tax home question

Cottage · Oct 22, 2006

Do those of you who have been traveling for a while return to your tax home location yearly to work for a few weeks? I understand that this is the thing to do to remain within the IRS' requirements, but am interested to find out how many people actually do it? Thanks.

Do you actually have to work when you go home for a few weeks?

rnerin · Oct 22, 2006

I am trying to clarify that, Cottage. It would seem to me you would have to work to prove that you indeed considered it a "home" as described in the tax form.

7p7aRN · Oct 23, 2006

Since it's a question of "Do I have to work"? I would like to add...."For how many days"?

I am rapidly coming up on the end of my first year as a travel nurse. I have heard contradicting explainations.

I have been told you only can work 2/3 of the year and also 364 days.

Anyone know for sure?

Thanks,

Clint

pamala812 · Mar 24, 2008

how often and how long do you have to be at your tax home for it to considered a legal tax home?

KatieBell · Mar 24, 2008

There is no hard and fast rule that says you have to work when at home. To have a tax home, you need to have significant ties ot the community and be duplicating expenses to have your home there. You do also need to have spent time there during the year, but apparently there is not hard fast rule on how much time.

I have been pondering this myself, so I asked a travel tax specialist for some advice.

Apparently, according to him, if I return to my home only for short "Vacation" visits that may not look good if I am audited. However, there is no hard and fast rule as to how many days one must be at home or such, so apparently it is decided on a case by case basis. (Nice right? I wish it were clearer.)

As far as working at home, this one is simple, you can sign up per diem or registry and do a few days here and there.

I am actually thinking about doing a local contract for three months, I miss my home and friends as it is, and love living in my house, if the pay were appropriate, then it would be perfect.

KatieBell · Mar 25, 2008

Since it's a question of "Do I have to work"? I would like to add...."For how many days"?
I am rapidly coming up on the end of my first year as a travel nurse. I have heard contradicting explainations.
I have been told you only can work 2/3 of the year and also 364 days.
Anyone know for sure?
Thanks,
Clint

I think you are thinking of being in one place. If you are going to get tax free benefits for housing meals and entertainment etc, you can not "travel" to a place for over a year, if you stay on assignment at one place for over a year that becomes your new tax home and all tax free bennies recieved become taxed.