-time popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many nurses leaving their staff positions for better pay and more control over their schedule. According to AMN Healthcare, one of America’s largest staffing agencies, 95% of U.S. hospitals reported using travel nurses during the pandemic.

Though those numbers have decreased, travel nursing remains an excellent option for staff nurses looking to increase their income, expand their skill set, or experience a new location. If you’re considering making the switch, know the basics of tax preparation, tips to maximize your deductions, and mistakes to avoid.

Avoid Making These 4 Mistakes When Preparing for Tax Season

As the name implies, one of the biggest draws of travel nursing is the opportunity to work in many locations throughout the country. However, while the big paychecks and exotic travel are huge draws, the complex reality of multistate tax preparation can be daunting. Misinformation is everywhere, and it’s essential that you know your rights and responsibilities to avoid costly tax mistakes.

We spoke with Sarah Gaines, MSN, RNC-OB, an experienced travel nurse and the founder of the Six Figure Travel Nurse LLC, who shared her tax prep tips for travel nurses.

When asked her number one piece of advice for new travelers, Gaines says, “I’ve learned throughout the years never to take tax advice from your recruiter. You may assume they’re the expert — and often, they’re very confident giving that advice. But only take tax advice from tax professionals.”

And, because we aren’t tax professionals, we spoke to financial pros to get their advice. Avoid these four tax mistakes as a travel nurse.

Neglecting to Research

Before you jump into your first travel nursing assignment, it’s crucial that you do your research. The thrill of a new contract can be dizzying, but make sure you’re adequately prepared.

Answer the following questions before you sign on the dotted line:

• What is the cost of living in the area you’re considering?
• Is that cost factored into your nontaxable stipend?
• Do you meet the IRS requirements for duplicating expenses?
• Are you classified as a W2 employee or an independent contractor?

Underestimating Costs

While travel nursing does pay significantly more than most nursing jobs when factoring in your tax-free stipend, it’s not without costs. The cost of moving, travel, and continuing education are all things travel nurses often pay upfront and need to be accounted for in your budget.

Missing State-Specific Requirements

From a tax perspective, the most complex aspect of travel nursing is accounting for the different taxes, rules, and regulations of each state you work in. If you travel in two or more states throughout the year, popular tax preparation software may not be able to meet your needs adequately.

It’s recommended that you reach out to a tax professional who has experience in tax prep for multistate submissions.

Believing the Myths

Travel nursing myths abound. One myth is that you must only live 50 miles from the facility to qualify for the nontaxable living stipend. Gaines says this is false and a mistake that could cost you.

She says, “The IRS doesn’t care that you live 50 miles away. They care that you can prove you’ve duplicated expenses. However, many agencies have rules like this. That’s where the myth came from, a misunderstanding between agency and IRS requirements.”

You must prove you reside in your home state and are duplicating expenses to qualify for that tax-free stipend. This means being able to produce records, such as a mortgage, lease, or utility bill.

Gaines also warns against accepting legal advice from social media influencers or recruiters for the same reason. For example, many recruiters may advise investing in a P.O. Box as a workaround, but this is tax fraud.

6 Tax Prep Tips for Travel Nurses

Now that you know things to avoid during tax preparation, let’s dive into the best tips to keep you organized and maximize your tax benefits.

Use an Experienced Tax Professional

Every financial professional and travel nurse we spoke to strongly recommends using an experienced tax professional, specifically one who has worked with travel nurses, if possible.

While self-service tax software may have been a convenient choice as a staff nurse, travel nurse tax preparation can get complicated quickly, and the stakes are high.

Consult Before Signing

If you choose to use a tax professional to prepare your taxes, send them your contract before signing. Don’t be afraid to ask a tax professional to evaluate your contracts. They may be able to help you negotiate your terms by understanding your deductions and the tax implications of overtime.

Build an Emergency Fund

Because things can change on a dime, it’s vital to have an emergency fund before you start traveling. If possible, maintain savings for 3-6 months’ worth of living expenses. This covers you in case unexpected costs arise or your facility cuts your contract (which happens sometimes).

Know Your Contract

The most critical step in accepting your travel assignment is reading your contract thoroughly before signing. Contact your recruiter first if you find something in your contract that you don’t understand or object to.

But be wary of verbal promises. Make sure you get everything in writing in the contract itself. Legally speaking, if it isn’t written, it isn’t binding.

Document Everything

Just like at your bedside nursing job, documentation is key for tax preparation. The IRS requires proof of duplicated expenses, receipts, and proof of income in case of an audit. You’ll want to keep careful records of all your contracts, income from per diem roles in your home state, and expenses.

William O’Donnell, a certified financial fiduciary and president of Heartland Financial Solutions LLC, recommends using technology to streamline this process.

O’Donnell says, “Try using an expense tracking app that lets you record expenses and records copies of receipts. Having good records is crucial to maximizing your tax deductions.”

Use a Separate Account

A good accounting tip to keep you organized throughout the year and minimize headaches during tax season is to open a separate account where all your travel nursing transactions occur.

Maintaining separate bank accounts and records will make it much easier to itemize deductions and spot potential issues for your tax preparer.

Travel Nurse Tax Write-Offs

There are many expenses that travel nurses can write off, but make sure you don’t double-dip. An example of double-dipping would be writing off a cardiopulmonary resuscitation course when you’ve already been reimbursed for that by your agency.

Each tax write-off is different; some things require calculations. Again, consult a tax professional if you need more clarification.

Here is a noncomprehensive list of travel nursing tax write-offs:

• Continuing education for nurses
• Car expenses, such as repairs or registration
• Nursing uniforms
• Travel expenses, including tolls
• Malpractice insurance for nurses

Consult a tax professional if possible and keep meticulous records of all expenses and income to avoid common tax pitfalls. Now that you know these mistakes to avoid and tips to use, you’re ready for tax season as a travel nurse.

Meet Our Contributors

Sarah Gaines, MSN, RNC-OB

Sarah Gaines is a travel nurse expert, online educator, and mentor helping nurses seek out, secure, and leverage premium contracts so that they can escape bedside burnout, accelerate their career, and retire early. Over the years, she’s cultivated a growing community that connects thousands of Six Figure Travel Nurses from across the globe! Gaines uses the power of social media to share insightful travel nurse tips, a behind-the-scenes look into her life as a full-time digital nomad, and the wisdom she’s gained as a retired RN turned entrepreneur who continues to build wealth while traveling the world.

William ODonnell, CFF

William O’Donnell is a financial advisor and certified financial fiduciary with a master’s degree in healthcare administration. He is the president and wealth manager at Heartland Financial Solutions . He has been serving financial advisory clients for more than 30 years.

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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional tax advice. Always consult your own CPA or tax preparer for tax advice. 

Tax season is in full swing, and although it’s a time of year that many people dread, the truth is, you don’t have to be afraid of filing your tax return. If you take time to prepare your paperwork ahead of time, work with a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) that you can trust and have a good line of communication with, and stay updated with tax tips for nurses, you may just find yourself pleasantly surprised come tax-time. 

>> Click here to see available high-paying travel nurse opportunities!

So while you deliberate how you’re going to spend that tax refund, you can brush up on some of the tax tips that nurses and travel nurses need to know about.

One of the most important things you can do is find a professional CPA or tax preparation professional who is familiar with working with Registered Nurses. It can be helpful to ask your coworkers for recommendations or do a quick online search for CPAs who specialize in working with nurses. 

1.) Save all documentation

If you are a travel nurse, who is taxed as an independent contractor (1099), the tax rules will be different than nurses who are W-2 employees. Not all travel nurses are independent contractors. But, if you are, you should keep receipts of everything you pay for as a travel nurse, including: 

• Internet and phone fees
• Rent (or your housing stipend costs)
• Travel, including mileage and vehicle upkeep expenses

“Documentation is KEY to start at the beginning of the year for travel nurses or nurse contractors,” says Tracie Jackson RN, BSN, a tax professional with Tax Savvy Nurse . “This will help make sure you can get all deductions owed to you. Keep records in a binder or expense tracking app such as all travel contracts, distance to travel to and from assignments, meal receipts, etc.” 

2.) Report all income 

If you happen to do any side work as a nurse (such as writing or consulting,) always remember, even if a company or client that you have worked with fails to send you a 1099 or W2, it is still your duty to report that income and pay any applicable taxes on it, so keep careful records of all income you receive, no matter how small it is. 

3.) Max out retirement contributions

 “If you are a nurse with little to no deductions, consider maxing out contribution to pre-taxed retirement accounts such as an IRA,” she suggests. 

4.) Start a small business

“If you're able to, start a small business so you can not only generate additional income, but in many cases can allow them to start taking advantage of tax deductions as a business owner rather than just an employee,” she says. “ I help nurses do this every day.”

5.) Consider if a 1099 can give you more deductions

“Sometimes nurses who are working in home health, contractors, or who work from home can ask if they can be paid via a 1099 so they can be allowed more tax deductions,” Jackson explains. 

However, she warns that you have to be cautious with this strategy, because choosing to be paid via a 1099 means that you are also responsible for sending your tax payments in to prevent from having a big tax bill at the end of year. “You will want a tax professional to help you execute this plan,” she says. 

6.) Beef up agency expenses

“Travelers may be able to ask for higher reimbursement for travel and other associated expenses from their agency,” she says. 

You’ll want to speak with your tax professional to determine if it’s better for you to take a standard deduction or to itemize your expenses. If you do itemize, you can usually write off any expenses related to your job as a nurse, such as:

• Uniforms, including scrubs, medical shoes, and scrub coats
• Equipment, such as your stethoscope, pen lights, scissors, etc.
• Licensing fees, i.e. anything you pay to keep your nursing license, or any state registrations
• Continuing education costs, including the fees, meals, and travel to conferences or CE courses
• Expenses related to staying educated in your profession, such as journal access fees, subscriptions to publications in your field, and professional organization membership dues

As a nursing student, how your taxes will be done depends on your filing status and if you are still listed as a dependent or if you’re filing independently of your parents. “Communicate with your parent(s) before you file if you are in college to see if they will be claiming you,” says Jackson. 

Can your parents claim you as a dependent? 

Your parents can claim you as a dependent if you meet the following criteria, 

• You are under the age of 24
• You are a full-time student
• Your parents support you 

Tax credits for students

If your parents do not claim you as a dependent, however, you can  deduct the typical student credits,

• American Opportunity Credit
• Lifetime Learning Credit
• Tuition and fees and student loan Interest 

Most of the time, you can only choose one type of tax credit for your education, so you should work with a tax professional who can make sure that you are getting the maximum amount for your own filing status. Jackson adds that if your parents are going to claim you, they will need your 1098-T form when you receive it at the end of year.  

It’s important to note that there is also a new tax and education deduction that was brought back for 2020. If you qualify for the American Opportunity Tax Credit or the Lifetime Learning Credit, you’ll probably get more out of claiming those, but if not, you might benefit from claiming the tax and education deduction. 

With this deduction, you may be eligible to deduct up to $2,000 of tuition and fees if your income is under $80,000. There is a higher income limit on this particular deduction, which is why the other education credits are usually prefered, but it does have the benefit of not requiring itemization. 

Chaunie Brusie , BSN, RN is a nurse-turned-writer with experience in critical care, long-term care, and labor and delivery. Her work has appeared everywhere from Glamor to The New York Times to The Washington Post. Chaunie lives with her husband and five kids in the middle of a hay field in Michigan and you can find more of her work here . 

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Travel Nurse Tax Resources

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Helpful Travel Nurse Tax Tips

Episode 1 Tax Deductions

Episode 2 Audit Triggers

Episode 3 Getting your Taxes Prepared

Episode 4 Tax Home

Taxes for Travel Nurses interview with Trusted Staffing

Taxes and Travel Nursing

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Travel Nurse Tax Guide

Fill out the form here to download our free travel nurse tax worksheet, welcome to our free ‘travel nurse tax worksheet’.

Whether you’re here because you got a shock or a surprise when filing your 2021 travel nurse taxes, or because you just like FREE stuff – you’re in the right place.

Designed for travel nurses, our Travel Nurse Tax Guide will give you a good synopsis on the things you’ll need to be be aware of and keep track of before filing your 2022 taxes.

To read more about travel nurse taxes, please click here. 

24 Tax Write-Offs for Travel Nurses

This content has been reviewed by an Enrolled Agent (EA) with the IRS — the highest credential awarded by the agency. Enrolled Agents are empowered to represent all taxpayers before the IRS, on all types of tax-related matters. Accountants who earn this certification have passed a comprehensive three-part exam on individual and business tax returns. To maintain EA status, they must stay up to date in the field by completing 72 hours of continuing education every three years.

Your NAICS business code is a six-digit string of numbers that shows the type of work your business does. (NAICS stands for North American Industry Classification System.) When you do your taxes, you’ll enter it in Box B of your Schedule C.

We get it, nurses have enough on their plate — especially these days. After spending all day in an understaffed health care facility, who has time to think about something like taxes? For travel nurses, especially, the stress is even higher.

Luckily, it’s easier than ever to find work on platforms like Nursa , CareRev , and ShiftKey — and to claim all the tax breaks you're due as a travel nurse, because we've gathered them together for you. So get on these savings, STAT, before you overpay on your next tax bill!

Schedule C, Box 18

Deduct anything you buy for your office, like pens, binders, folders, printer ink, or a whiteboard.

Schedule C, Box 27a

Any uniforms you're required to wear on the job are considered tax-deductible.

Schedule C, Box 15

These policies protect you from malpractice lawsuits — you need them for work. That makes them tax-deductible.

Subscribe to journals like The International Journal of Nursing Studies or The Journal of American Nursing? Consider that a work-related education write-off.

Track and claim every eligible deduction with Keeper

Keeper is the top-rated all-in-one business expense tracker, tax filing service, and personal accountant.

Don't forget to write off car-related expenses if you drive for work. This might include driving to patient meetings, local conferences, or even to pick up medical or office supplies.

Parking for a meeting downtown, or any other work trip, is tax-deductible!

A toll while driving to or from a work destination is tax-deductible!

Schedule C, Box 13

If you buy a new car, you can write off part of the cost every year for five years.

Schedule C, Box 22

Flashlights, tire iron, duct tape, and other tools you may need in your vehicle are deductible.

Car insurance monthly fees, registration, even roadside assistance are partially deductible.

Schedule C, Box 9

Oil changes, repairs, and regular checkups are all tax-deductible if you drive for work.

Grabbing food or drinks with mentors, patients, or fellow healthcare workers to talk about work is considered a business meal and can be written off your taxes.

What's more, you don't need to hold on to your physical receipts to claim your business meal expenses (unless you spent over $75 in cash). For the IRS, bank and credit card statements are good enough!

Schedule C, Box 24b

If you discuss work with a coworker, mentor, client, or prospective client, it's a write-off!

As a travel nurse, you can claim all the out-of-pocket expenses you incur during short-term contracts, as long as you're there for less than a year and you maintain a tax home.

Your tax home is essentially a regular base of operations at your permanent address, where you're still paying rent or a mortgage — even if you're often working in a totally different state. You keep most of your stuff there, and your partner or family may still live there. It's also where you're registered to vote, and where your tax documents get sent.

If you have a tax home, you can write off any unreimbursed costs you're forced to pay when you're on a contract — including that furnished apartment you rent. (Again, that's assuming you don't get a stipend or reimbursement.)

You can also write off travel expenses if you head to another city where you aren't even working for a nursing conference or workshop. That's also considered business travel, so you can claim expenses like your hotel and lodging.

Schedule C, Box 24a

Planes, trains, and car rentals are all work-related travel costs that can be written off.

When you travel for work, lodging expenses such as hotel rooms or Airbnb are write offs.

When you're traveling for work, all meals are tax-deductible. Even takeout!

This one's less common for travel nurses. But say you accept a contract in your home city. If you regularly do some of your work from a dedicated workstation in your home, you'll eligible to write off home office expenses for the months you live in your home city.

A desk, chairs, lamps, and other home office necessities are all tax write-offs.

Schedule C, Box 21

You can write off up to $2,500 for individual repairs to your property.

Gotta keep the lights on in your home office! A portion of your electricity bill counts.

Whether it's rental or homeowners insurance, you can write off a portion through your home office deduction.

It'd be hard to work in an office without running water, huh? You water bill counts.

Schedule C, Box 25

Your Comcast bill is a tax write-off. You need internet to do your job!

You may also enjoy learning about:

Everything You Need to Know About the Business Travel Tax Deduction

What Education Expenses Are Tax-Deductible in 2024?

The Business Meal Deduction: A Freelancer's Guide

Ultimate Guide to Car Tax Deductions and Mileage

Receipts for Taxes: What Do You Need to Keep?

Can I Take the Standard Deduction and Deduct Business Expenses?

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What Are Travel Expenses?

Understanding travel expenses, the bottom line.

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Travel Expenses Definition and Tax Deductible Categories

Michelle P. Scott is a New York attorney with extensive experience in tax, corporate, financial, and nonprofit law, and public policy. As General Counsel, private practitioner, and Congressional counsel, she has advised financial institutions, businesses, charities, individuals, and public officials, and written and lectured extensively.

For tax purposes, travel expenses are costs associated with traveling to conduct business-related activities. Reasonable travel expenses can generally be deducted from taxable income by a company when its employees incur costs while traveling away from home specifically for business. That business can include conferences or meetings.

Key Takeaways

• Travel expenses are tax-deductible only if they were incurred to conduct business-related activities.
• Only ordinary and necessary travel expenses are deductible; expenses that are deemed unreasonable, lavish, or extravagant are not deductible.
• The IRS considers employees to be traveling if their business obligations require them to be away from their "tax home” substantially longer than an ordinary day's work.
• Examples of deductible travel expenses include airfare, lodging, transportation services, meals and tips, and the use of communications devices.

Travel expenses incurred while on an indefinite work assignment that lasts more than one year are not deductible for tax purposes.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) considers employees to be traveling if their business obligations require them to be away from their "tax home" (the area where their main place of business is located) for substantially longer than an ordinary workday, and they need to get sleep or rest to meet the demands of their work while away.

Well-organized records—such as receipts, canceled checks, and other documents that support a deduction—can help you get reimbursed by your employer and can help your employer prepare tax returns. Examples of travel expenses can include:

• Airfare and lodging for the express purpose of conducting business away from home
• Transportation services such as taxis, buses, or trains to the airport or to and around the travel destination
• The cost of meals and tips, dry cleaning service for clothes, and the cost of business calls during business travel
• The cost of computer rental and other communications devices while on the business trip

Travel expenses do not include regular commuting costs.

Individual wage earners can no longer deduct unreimbursed business expenses. That deduction was one of many eliminated by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

While many travel expenses can be deducted by businesses, those that are deemed unreasonable, lavish, or extravagant, or expenditures for personal purposes, may be excluded.

Types of Travel Expenses

Types of travel expenses can include:

• Personal vehicle expenses
• Taxi or rideshare expenses
• Airfare, train fare, or ferry fees
• Laundry and dry cleaning
• Business meals
• Business calls
• Shipment costs for work-related materials
• Some equipment rentals, such as computers or trailers

The use of a personal vehicle in conjunction with a business trip, including actual mileage, tolls, and parking fees, can be included as a travel expense. The cost of using rental vehicles can also be counted as a travel expense, though only for the business-use portion of the trip. For instance, if in the course of a business trip, you visited a family member or acquaintance, the cost of driving from the hotel to visit them would not qualify for travel expense deductions .

The IRS allows other types of ordinary and necessary expenses to be treated as related to business travel for deduction purposes. Such expenses can include transport to and from a business meal, the hiring of a public stenographer, payment for computer rental fees related to the trip, and the shipment of luggage and display materials used for business presentations.

Travel expenses can also include operating and maintaining a house trailer as part of the business trip.

Can I Deduct My Business Travel Expenses?

Business travel expenses can no longer be deducted by individuals.

If you are self-employed or operate your own business, you can deduct those "ordinary and necessary" business expenses from your return.

If you work for a company and are reimbursed for the costs of your business travel , your employer will deduct those costs at tax time.

Do I Need Receipts for Travel Expenses?

Yes. Whether you're an employee claiming reimbursement from an employer or a business owner claiming a tax deduction, you need to prepare to prove your expenditures. Keep a running log of your expenses and file away the receipts as backup.

What Are Reasonable Travel Expenses?

Reasonable travel expenses, from the viewpoint of an employer or the IRS, would include transportation to and from the business destination, accommodation costs, and meal costs. Certainly, business supplies and equipment necessary to do the job away from home are reasonable. Taxis or Ubers taken during the business trip are reasonable.

Unreasonable is a judgment call. The boss or the IRS might well frown upon a bill for a hotel suite instead of a room, or a sports car rental instead of a sedan.

Individual taxpayers need no longer fret over recordkeeping for unreimbursed travel expenses. They're no longer tax deductible by individuals, at least until 2025 when the provisions in the latest tax reform package are due to expire or be extended.

If you are self-employed or own your own business, you should keep records of your business travel expenses so that you can deduct them properly.

Internal Revenue Service. " Topic No. 511, Business Travel Expenses ."

Internal Revenue Service. " Publication 463, Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses ," Page 13.

Internal Revenue Service. " Publication 5307, Tax Reform Basics for Individuals and Families ," Page 7.

Internal Revenue Service. " Publication 463, Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses ," Pages 6-7, 13-14.

Internal Revenue Service. " Publication 463, Travel, Gift, and Car Expenses ," Page 4.

Internal Revenue Service. " Publication 5307, Tax Reform Basics for Individuals and Families ," Pages 5, 7.

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Understanding business travel deductions

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IRS Tax Tip 2023-15, February 7, 2023

Whether someone travels for work once a year or once a month, figuring out travel expense tax write-offs might seem confusing. The IRS has information to help all business travelers properly claim these valuable deductions.

Here are some tax details all business travelers should know

Business travel deductions are available when employees must travel away from their  tax home  or  main place of work  for business reasons. A taxpayer is traveling away from home if they are away for longer than an ordinary day's work and they need to sleep to meet the demands of their work while away.

Travel expenses  must be ordinary and necessary. They can't be lavish, extravagant or for personal purposes.

Employers can deduct travel expenses paid or incurred during a  temporary work assignment  if the assignment length does not exceed one year.

Travel expenses for  conventions  are deductible if attendance benefits the business. There are special rules for conventions held  outside North America .

Deductible travel expenses include:

• Travel by airplane, train, bus or car between your home and your business destination.
• Fares for taxis or other types of transportation between an airport or train station and a hotel, or from a hotel to a work location.
• Shipping of baggage and sample or display material between regular and temporary work locations.
• Using a personally owned car for business.
• Lodging and  meals .
• Dry cleaning and laundry.
• Business calls and communication.
• Tips paid for services related to any of these expenses.
• Other similar ordinary and necessary expenses related to the business travel.

Self-employed individuals or farmers with travel deductions

• Those who are self-employed can deduct travel expenses on  Schedule C (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Business (Sole Proprietorship) .
• Farmers can use  Schedule F (Form 1040), Profit or Loss From Farming .

Travel deductions for the National Guard or military reserves

National Guard or military reserve servicemembers can claim a deduction for unreimbursed travel expenses paid during the  performance of their duty .

Recordkeeping

Well-organized records  make it easier to prepare a tax return. Keep records such as receipts, canceled checks and other documents that support a deduction.

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15 Tax Tips for Travel Agents

• Taxes , Vacation

The thought of having to prepare and file your taxes for your independent travel agency may send you a panic. Just take a breath and calm down because we’ve got 15 tax tips for travel agents to make tax time less stressful.

Before we dive into our helpful tax tips for travel agents, we need to stress something extremely important:

Whatever you do, don’t ignore your taxes. You don’t want to receive a phone call or letter from the IRS. Being audited is something you definitely don’t want.

Filing taxes for your independent, home-based travel agency doesn’t have to be a daunting task. Our top tax tips for travel agents are not only easy to understand, but they may even save you money and give you a bigger tax break.

Without further ado, here’s our list of top tips for travel agents:

• Get and Stay Organized

If you find yourself sifting through papers or tearing through boxes to find information, you need to get organized. Create computer file folders to organize all of your information by client, resort, cruise line,  and any other destination and back up those files with physical file folders, because it’s always good to have backups.

Use software such as QuickBooks or Excel to keep a running total of expenses. With the click of the button, you can print out reports and use them to prepare and file your taxes.

• Backup Your Files

Tax tip for travel agents #2 piggybacks the first tip.  Whether you use cloud-based software like TravelWorks or keep files on your computer, make sure your valuable files are protected.

You may want to invest in data backup services to ensure your data is secure. Two popular options include:

• Carbonite : Costs starting at $59.99 with unlimited storage space
• IDrive : Free and paid versions are available with 1TB of storage space.
• Look for Often-Overlooked Deductions

Perhaps the most money-making tax tip for travel agents is this: take everything you’re allowed to take! You may not be aware of how many deductions are available to you. Here are just a few of the most overlooked deductions:

• Car Insurance: If you have a brick and mortar travel agency with a commercial vehicle, you may be able to deduct the insurance. It’s best to ask a certified public accountant about this.
• IRA/401K Contributions: If you haven’t maxed out your IRA or 401(k) contributions, consider adding a little more before April 15th. If you are 59.5 years old or older, you can deposit money into your IRA before April 15 th , claim the deduction, and withdraw at a later date without penalty.
• Health Insurance Premiums
• Advertising and Marketing
• Meals and Entertainment
• Educational Expenses (Conferences, Conventions, & Seminars)

This is just a short-list of often-ignored deductions.  Check with a CPA to see what write-offs you may be missing. And don’t forget: keep your receipts !

• Consider the Home Office Deduction

Because independent travel agencies are often home-based, an excellent tax tip for travel agents is to take the home office deduction. You are allowed to deduct $5 per square foot of office space, up to $1500. Keep in mind, this deduction requires you use your home office exclusively for work, not for arts and crafts, guests, or as a home gym.

• Capital Expenditures Apply to Your Business

The term “capital expenditures” is also known as the less-formal, “equipment and supplies” and includes items that don’t need replacing each year, including:

• Office Furniture
• Software Programs
• New Equipment

Office supplies can also be written off, so definitely keep your receipts from purchasing pens, paper, ink, toner, notepads, and anything else you use in your business.

Don’t overlook this tax tip for travel agents, because up to $500,000 can be written off in this category!

• Hire a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

As one of the most critical tax tips for travel agents, hiring a CPA (certified public accountant) is one of the smartest things you can do as an independent travel agent. He or she could save you money and get you an even bigger tax break than expected.

Remember, a CPA is the expert required to stay up to date with the latest in accounting and taxes. You probably don’t understand IRS codes like CPA’s do, so it’s best to leave the filing of your taxes to someone who does.

Get in to see your accountant ASAP so you can determine whether or not you owe or are getting a refund. If you owe, you’re more than welcome to wait until the very last minute to file with the IRS, but if you are getting a refund, you want that cash in your pocket as soon as possible.  Filing early also helps protect you from fraud, which is a tax tip for travel agents detailed below.

• Safeguard your data

Scammers love to take advantage of unsuspecting people innocently filing their taxes by stealing

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Social Security numbers and filing your refund before you get around to it.

When filing your taxes, t’s vital always to use a secure server when sending information to your accountant. Also, verify that your accountant is taking the necessary precautions and is backing up and storing your information securely.

• Deduct Your Car

In #3 of our tax tips for travel agents listed above, we mentioned car insurance as an often overlooked deduction. But you are also allowed to deduct your car as a business expense if you use it for business.

There are two possible expense options, so choose whichever comes out as a higher deduction:

• Standard Expenses: Multiply total miles driven for business x standard mileage rate of 53.5¢/mile + 14¢/mile for miles driven doing charitable work
• Actual Expenses: If you kept detailed records of all of your business driving, you could deduct any actual costs for gas, repairs, etc, based on the percentage of time you drove the care for business purposes
• Know the Difference Between an Independent Contractor and an Employee This is an important tax tip for travel agents to understand. The difference between an independent contractor and an employee can sometimes be a little blurry, so here’s a basic breakdown:
• Independent Contractor: An independent business person. They run their own business, but do work for other businesses.
• Employee: Hired by you to perform specific duties under your direction.

Send any independent contractors working for you a 1099 tax form as soon as possible and make sure they complete a W9 form for you as well.

• Deduct Your Own Travel Too

Most independent travel agents reveal their passion for travel through their adventures around the globe. One huge benefit of being an independent travel agent, among many others, is that you can deduct your own travel as a business expense, including:

• Transportation
• Costs of Visiting Attractions
• Research and Investigation of Destinations

Of course, any trips you deduct must be related to any aspect of your business. But as a travel agent, that’s easy to do since any place you visit could be considered a future destination for your clients.

• Keep Your Receipts

This is one of those tax tips for travel agents that should go without saying, and we’ve said it a few times already in this article, but make sure you keep your

As a small business owner, one of the biggest mistakes you can make is assuming your credit card statement is good enough for the IRS. WRONG. If you get audited, and we hope you don’t, you need to show itemized receipts for everything you bought. To be even safer, it’s an excellent idea to scan all receipts as well.

• Note Any New Tax Laws

Tax deductions and allowances change from year to year. For example, in 2018, a new tax deduction came available to small businesses and could apply to your travel agency business. For example, if you earned $20,000 selling travel in 2018, you can deduct 20% of that. There are limitations to this particular deduction, and it’s best to ask your CPA about it.

• Keep Business and Personal Separate

As an independent travel agent, it’s easy to mix up personal expense receipts with business expense receipts. The simplest way to alleviate this problem is by using a business credit card for all your expenses, not a personal credit card. And, if we haven’t mentioned it earlier, don’t forget to keep your receipts.

• Know when to call for help.

This is an important tax tip for travel agents because you are a go-getter entrepreneur who likes to take charge. But filing your small business taxes takes a lot of time and attention to detail, so it’s best to leave it to your CPA.

However, if you want to do it yourself, there are courses out there that can help. Or you could always just call an accountant and ask for a little clarification. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, it’s critical to file your taxes correctly.

Save More Money and Use Our Tax Tips for Travel Agents

Not only can you save money with the tax tips for travel agents listed above, but you’ll also save yourself time, headaches and frustration. If preparing your taxes makes you uncomfortable, contact a certified public accountant or tax professional. It’s better to pay someone who understands the tax laws than it is to file your taxes on your own and risk making costly mistakes.

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