Travel RN Making $7.25 per hour ?

[sunny61385]

Hello,

I need advice in evaluating a travel RN contract for Atlanta GA. (8 week contract) (36 hours per week)

Hourly Rate: $7.25 per hour

Overtime Rate: $40.00 per hour

Housing Stipend: $3990 / month

Per-Diem: $150.00 / month

Gross Weekly: $1227

What are the disadvantages of accepting such a low hourly rate?

Do I risk being audited by the IRS when filing my taxes next year?

Thanks,

Sunny

[Reigen]

The hourly rate is far below what a RN wage should be, also if you need to file for unemployment or worker's compensation your benefit based on that wage amount. The IRS would be wondering why the wage was so low, and could bring an aduit.

Also if you do not have a tax home you will not qualify for the tax adavantage program for housing/ per diem and that income will be 100% taxable. This part will be what would be of concern to the IRS for any audits. If you can please use a tax advisor that specilizes in travel nurse taxes...

[sunny61385]

Thank You !

[NedRN]

The numbers by themselves do not risk a tax audit, nor trouble if you do get audited for another reason.

[rowdynun]

I wouldn't risk an audit. They look at what the average rn makes in that area. Not worth that. And why work for that pay rate. Never heard that low before. Be careful

[NedRN]

Why exactly would the IRS look at average wage in a particular area? And if you make more or less, so? If for some bizarre reason the IRS actually does that (and it would be for average traveler pay, not staff pay anyway), you could be in deep do-do because they are doing a criminal investigation. Probably of the agency.

Low wages actually reduce your audit risk. Even nurses making top of scale are not at risk for audits. The IRS does very few full audits and they only bother if there is some decent return for their work. Not for chump change typically.