witty

I'm a travel nurse. I've been getting almost 2/3 of my pay untaxed. For example, $13 is my "base rate" which I get taxes taken out. But then, for compensation, like housing and such, I receive another $26/hour untaxed. My recruiter says he's paying me the maximum compensation he can so any overtime is just time and half of the base rate. Recently I was told to beware of this type of pay because the IRS only allows so much a month to be given untaxed for housing allowance and such and what they allow certainly isn't 2/3 pay. I need to know more about this. What should I do when I do my taxes? Do I claim that as taxable income? If so, what's the use of getting untaxed income if I have to pay taxes on it later. Somebody please enlighten me because I don't want auditted with fines and penalties. Thank you. Witty

Let's see if I do this right. I'm a travel nurse and I'm concerned about taxable and untaxable pay. I've been in positions where they pay with a small base rate such as $13/hr taxable. But I also receive another $25/hr untaxed. Is this ok by the IRS? Now I only receive this pay up to my 40 hours/week. With overtime I only receive time and a half of the $13. The untaxed portion up to 40hours a week is the most I can receive. Has anyone else been paid like this and if so, what do you do come tax time? -witty

I agree with this statement. I made it as far as page 6 before I decided I've read enough. Remember the comic Peanuts? (Charlie Brown) Remember Pig Pen? He had a cloud of dirt and dust surrounding him that increased as he walked. It sounds as if some folks think of nurses and other medical professionals as Pig Pen. Rest assured you are not going to catch a disease by walking past me. My nursing instructors told us not to go to stores after clinicals and I listened.....then. I have been guilty of stopping at a store on the way home from work time and again but I won't feel guilty or regret about it no matter how much somebody tries. I know someone probably will. Some people seem so paranoid, they may as well stay home in a sterile bubble.