The short answer is “yes”. Relocation expenses for employees paid by an employer (aside from BVO/GBO homesale programs) are all considered taxable income to the employee by the IRS and state authorities (and by local governments that levy an income tax).

How are lump sum moving expenses taxed?

1) Plan Ahead for Taxes Instead, a relocation lump sum will be taxed at the employee’s regular income tax rate. For example, if you’re moving and your regular tax rate is 25%, a lump sum benefit of $10,000 could come with a tax liability of $2,500.

How long do you have to claim relocation expenses?

The expenses must be incurred or the benefit given to the employee within one year following the end of the tax year in which the change to their employment occurred.

What’s the difference between a lump sum and a relocation bonus?

What is Lump Sum? When a company provides a relocating employee with a lump sum, they’re basically giving them a signing bonus that is intended to be used for the relocation process.

Do you have to pay taxes on a relocation bonus?

Relocation Lump Sum Tax In a lump-sum bonus program, the employee is responsible for the relocation bonus tax. If employer’s choose not to provide tax assistance (gross-up) a certain percentage is taken off of the total bonus that the employee receives to cover the relocation bonus tax owed to the IRS.

How are relocation benefits paid to an employee?

Erica is set to receive a $5000 bonus and a $10,000 lump sum towards her moving costs. Erica’s employer pays an additional $5500 to the IRS on Erica’s behalf. This $5500 consists of the $4500 tax due on Erica’s relocation benefits, plus the “tax on tax” of the gross-up benefit.

What kind of reimbursement can I get for relocation?

For example, if the company decides the expenses they are willing to provide reimbursement for include: shipping items, home sale, and traveling expenses, they will assign a maximum amount that the employee can spend per category, and the employee can pick which categories suit their needs.