Traveling and postal mail if no permanent residence

NedRN · Jan 16, 2013

What mail? Why do you need mail? Did you need it for this post? Do you need it to get bills or pay bills? Others will gladly give you their junk mail you are missing.

NurseRies, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2013

Hi,
If you travel around the country or a region, how do permanent travelers handle their mail?
Thanks,
Tim

I use my parents address for mailing and billing purposes. They can open important things. You need to have a permanent billing address for mail. That's why I need mail. Everytime I use my card it wants billing zip code. I'm not gonna change that every 3 months. Too many things to worry about for me and risk losing important mail or identity theft.

NedRN · Jan 21, 2013

That is a fine mail strategy except for one small thing: if you get audited by the IRS, it is very unlikely they will accept your parent's address as a tax home if you get audited for any reason. This means you will owe back taxes, fines, and penalties on all the "tax-free" housing benefits or stipend received, as well as travel pay and per diems received while using this address for up to the last 7 years.

Do you pay your parents rent? Room for your exclusive use? Ties to the area? If you cannot prove to the IRS that you took that address for anything but personal convenience, it is not going to fly.

NurseRies, BSN, RN · Jan 21, 2013

That is a fine mail strategy except for one small thing: if you get audited by the IRS, it is very unlikely they will accept your parent's address as a tax home if you get audited for any reason. This means you will owe back taxes, fines, and penalties on all the "tax-free" housing benefits or stipend received, as well as travel pay and per diems received while using this address for up to the last 7 years.
Do you pay your parents rent? Room for your exclusive use? Ties to the area? If you cannot prove to the IRS that you took that address for anything but personal convenience, it is not going to fly.

I did not claim a permanent tax home though. I have no ties to any area. Therefore, no tax home. This is acceptable, yes?

NedRN · Jan 22, 2013

Absolutely. If your agency is withholding taxes on your housing and per diem, you can have a mailing address of convenience anywhere. You are itinerant.

The only reason I mention it is that others will see your post and think it is OK to use your parent's as a mailing address. Some recruiters suggest it as a way to have a legal tax home. It usually is not legal.