Husband/Wife Team ??

duggram · Sep 5, 2007

It was a married couple that finally sold me on traveling. They came to Alaska every summer to work in the OR at my then hospital. She is an RN and he is a tech. They are from Oregon and do very well.

They told me that one advantage they had being married is that they get double per diems. I make a little over $4700 in per diems each month. A married couple would make almost $10K in tax free per diems.

You should know that I travel in my fifthwheel RV so I can pocket most of the housing per diem. My housing per diem each month is about $1700, here in Alaska and in New Mexico.

The puppy would be no problem with an RV.

The agency I am with actually suggested I get the RV. My payments on the trailer are about $300 and space rents are $300/NM and $600/AK.

BTW there's such a shortage of RN's now, I can't believe that you would have a problem finding travel work.

HTH, Doug

Sabby_NC · Sep 5, 2007

Good thread as my hubby and I plan to just this once he has got through his NP and has gained some experience.

We are also thinking of working together in Hospice care as a team.

Married nurses have many opportunities that is for sure.

Let us know what you decide. I wish you both all the success of traveling while nursing. :)

duggram · Sep 5, 2007

I don't think you have to be married to get the benefits. It's any two people traveling together. You don't even have to be nurses.

suzanne4, RN · Sep 6, 2007

It was a married couple that finally sold me on traveling. They came to Alaska every summer to work in the OR at my then hospital. She is an RN and he is a tech. They are from Oregon and do very well.
They told me that one advantage they had being married is that they get double per diems. I make a little over $4700 in per diems each month. A married couple would make almost $10K in tax free per diems.
You should know that I travel in my fifthwheel RV so I can pocket most of the housing per diem. My housing per diem each month is about $1700, here in Alaska and in New Mexico.
The puppy would be no problem with an RV.
The agency I am with actually suggested I get the RV. My payments on the trailer are about $300 and space rents are $300/NM and $600/AK.
BTW there's such a shortage of RN's now, I can't believe that you would have a problem finding travel work.
HTH, Doug

Housing stipend and per diems are two very different things in terms of doing taxes. The per diem amount is based on where you are working at the time and is a fixed rate that you can take per day, usually in the $40 per day range. Housing is housing and is considered just that.

What you are talking of is not all per diems at all. And housing is only deductible as tax free if you still maintain a legal residence in another area, if not; then it is not tax free and you will be liable for the tax at the end of the year on it.

suzanne4, RN · Sep 6, 2007

Have worked with many married couples on the same unit as travel nurses. Since you both have different specialties, it will depend on what the needs are of the particular facility if you can both work in the one place and on the same schedule.

No reason for you to have to get your own housing, many apts permit pets, and have not had one issue with my little guys being with me. Never recommend that you get your own housing especially if just going to be in a place for three months, it is not advantageous to do so in most cases. Too much running around to get furniture in, utilities turned on, etc., and much easier just to arrive and be able to work the next day or two.

duggram · Sep 6, 2007

Suzzane thanks for the reply. Maybe you can help us understand this all a little better.

BTW one of the first things I did when considering traveling was to visit a CPA. I wanted to be sure I was making the right decision. Actually all travelers should visit a CPA so that they do have a clear understanding from a professional.

Housing stipend and per diems are two very different things in terms of doing taxes.

It's my understanding that the only difference is the requirement for a "tax home". Is there anything else that we should know about here?

The per diem amount is based on where you are working at the time and is a fixed rate that you can take per day, usually in the $40 per day range.

Have you seen the IRS table on per diem rates where they tell what your housing and M&I rates are.

http://www.irs.gov/publications/p1542/index.html

The standard housing and M&I per diem rates per day are $96 and $45 respectively. The rates are higher for certain communities.

Housing is housing and is considered just that.

You're right, the IRS calls it lodging. But this is just semantics.

What you are talking of is not all per diems at all.

You're right again. Travel is not a per diem but housing (aka lodging) and M&I are.

And housing is only deductible as tax free if you still maintain a legal residence in another area, if not; then it is not tax free and you will be liable for the tax at the end of the year on it.

This is important and I've heard burns a lot of people. The only other gotcha about this that I know of is that you only have to live 50 miles from your work place to take this deduction.

Please let us know if there is more about this that we can learn from.