Travel Reimbursements

RNERHOUSESUPOR · Mar 22, 2008

Guess no one wants to reply. A few lookers but no responses. Was hoping for a response from everyone indicating that the amount paid for travel does not come close to covering the expense. I (and everyone else) could show the overwhelming responses to their companies as a consensus.

Medic15251 · Mar 22, 2008

If you don't like your benefits with your current company then you could always look elsewhere. A travel reimbursement is just a small part of the pay package. Why did you agree to take the assignment if you didn't like the terms?

Also, nobody forced you to take a large truck and pull a camper behind it where you will only get 10 mpg. You could have got a plane ticket for about the amount of travel pay.

bagladyrn, RN · Mar 22, 2008

Guess no one wants to reply. A few lookers but no responses. Was hoping for a response from everyone indicating that the amount paid for travel does not come close to covering the expense. I (and everyone else) could show the overwhelming responses to their companies as a consensus.

I'm currently lobbying my company for a change in this rate. We should all be doing this. My company did increase the mileage allotment some years back, the last time gas prices took a big jump. By the way, the difference between what they pay you and the cost of driving is tax deductable up to the allowable federal figure if you itemize.

fizz2Nurse · Mar 23, 2008

Really you have to remember that what a company offers as reimbursement is one thing but tax rules are another.

Let's say you travel 2000 miles round trip for your assignment. The current IRS mileage rate is about 50.5 cents/mile. This would allow you to write off roughly $1000 for mileage in travel on your vehicle.

You would have to offeset that by the reimbursement $500 or whatever allowing you to write off the left over $500.

The IRS mileage rate is designed to simplify paperwork and compensate for more than just fuel. It is also meant to cover the capital cost of the vehicle and is an alternative to following every incidental cost.

Now, as always: I am not a tax expert and I don't play one on TV either. Contact a professional like the folks at travel tax or there is also another one kobaly (dot) com. People like those folks specialize in getting you the most out of your tax situationa and keeping you out of the IRS hotseat.

My opinion is they are worth every cent.

fizz2Nurse · Mar 23, 2008

One thing to add for those who are interested:

No, I have not done this but have met some who do and are major proponents of it:

This would be incorporating yourself and maximizing your allowable reimbursements and taking a lower taxable wage. You beome an independent contractor to th agencies or facilities.

Again, see previous post for recommendations about tax rules etc.

travelcrazyRN · Mar 23, 2008

Max reimbursement for TAX purposes is about 50 cents a mile. But you can try negociate for anything you want. I wouldn't take less than a 1000.00 to travel across the country, and that is what I got. At the same time I wasn't arguing for a big bonus or anything like that. If you don't feel like your company is paying you fairly, find a different one.

travelinjones · Mar 24, 2008

with my decision to go full time in an rv

do you find you make up for the higher transportation costs with lower housing costs? are you still coming out ahead?

travelcrazyRN · Mar 24, 2008

I'm not sure if this question is directed towards me... I wanted the max travel allowance that was tax deductible... I took the number of miles and multipilied it by the federal tax maximum for travel. That was 1000.00. I drove 2 cars (with good mpg) from the east to the west coast, plus cost of hotels. The 1000.00 covered my expenses. My housing was also nice, and had all the amenities I expect and I think my pay was fair, it was within the range of what other travel nurses were receiving.

mzcat · Mar 25, 2008

Rod, whatever your company does not reimburse you can be deducted on your taxes.

RNERHOUSESUPOR · Mar 25, 2008

Thanks everyone for the replies. Still more lookers than responders, unless the counter picks up every time I check the site for responses.

I think the thing that bothers me more than anything else is that in 1989, for my first travel assignment, I was offered a travel maximum of $600.00 for expenses to travel to and from my assignment. I don't remember the per mile allowance but it really doesn't make any difference. Max of $600.00 is a max of $600.00 if it's at 20 cents per mile or 50 cents per mile. Yes you are able to deduct from your taxes the travel expenses that are not covered and I do that. My question to everyone is that with all the "fuel surcharge" increases everywhere, why has the travel money stayed the same for nearly 20 years for nurses???????????????????????????????????????????????????? After you answer that question then think about your salary back then and compare it with others. We are working more, with less and less benefits, sicker patients and more risks. That' a whole other post that may come later.

Rod

Medic15251 · Mar 25, 2008

Rod, whatever your company does not reimburse you can be deducted on your taxes.

Only if you have enough deductions to itemize.

Also, it should be noted that when you make an itemized deduction you are trading a dollar for a quarter. For every dollar you spend on travel items that are not reimbursed by your company you can expect a quarter back in tax savings (assuming a 25% federal tax rate).