Reimbursement Question

[MzTayTay]

I'm not a real nurse yet, but I have a question about how tuition reimbursement works for RN's. If one can get enough money in grants and loans (or just grants and scholarships for that matter) to pay for their schooling, will the company still reimburse you for it? I know that's a silly question, I'm just curious.

[Guest27531]

Unless it is a specific program (like working in an underserved area with loan forgiveness) the tuition reimbursement is a benefit of employment. You must be working full time when you start the course (sometimes you must apply for permission to have a particular course covered)...you often pay for the course upfront. After you receive your grades you can apply to your hospital for reimbursement. The reimbursement will be considered "income" and you will be subjected to tax on it.

[Kellie626]

It might be wise for you to do more than assume that your tuition reimbursement is appropriate and according to your facilty's guidelines. As the previous poster noted, if your tuition is being paid for by a grant or a scholarship, then you technically do not have any expenses to be reimbursed for. A loan might have different criteria since you will be paying the $$ back.

I understand what you're saying but the "bill" that I submit to them actually has a breakdown of all the charges and then all the credits for loans, grants, scholarships, etc. It also shows my refunds. But I still get the full amount of reimbursement which, like I said, I'm assuming is because of the loan situation. Either way, I'll be their indentured servant for three years after I graduate. But I'm not planning on going anywhere right away so that's okay with me. :)

[Kellie626]

Unless it is a specific program (like working in an underserved area with loan forgiveness) the tuition reimbursement is a benefit of employment. You must be working full time when you start the course (sometimes you must apply for permission to have a particular course covered)...you often pay for the course upfront. After you receive your grades you can apply to your hospital for reimbursement. The reimbursement will be considered "income" and you will be subjected to tax on it.

I wondered about the tax thing because my reimbursement is never included on my W-2 nor do I get a 1099 for it.

[One2gofst]

I wondered about the tax thing because my reimbursement is never included on my W-2 nor do I get a 1099 for it.

You need to find out about this, as by law it is income. If your employer forgets to list it (unlikely) it is still YOU who is commiting tax evasion. Not trying to stir the pot, but ignorance of the law will not be an excuse to the IRS. They will look at it the same way as someone who was paid cash for work and never received a 1099, i.e. you still need to report it and pay taxes, except it will be easier to figure out.

Also, just a general piece of information, not directed at any individual person, if an employer makes an error and you, in essence, get paid for taking classes due to two payers, that could very well be fraud, depending on the situation. What I mean is just because no one tells you something can't be done because it isn't appropriate doesn't mean that said activity is appropriate.

[Kellie626]

I didn't mean to imply that. I always just give the check stub to my tax person and she does what needs to be done. I just never really understood why it wasn't on my W-2

[roser13, ASN, RN]

Thank you Rose, but Im not even employed at a healthcare facility yet. This was just a general question.

I was responding not to you, but to the post/poster quoted in the response. Notice how my post said:

"Originally Posted by Kellie626 "