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Travel Nurse Tax Guide 2023

Navigating travel nurse taxes can be a challenge, especially because travel nurse tax amounts can be a bit different depending on what state or states you worked in. In general, however, taxes are very different for travel nurses compared to traditional staff nurses. From choosing a tax home to keeping your receipts to knowing exactly how your income will affect your long-term financial goals, here is the information you need to know about travel nurse taxes.

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Travel Nurse Taxes + Income Breakdown

Travel nurses are paid differently than staff nurses because they receive both a base hourly pay that is taxed and additional “payments” that are non-taxed to make up their “total” pay. When you sign up to commit to a travel nurse position you’ll receive a pay package that will detail all of the different aspects of what will make up your actual compensation.

Essentially it’s in the travel nursing agency’s best interest to keep the base rate of a travel nurse’s pay package low, so many travel nurses have a modest base pay but will receive additional stipends. In a technical and legal sense, those additional stipends — which typically cover things like meals, housing , and work-related expenses — are expense reimbursements for doing your job as a travel nurse, which is why they aren’t considered income and are non-taxable.

Travel agencies offer “standardized” bill rates. This means that there is one rate for all workers with any given license covered by the contract. For example, all Registered Nurses have the same bill rate, all Physical Therapists have the same bill rate, and so on. It’s also possible for the licenses to be broken down by specialty and every so often by level of experience. For example, Medical Surgical and Telemetry Registered Nurses have one rate while all other Registered Nurses have another. Registered Nurses with 1-3 years of experience get one rate, while those with more than 3 years of experience get a slightly higher rate. The important thing to understand is that standardized bill rates are set in stone by the contract for all intents and purposes. There is no possibility of negotiating a higher bill rate based on a particular travel nurse’s salary history or work experience.

Joseph Smith, EA/MS Tax, an international “taxation master” and founder of Travel Tax , explains that in addition to their base pay, most travel nurses can reasonably expect to see $20,000-$30,000 of non-tax reimbursement payments in a typical year working as a travel nurse.

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Qualifying For Non-Taxable Income

In order to avoid being taxed on those reimbursement payments, however, you need to clearly prove that you have what’s called a “tax home” to the IRS. The IRS defines a tax home as “the entire city or general area where your main place of business or work is located, regardless of where you maintain your family home.”

Smith explains that you can qualify for a tax home in two main ways:

• If your primary area of residence is also your main area of income, which typically does not apply to travel nurses.
• You visit your primary residence at least once every 12 months and can prove that you are paying for expenses to maintain your primary home.

If you can’t prove that you have a tax home, or don’t meet the qualifications for having a tax home, you will be taxed on the stipend payments you receive as part of your travel nurse pay package. Additionally, Smith cautions that most travel nursing agencies will not verify that you qualify for a tax home, so it’s up to you, the travel nurse, to ensure that you are meeting all requirements for establishing a tax home in order to collect your non-taxable stipends.

Joseph Smith, EA/MS Tax, an international “taxation master” and founder of Travel Tax, explains that in addition to their base pay, most travel nurses can reasonably expect to see $20,000-$30,000 of non-tax reimbursement payments in a typical year working as a travel nurse.

While many people commonly believe that you must have your tax home at least 50 miles away from where you work as a travel nurse, there’s actually no specific distance requirement . The only real requirement is that you must prove that it’s farther away than a reasonable commute and requires rest and sleep before going back and forth.

You should always check with a tax professional, but in general, travel nurses can take the following steps to help ensure that they qualify for a tax home in the eyes of the IRS:

• Keep proof of any payments you are making to show that someone else is maintaining your primary residence, such as receipts for a house sitter, mortgage, rent, utilities, or home maintenance expenses.
• Maintain your driver’s license and voter registration in your home state.
• Keep your car registered in your home state.
• Keep a per-diem position, if possible, in your home state.
• Return to your permanent home at least once every 13 months.
• File a Residence Tax Return with your home state.

To file taxes correctly, it’s very important to maintain your tax home and prove that you have to actually pay for “double” of everything—for both your tax home and your new living situation as a travel nurse. That means that if you rent out your home temporarily while you’re gone, you no longer can classify it as a tax home.

What About State Taxes?

Travel nurses should plan on filing their taxes by the April 15th deadline, just like everyone else in the United States, although there may be a little wiggle room for extensions due to the nature of being a multi-state professional as a travel nurse, according to Smith. Every state has different laws for filing taxes, but travel nurses may need to file a non-resident tax return in every state they have worked in, as well as the state that they consider their permanent tax home.

Travel Nurse Tax Tips

Smith advises travel nurses to keep a receipt book to help them make tax preparation a little easier by having all of their paperwork in one place. Although digital receipts may be more convenient or “modern” for younger nurses, keeping paper copies as a backup is always recommended. Your receipts can include things like:

• Housing and lodging expenses while traveling
• Mileage travel
• Uniform and scrub expenses
• Work-related expenses, such as continuing education courses or certifications you must maintain to keep your position
• Costs for Internet and phone providers

The 2022 tax reform laws did away with many job expenses at the federal level , which means that travel nurses can’t deduct certain travel-related expenses such as food, mileage, and gas on their federal return. You can still get a stipend or reimbursement from your travel agency for those expenses, but they may not count as deductions.

That being said, a handful of states still allow job expense deductions on your state tax return, such as New York , California , Alabama, Hawaii , and Arkansas, so there may be additional tax deductions you can make if you’ve worked in a qualifying state.

Smith also adds to be careful when filling out residency on your tax return, as he sees many travel nurses make the mistake that working a travel assignment means they have moved. However, working a temporary (under 12 months) travel nursing position does not qualify as a move of your permanent residence — instead, they are just away from home temporarily and that’s an important distinction to make come tax time.

Keep your tax home as a permanent residence address, and don’t change it unless you actually move permanently!

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Can You Get Audited As A Travel Nurse?

The travel nursing industry as a whole does tend to be scrutinized closely, says Smith. As a travel nurse, you may be more at risk for an audit if you’re displaying high expenses and low income. For instance, if your mortgage is $10,000 a month, but your overall income with your base pay as a travel nurse is only $20,000 annually, the IRS may be puzzled as to how you’re actually affording your lifestyle.

You can reduce your risk of an audit, or increase your risk of getting through an audit favorably by always making sure to work with a certified tax professional who is familiar with traveling healthcare professionals and not solely relying on your nurse recruiter or travel staffing agency for tax advice.

Lower Taxable Income Considerations

One of the appeals of travel nursing is that you have the potential to make a high income, especially through non-taxed stipends. And although at first glance, having non-tax stipends for things like housing may sound like a great deal for you as a travel nurse, it does come with a catch: because the additional stipends you receive as a travel nurse are not taxed, they are not considered income, and as such, will not be reflected in your annual income.

That may not sound like that big of a deal unless you find yourself in need of a loan, mortgage, or disability payment, or are nearing the age to collect Social Security. All of the aforementioned items are calculated based on your income. The lower your income, the lower the loan amount you will qualify for, and the less you are contributing to Social Security and therefore will be eligible to collect when you’re ready for retirement.

If you know that you will be needing a loan or a mortgage in the near future, Smith suggests talking to your lender as far in advance as possible to explain your situation and plan ahead. Working with a lender who is familiar with the pay structure for travel nurses can also be helpful.

In some circumstances, such as for nurses who are nearing Social Security’s retirement age, it may also be helpful to legally declare that you don’t have a tax home on your tax return, and instead, pay taxes on all of your stipends, so you can count it as taxable income.

And remember – you should use this guide as information to help you learn more about filing taxes as a travel nurse but remember that it is not tax advice. You should always consult your own CPA or tax professional before filing your tax return.

Travel Nurse Tax FAQs

Yes, all travel nurses must pay taxes on all income that they earned. They will need to file a tax return for every state that they worked in, as well as their home state where they have permanent residence.

If possible, it’s always beneficial to work with a tax professional, such as a Certified Public Accountant who can help you file and pay taxes that you owe as a travel nurse. An accountant can provide you with the physical paperwork that you can use to mail your tax payment in or help you set up an online account if digital payments are acceptable. If you file your own taxes using TurboTax or another software, you will be provided with the exact mailing address and instructions to submit payment. If you don’t have one already, you may need a book of checks in order to pay your taxes. The most important thing you need to know about paying taxes as a travel nurse is that you will need to both pay taxes and file a tax return in every single state you have worked in. If you’ve worked in many different states, that’s where hiring a CPA can be very helpful to help you navigate all that paperwork and payment.

It depends. American Traveler explains that you may end up paying taxes in every state you worked in as a travel nurse, depending on which states those are. Some states have what’s called a “reciprocity” agreement, which means that they have agreed that travel nurses working in those states will only be responsible for paying taxes to one state in total. You will have to check with your accountant or look into the tax rules for each state that you’ve worked in to determine exactly how much you owe in taxes. You should also check with your travel nursing agency if this is your situation because you will most likely need to file tax exemption paperwork through them as well. You will also need to pay taxes in both your home state and any state you worked in. That means that all income you make will be ultimately taxed through your home state taxes as well as the state where you earned the money. That might look like getting taxed twice, but the good news is, your home state will deduct the difference if the percentage rate of your home state is higher. And if it’s the other way around, you will generally only pay the higher state rate. This can get a little confusing, which is why we recommend hiring a tax professional.

Some states do not have an income tax , including Alaska , Washington , Wyoming, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas , Florida , New Hampshire, USVI, and the District of Columbia (if you don’t live there.) If you live in one of these states, you will still need to pay any set income tax rate in the state where you work. If you don’t live in those states but you do work in those states, you will still pay your home state tax rate, so be sure you keep that in mind with your total earnings so you can have enough to pay your taxes come tax time.

This depends on if you’re considered a W2 employee or a 1099 contractor, but in general, travel nurses may be able to deduct the following expenses: – Mileage or the cost of gas – A rental car – Uniform and equipment costs – Continuing education – Licensing fees – Travel expenses – Some meals – Retirement and insurance contributions – Expenses that go into paying for your tax home

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Important Travel Nurse Tax Home Rules, Exceptions, & Advice From a CPA

It's tax season. Travel nurses are often confused by the term ‘tax home'  and are unsure why it is important, and how it affects them when filing taxes . I spoke with a certified public accountant (CPA) to learn more.

What Is A Travel Nurse Tax Home?

According to the IRS , “your tax home is the general area of your main place of business, employment, or post of duty, regardless of where you maintain your family home.” In other words, it is the city where you work or the place where you are getting taxed.  

For travel nurses, if you do not have a permanent work location, then “your tax home may be the place you regularly live” or the place you would return to in between travel nurse contracts.  

Why Is It Important To Have An Established Tax Home?

I spoke with Josh Katz, a CPA from Universal Tax Professionals ; he explained, “a tax home is important for your stipend.” If you want a tax-free stipend, meaning the income on your paycheck labeled as the stipend is not included in your taxable income, then it is essential to have a tax home where you are duplicating living expenses.  

Duplicating living expenses means you are spending money to maintain a permanent residence by paying rent, a mortgage, or residential taxes, while at the same time paying rent or living expenses in your travel location or place of employment.  

Is A Tax Home Important?

It depends on your circumstances and goals. If you want your stipend tax-free, then it is vital to establish a tax home and show proof of duplicating your living expenses. Consider these points and how they apply to your situation:  

• If you travel from place to place and do not establish a tax home, you could end up paying more federal and state taxes.  
• If you are a local travel nurse who does not need to spend money on overnight lodging, you may need to include your stipend as taxable income.  
• But you do not have to have a permanent tax home. If it is too difficult to maintain a permanent residence, you do not have to. Still, you must disclose this information honestly to your travel nurse agency and ensure you follow the correct tax rules where you work.

Can You Use Your Parents’ Home as Your Tax Home?

Your parents’ home can be your tax home if you can show you are paying to maintain your residence there. In other words, you must keep receipts showing you are paying your parents for lodging while working in another location where you are also paying for travel nurse housing .

Is There Really A 50-mile Rule for Tax Homes?

According to Josh, “50 miles is a good benchmark, but not a set-in-stone rule.” What’s more important is where you rest between shifts. If you live far enough away that you are unable to drive home to get adequate rest before your next shift and need to pay for lodging, then it would be considered duplicating your tax home, even if it is less than 50 miles away.  

Napping in your car does not count. You must be away from your permanent residence from dusk to dawn and show payment for your lodging.  

Do I Still Get A Stipend If I am A Local Travel Nurse?

On the flip side, if you are on a local assignment and working at the hospital across town and do not need to pay for lodging between shifts, then your stipend should be included in your taxable income. Don't get caught with a large tax bill at the end of the year because you didn't know your stipend should be taxed.

Do I Have To Pay State Taxes In All The States I Work In?

Yes, you'll pay taxes for each state and file differently in each state. In your home state, you will file as a resident. In all the other states, you will file as a nonresident. You can often get a tax credit for the extra taxes paid. In other words, if you paid $100 in state taxes as a nonresident, you may get a tax credit for that amount in your home state.

An example would be if you have established your tax home in Illinois, but are working in California. You will still have to pay the state taxes in California. If you paid $100 in California state taxes, you could get a tax credit in Illinois.  

Every state is different, so it is important to follow the state rules where you are working. Many states like Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, New Hampshire, Washington, and Wyoming do not have personal income taxes, meaning you would not need to file or pay state taxes in those locations.  

If you live in a state where you do not file state taxes, you may not be eligible for a tax credit.  

What If I Don’t Have A Tax Home Or Permanent Residence?

For nurses who travel in their homes, whether it is a converted van or an RV, or you just travel from location to location, your tax situation is a bit different. According to the IRS, you are considered an itinerant.  

An itinerant is a person who travels from place to place for work. In this case, your tax home is your place of employment. As a result, you may be subject to pay state taxes in each state without a tax credit because you do not have a home state. Your stipend may also be taxable since you are not duplicating expenses.  

What Is The 12-Month Rule For A Travel Nurse Tax Home?

When extending travel assignments, take care not to extend past 12 months. The IRS will consider this your new tax home. You can avoid this by returning to your tax home before the 1-year mark or taking an assignment in another location.

Keeping Your Stipend Tax-Free

The main takeaway from this article is that you must maintain a tax home and duplicate your expenses if you wish to accept a tax-free stipend. Per the IRS, the best practice is to return to your tax home 30 days out of the year, even if that time is spread out over several trips.  

You can maintain evidence of your tax home in the following ways:

• Payments for rent, mortgage, utilities, or home insurance
• Paying another person to watch the home for you
• Maintaining a driver’s license and car registration in your home state
• Maintaining your voter registration in your home state
• Using credit cards when returning to your home state

Every State and Situation Is Different

Even though these are the general rules when it comes to tax homes, every state and personal tax situation is different. Always consult a tax professional when filing your taxes to ensure you are protecting your earnings.  

This article is not tax advice. You should consult a professional tax advisor for more information about your unique situation.  

If your head is swimming with information about stipends, housing, taxes, insurance, or more, our Clinician Success Team , accessible through the AdvantisConnect portal, is with you every step of the way to help you land a high-paying assignment, secure all necessary documentation, and answer any questions.  

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Career Advice > Professional Development > Pay and Benefits > Guide to Travel Nurse Taxes: Overview and FAQ

Guide to Travel Nurse Taxes: Overview and FAQ

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Filing season can be a stressful time if you’re not sure how to do your travel nurse taxes. For example, exactly what is a tax home and how can you prove you have one? Which expenses are deductible and which aren’t? The intricacies of tax law might not be a thrilling subject, but it’s worth doing your due diligence so you can file with confidence.

There are a few main reasons that taxes for travel nurses are more complex than taxes for traditional nursing roles:

• Travel nurses may collect income in multiple states.
• Travel nurses often qualify for tax-free stipends, as long as they can show proof of a tax home.
• Travel nurses may have several 1099s and/or W2s to file in a single year.

For these reasons, you may want to consult a tax professional — like a certified public accountant (CPA) — especially if this is your first time filing taxes as a travel nurse. Another benefit of working with a CPA is that they can support you if you get audited. Here’s an overview of the terms you should be aware of and how to file your taxes as a traveler.

Taxable and Non-Taxable Income for Travel Nurses

To file correctly, you’ll need to understand what parts of your travel nursing income are taxed and which aren’t:

• Taxed income includes your paychecks, overtime pay, and bonuses or completion pay. These may be taxed by your agency before you receive them, depending on whether you’re hired as a W2 employee or a 1099 worker .
• Non-taxed stipends can include travel and housing payouts that you receive because you’re living and working away from your tax home. In certain situations, these may not be counted as income, and won’t count towards your Social Security benefit. In those situations, they also wouldn’t go towards your yearly earnings, so they couldn’t help you qualify for a home loan.

Tax Homes for Travel Nurses

What is a tax home ? Travel nursing is dependent on you moving from one place to go work in another place. A tax home is a permanent residence that you maintain while you take on travel assignments in other locations — the IRS calls it your primary place of business . Thus, your travel nurse contracts are considered temporary leaves, and you incur expenses in both locations.

To maintain a tax home, you’ll generally need to:

• Keep records of mortgage or rent payments in your primary residence.
• Keep your voter registration in your home state.
• Maintain a driver’s license and car registration in your home state.
• Return to your tax home at least once a year.
• File a tax return in your home state.
• Not work in a facility away from your tax home for more than a year.

You won’t need to submit all of this proof of a tax home when you file, but you’ll need to have a record in the case of an audit. Also, your agency will likely have you sign an attestation of tax home eligibility when you onboard with them.

Travel Nurse Tax Reimbursements

Why maintain a tax home? Establishing a tax home lets you take advantage of reimbursements for travel , which will be paid back to you by your employer. These are expenses that you’ve incurred because you’re working away from your tax home, so the money you get back for these expenses is tax-free. These are different from stipends for housing or other living expenses, which are paid out according to your contract.

Potential reimbursements include:

• Gas and mileage expenses from traveling to your assignment
• Malpractice insurance
• RN and LPN licensing fees
• Continuing education expenses
• Shipping necessities to your travel assignment

To qualify for deductions, keep records of all of your expenses. Maintain a file or take photos of your receipts, and compile them into categories for tax season. The IRS recommends keeping these records for three years or more .

How to File Taxes as a Travel Nurse

Looking for guidance as tax season approaches? Follow these steps to file your travel nurse taxes with confidence.

• Gather your documents, which can include any W2s or 1099s you’ve received for the previous year, documentation for additional income, such as investment dividends or rent paid to you, and receipts from deductible expenses.
• Understand your tax home, and whether you qualify to have one. Gather proof of mortgage payments and residency documents to prove your home base. If you worked a local travel contract , you likely won’t qualify for travel deductions for that period.
• Determine your taxable and non-taxable income. Your travel stipends may be reported on your W2 or 1099 forms, but be sure you’re reporting both types of income.
• File your federal and state taxes. You’ll need to file a non-resident tax return in each state you’ve worked in outside of your tax home. For federal taxes, you can file for free directly to the IRS . Working with a tax professional may be a good investment, especially if this is your first year traveling or you’re confused about filing requirements.

Tools for Tracking Expenses

You might be missing out on reimbursements and tax benefits if you don’t have an organized system for expenses and receipts. If you’re working with a CPA, ask if they have preferred programs for expense tracking. Here are some of the programs available:

Travel Nurse Taxes FAQ

Do travel nurses pay state taxes .

Yes, travel nurses generally file state taxes in each of the states they worked in during a given tax year. Keep in mind that states have varying tax requirements, so it’s best to check your state’s requirements or connect with a tax professional.

Do travel nurses pay taxes in both states ?

This depends on your tax home and where you work throughout the year. At the end of the year, you’ll file federal taxes, as well as state taxes for your home state and each of the states you worked in that year. But each state’s tax laws are different — some have reciprocity tax laws, which mean that you’ll be taxed in one state only.

Some states, like Alaska and Florida, don’t even collect state income tax. But the majority do, and your filing will depend on your state tax home. If you’re not sure whether you need to file in a state, consulting a tax expert is the best move to gain peace of mind and avoid mistakes.

What is a tax home for travel nurses ?

A travel nurse tax home is a place that serves as your home base, tax-wise. You may qualify for tax-free stipends and reimbursements if you have a main place of business or work and have to travel away from it to complete a nursing assignment.

When do travel nurses pay taxes ?

Travel nurses generally pay taxes with each paycheck from their agency if they are W2 employees. If you’re a 1099 worker or expect to owe money at the end of the year, filing estimated quarterly taxes is the best way to avoid underpayment penalties . Either way, you’ll still need to file your taxes annually.

Can I be audited by the IRS as a travel nurse?

Yes. Travel nurses may be audited because their tax situation is more complicated than that of other professionals. Also, if your agency is audited, you will be as well. Because of this, it’s worth keeping thorough documentation of your tax home, deductible expenses, and tax forms.

Find Your Next Nursing Role

On the hunt for a fresh opportunity? Now that you know how to file travel nurse taxes, you may be ready for something new. Check out the latest travel nurse jobs in a range of specialties.

Legal Disclaimer: This article contains general legal information, but it is not intended to constitute professional legal advice for any particular situation and should not be relied on as professional legal advice. Any references to the law may not be current as laws regularly change through updates in legislation, regulation, and case law at the federal and state level. Nothing in this article should be interpreted as creating an attorney-client relationship. If you have legal questions, you should seek the advice of an attorney licensed to practice in your jurisdiction.

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Everything You Need To Understand About Traveling Nurse Taxes

• October 4, 2022

We all know it’s time for tax season when April rolls around! Being a traveler is an exciting adventure, and the opportunity to work in the best travel nurse destinations is quite the experience. But as wonderful as this opportunity can be, travel nursing still has its unique challenges. 

One of these challenges is ensuring you’re keeping track of information relevant to your travel nursing position to pay taxes correctly. How much should you pay in taxes? Where should you pay them, in your home state or the states you’ve worked? It can sound more challenging than it is. Learning about specific details regarding your income taxes can help you maintain your excitement and passion for travel nursing while allowing you to do what you do best. Here’s what every travel nurse needs to know about their taxes for the upcoming year.

Top Thing to Know About Travel Nurse Taxes

Tax homes and state income taxes .

Many travelers may confuse a tax home with a permanent home. The average person’s tax home and permanent home are the same places where they earn most of their income. Since travel nurses make money outside their homes, it looks a bit different. If you live in Arizona, for example, but take an assignment in Oregon that lasts for several months, your new tax home might end up being Oregon because you spent more time living and working there. 

A general rule for travel nurses is not to stay at one travel nurse assignment for more than 12 months to prevent a switch. However, in most circumstances, applicable state taxes are due in the states where you worked throughout the year. When this happens, your tax home becomes where you pay your state taxes. So even though your physical residence may be in Arizona, you will pay taxes in Oregon because that’s where you spent most of your time. 

As a travel nurse, you will always pay state income taxes except in Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. You may want to consider these states when searching for travel nursing jobs. Check state laws to see if you have to pay state income taxes in more than one state. Always talk to a tax professional if you have questions about where you owe taxes.

Travel Nurse Non-taxable Income

To qualify for non-taxable wages, travel nurses must have proof of their tax home. To ensure you are eligible for a tax home in the eyes of the IRS:

• Keep proof of any payments you make to show that someone else maintains your primary residence. (I.e., receipts for a house sitter, mortgage, rent, utilities, or home maintenance expenses).
• Maintain your driver’s license and voter registration in your home state.
• Keep your car registered in your home state.
• Return to your permanent home between every contract.
• File a Residence Tax Return with your home state.

If you can’t prove that you have a tax home or don’t meet the qualifications, you will be taxed on the stipend payments you receive as part of your travel nurse pay package.

Other Tax Advantages for Travel Nurses

Besides exploring the country, there are a handful of other benefits for travel nurses that give them tax advantages. Travel nursing stipends cover duplicated living expenses like housing, travel, and meals. They’re not reported as taxable income as long as you prove it’s a duplicated expense. For example, if you’re still paying for utilities at your permanent home but renting short-term housing for your travel nurse assignment, that is a duplicated expense.

Travel nurses receive reimbursements for business-related expenses paid for out-of-pocket that their employer pays back. This is typically done in the form of an expense report. Save all receipts to submit to your employer, and the money you’re reimbursed is tax-free. 

Under the new 2018 tax laws, travel nurse tax deductions or write-offs are no longer available. Travel nurses can no longer deduct travel-related expenses—food, mileage, gas, and license fees—and will have to recover these funds through a stipend from their travel nurse agency or in the form of reimbursements for expenses actually sustained.

Beware Of Audits

While the chances are relatively low, travel nurses are more likely to be audited than the average person. This is because the expenses-to-income ratio can look a little suspicious. You could be more at risk if you display high expenses but a low income. It’s always a good idea to prepare and have a paper trail for everything. 

To get through or avoid an audit, find a certified tax professional familiar with traveling healthcare professionals and do not rely solely on your travel nurse recruiter or travel nursing agency for tax advice. Better to be safe than sorry!

Travel nurse taxes can be intimidating, but it becomes easier once you get into the swing of things. When in doubt, consult a professional to guide you through the process. Give yourself plenty of time to prep to put yourself in the best position moving forward!

Ready for your next travel nurse assignment? Check out our job board for the latest travel nurse jobs in the top travel nurse locations !

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Understanding taxes as a travel nurse

It’s April, which means that tax season is upon us. If you’re like me, filing for taxes has been the last thing on your mind given the impact of the COVID-19 crisis , but fortunately, the IRS has pushed the deadline to file back to July 15. Hopefully this provides some much-needed breathing room for all of you who are focused on other priorities  at the moment. When you are ready to file, this post will offer some useful information, especially for those of you who are new to travel nursing.

Before I get to the advice, I want to note that while I’ll be going over travel nurse tax basics in this article, it’s important to include the disclaimer that I am not a tax professional (just a nurse!).This article is for general educational purposes only. For questions on your unique circumstances, I recommend you reach out to the IRS or a tax professional directly.

One of the most important concepts to familiarize yourself with as a traveler is a tax home. The IRS defines a tax home as “the entire city or general area where your main place of business or work is located, regardless of where you maintain your family home.” For most people, their tax home and their permanent home are the same place, but travelers fall into a small category of people, like professional athletes and truck drivers, who earn money outside of their tax home.

As a travel nurse working outside of your tax home, you are eligible for tax-free stipends, in addition to the hourly wages you earn. It’s also worth really familiarizing yourself with the tax implications of working in a different state, as the wage component of the total compensation package will translate differently as take-home pay from one state to the next.

There are a few different scenarios that will determine where your tax home is, and this guide provides a comprehensive explanation of some of the most common cases. It’s important to note that you run the risk of the IRS considering a new tax home if you spend too much time in any one geographical location. So if you continue to renew a contract in another state, that could eventually become your tax home. To avoid this, a general rule of thumb, though not an explicit rule, is to avoid staying in any one tax region for more than 12 out of every 24 months while ensuring you’re maintaining (or re-assessing) your tax home.

You should also try to return to your permanent residence between contracts, or whenever possible. The IRS isn’t explicit about how much time they expect for you to spend in your permanent residence. Based on a previous ruling, around 30 days a year was found acceptable to maintain a permanent residence.

Tax Advantages 

There are a handful of important tax advantages to be aware of as a travel nurse, primarily in the form of stipends and reimbursements. Reimbursements are business-related expenses that you have paid for out-of-pocket that your employer pays you back for. This is typically done in the form of an expense report. You incur expenses, save all receipts, submit it to your employer, and the money you’re reimbursed is tax-free. Conversely, stipends are lump sums paid to you periodically in order to cover   expenses while on an assignment. For travelers, stipends are tax-free when they are used to cover duplicated expenses, such as lodging and meals, and do not have to be reported as taxable income.

Under the new 2018 tax laws, deductions or write-offs are no longer an option for travel nurses. This means travel nurses can no longer deduct travel-related expenses such as food, mileage, gas, and license fees, and the only way to recuperate this money is either through a stipend from your travel agency or in the form of reimbursements for expenses you actually incurred.

Audits & How To Handle Them

While the chances of any one person being audited are relatively low, it’s always important to be prepared. The best way to do this is to document everything (something that as a nurse, you’re probably already quite good at!). As a traveler, the most important thing to keep track of is proof that you are maintaining a permanent home and duplicating living expenses. Be sure to maintain documents for as many of the following things as possible:

• Mortgage or rent payments
• Gas, electric and cable bills
• Receipts for rental cars, flights, or public transportation to/from assignments
• Mileage logs to and from your assignments
• Copies of all your assignment contracts

To help make this easy, there are several apps and websites for organization in expenses and record keeping. A few that we recommend are Expensify , Genius Scan , Google Drive , and Turbo Tax .

One of the benefits of being a travel nurse is the ability to maximize your income . However, it’s really important to understand the tax implications and filing requirements that come along with it. It can be intimidating at first, but once you get the hang of it, taxes as a traveler can become almost second nature. That said, you should always consult an accountant or other tax professional, especially if it’s your first time filing your taxes as a traveler to be sure that you are doing everything correctly.

Sarah is the Founding Clinician at  Trusted Health , the career platform for the modern nurse. Sarah is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s Nursing School and began her nursing career at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. Prior to moving away from the bedside, she was a Clinical Nurse III and an Evidence Based Practice Fellow, and served on multiple hospital-wide committee boards. At Trusted, she utilizes her clinical insight and passion for innovation to change how nurses manage their careers and solve for inefficiencies within healthcare staffing.

You can connect with Sarah on  Instagram ,  LinkedIn , and  Twitter .

The views and opinions expressed by My Nurse Influencer contributors are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or recommendations of the American Nurses Association, the Editorial Advisory Board members, or the Publisher, Editors and staff of American Nurse Journal . These are opinion pieces and are not peer reviewed.

2 Comments .

First year as a traveler and was consented about the stipend. Thank you and I will have my taxes done by an accountant.

Thanks Sarah this was really beneficial to me as a first time traveler

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5 tax deductions for travel nurses you should know.

Travel nursing presents valuable opportunities and challenges while working in and exploring new areas, but navigating your taxes can also present a few challenges. Although travel nurses often qualify for stipends and tax deductions, it takes some understanding and strategizing to maximize your savings and income.

To get the most from your tax filing as a travel nurse, check out FreshBooks’ guide to travel tax deductions and tax home rules as well as tips for filing.

Key Takeaways:

• Travel nurses are eligible for tax deductions, reimbursements, and stipends for expenses necessary for their profession.
• To claim stipends and reimbursements, travel nurses must work outside of their validated tax home and demonstrate eligible expenses.
• Rules for state taxes vary, but you may have to file and pay taxes for multiple states.

Table of Contents :

5 Travel Nurse Tax Deductions

What is a travel nurse tax home, travel nurse tax rules for state taxes, 6 tax tips for travel nurses.

• Frequently Asked Questions

Travel nurses have plenty of stressful responsibilities but can take advantage of a number of handy tax breaks and deductions.

1. Travel Reimbursements

As a travel nurse who leaves their home for temporary nursing contracts, you can claim your related out-of-pocket travel expenses for tax-free reimbursements. This can include transportation, such as planes and car rentals, as well as lodging expenses and meals. If you’re driving, make sure to meticulously keep track of your mileage to get fuel cost reimbursements later on.

2. Professional Expenses

When you file your travel nurse taxes, you can deduct certain professional expenses from your taxable income under the condition that they’re common and necessary for performing your job duties, making these expenses crucial tax deductions for nurses .

These expenses may include:

• Nursing malpractice insurance to protect you from lawsuits
• Membership fees or dues for professional nursing organizations and associations
• Office supplies for work, such as pens, binders, staplers, or anything else you may need
• Costs for nursing uniforms that are required on the job, as well as dry cleaning expenses

3. Medical Supplies and Equipment

Many travel nurses are expected to purchase and supply their own equipment while on the job. If your employer or contract doesn’t reimburse those expenses, you can deduct costs for medical supplies and equipment from your taxes.

Common tax-deductible medical supplies and equipment include:

• Stethoscopes
• Nursing shoes
• Thermometers
• Personal protective equipment
• Medical watches
• Nursing scissors and tape

4. Stipends for Housing, Meals, and Incidentals

Many nurses can take advantage of travel nurse stipends, which is tax-free money meant to cover travel nurse living expenses. These stipends cover living expenses, such as transportation, housing, and meals while working away from your regular tax home or a place of residence. That means that you’re paying housing expenses at your permanent home while also paying expenses wherever your contract is based.

5. Education and Licensing Fees

Education and licensing for travel nurses is an ongoing responsibility, and you can claim these expenses each year on your taxes. You can deduct state-mandated continuing education programs, including related tuition, books, and supplies if they’re required to maintain or upgrade your current nursing qualification.

Other forms of continuing education and professional development may also qualify for tax breaks, such as conferences, in-person or online classes, and self-directed study materials. Travel nurses do some of the toughest work out there, but filing taxes shouldn’t be your most complicated task. Check out the video below to learn how FreshBooks can make tax preparation a stress-free process.

The IRS defines a travel nurse tax home as the general area of your main place of business or employment, regardless of where your permanent home is. Having a primary place of residence in your declared tax home is necessary if you want to take advantage of travel nurse tax deductions.

To qualify for a tax home, you can demonstrate that you visit your primary residence once every 12 months and you maintain its expenses. To provide evidence that you haven’t abandoned your residence in your tax home, you can:

• Keep proof of rent, utility bills, and mortgage payments
• Maintain a driver’s license in your tax home state
• Return for at least 30 days every 12 months

One of the major benefits of working as a travel nurse is the opportunity to spend extended periods living and working away from your home state. However, working in multiple states can mean you’re subject to multiple state tax rules, and you’ll usually have to file a state return for each state you worked in as well as the state of your tax home.

In this case, you’ll usually have to file a non-resident return for the states you work in. Certain states offer residents credits to offset taxes paid to other states.

If you stayed in a state for 183 days, the state considers you a resident, even if you maintain a residence in your home state. There are a few ways to avoid being taxed on your total income across multiple states, such as establishing another domicile or taking advantage of reciprocity agreements between states.

Certain states don’t have an income tax, which helps avoid paying taxes in multiple states if you can establish a nursing contract there. These states include:

• New Hampshire
• South Dakota

1. Hire a Tax Professional

Tax preparation for travel nurses can quickly get complicated, and it’s important to manage your tax obligations to maximize your deductions and earnings. A tax professional who is experienced working with travel nurses can provide authoritative and expert tax advice.

2. Consult Prior to Signing

If you’re working with a tax professional, get their opinion on each contract before you sign. They can help evaluate tax implications and deductions and suggest negotiated contract terms.

3. Understand Your Contract

Read and analyze your contract from top to bottom, and clarify any questions or concerns you may have with your recruiter. Don’t accept verbal promises as confirmed contract agreements—always get them in writing.

4. Maintaining Proper Documentation

The IRS is stringent about claiming tax deductions and stipends, and as such requires proof of duplicated expenses, income, and receipts. Keeping your documents current and organized and help you with tax preparation and audits. A designated bank account for your expenses can make it easier to itemize deductions.

5. Limit Contracts to 12 Months

Don’t work in one location for more than 12 months over a 24-month period, and make sure to return to your tax home once per year for at least 30 days. Make sure your contracts allow you to manage your time in each location to maintain your tax home.

6. State-Specific Considerations

If you’re working in different states, research each tax code and understand how they affect your tax circumstances and obligations.

Make Your Tax Preparation Easier with FreshBooks

Travel nurses can take advantage of tax breaks, stipends, and other benefits that come with a rewarding and exciting career, and getting the most from your tax filing just takes a little strategization and organization.

With FreshBooks accounting software , travel nurses can feel at ease with their tax returns as they do with taking their patients’ vitals. FreshBooks can help you track and categorize all your professional and travel expenses, enabling you to maximize your tax deductions, savings, and income as a travel nurse. Even when tax season seems far away, it’s never too early to get your finances and documents organized. Try FreshBooks free to get started.

FAQs About Tax Deductions for Travel Nurses

Whether you’re new to working as a travel nurse or have already worked in and traveled to many places, tax deductions always prompt a few common questions.

Can a travel nurse write off a camper?

To qualify for reimbursements or stipends for housing, you must have a tax home housing expense and a duplicate expense for where you work. If you live in an RV or camper, you won’t write off the camper but instead the spot you rent for it.

Do travel nurses get audited by the IRS?

The IRS is more likely to audit travel nurses over regular workers. This is largely to verify the amount of reimbursed expenses and stipends that nurses claim in their return. Demonstrating high expenses and low income can prompt an audit.

How do travel nurses reduce their taxes?

Travel nurses can qualify for stipends, which are a type of non-taxable income. Tax deductions and working in a state with no income tax can also help lower your tax bill.

Do travel nurses get W-2s or 1099?

Travel nurses receive a W-2 if they’re an employee of a healthcare staffing company, or they receive a 1099 if they work as an independent contractor.

Do you get taxed twice as a travel nurse?

If you work in multiple states as a travel nurse, your entire income may be subject to multiple state taxes.

Can you write off your car as a travel nurse?

If you have to drive for work, such as to see patients or pick up supplies, you can write off car-related expenses incurred for business purposes.

Are travel nurses eligible for tax credits?

Travel nurses are eligible for certain tax deductions, but they don’t receive tax credits for their profession.

More Useful Resources

Explore our diverse tax deduction guides catering to various niches. From small businesses to real estate agents, find valuable insights to optimize your tax savings.

Sandra Habiger, CPA

About the author

Sandra Habiger is a Chartered Professional Accountant with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Washington. Sandra’s areas of focus include advising real estate agents, brokers, and investors. She supports small businesses in growing to their first six figures and beyond. Alongside her accounting practice, Sandra is a Money and Life Coach for women in business.

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Jan 31, 2024

Navigating Tax Season as a Traveling Healthcare Professional

While there are many things to love about being a travel healthcare professional, one thing that may be a little complicated surfaces every year when filing taxes. With tax season approaching, it’s crucial for travel healthcare professionals to be well informed when gathering, filing and maximizing your tax returns. In this blog post, we’ll discuss essential tax tips tailored specifically for healthcare travelers.

Understand Tax Home Requirements

Ensure that you meet the IRS criteria for having a tax home, which involves maintaining a regular place of residence. This is vital for claiming deductions related to travel expenses. Keep thorough records of your expenses at your tax home, such as rent or mortgage payments, utilities, and other costs. You will also want to document what days you’ve spent at your tax home throughout the year. These documents will serve as proof to support your claim that you maintain a residence in a specific location.

Record Housing Expenses

Track Mileage and Transportation Costs

Keep a log of your mileage and transportation expenses incurred while traveling between your tax home and your work assignments. These costs can be deductible if you haven’t been reimbursed for them already, so accurate documentation is key.

Save All W-2s and 1099s

Organize and save all your W-2 and 1099 forms from your various assignments. Having a complete record of your earnings is essential for accurately filing your taxes and ensuring you take advantage of all eligible deductions. Along with this, you’ll want to keep copies of every contract you have signed for each assignment.

Maximize Tax Free Stipends

One of the perks of being a travel healthcare professional is receiving tax-free stipends to cover housing, meals, and incidental expenses. To fully benefit from these stipends, it’s important to understand the IRS guidelines. Typically, as long as your expenses meet the criteria for being away from your tax home and are related to your temporary work assignment, you can exclude these stipends from your taxable income. Keep detailed records of your qualifying expenses to make the most of this tax advantage.

Consult with a Tax Professional

In the world of travel healthcare, where new assignments bring fresh challenges and experiences, managing taxes is a constant. As you gear up for the approaching tax season, remember these tax tips for healthcare travelers that can help you navigate the complexities of tax filing successfully.

If you’re searching for your next travel healthcare assignment amidst tax season, Aequor is here to help make that process as easy as possible! Create a profile in the Aequor self-service talent portal or browse open positions and get connected with a recruiter today. Safe travels and happy tax season!

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Travel Nursing – Is It Worth It Without a Tax-home?

Travel nursing agencies and their recruiters trumpet the benefits of tax-free stipends in their marketing campaigns and sales pitches. And of course, why wouldn’t they? In most cases, the tax-free stipends can result in hundreds of additional dollars making their way into the pocket of the travel nurse. But what if the travel nurse doesn’t have a tax-home and therefore doesn’t qualify for tax-free stipends? Is it still worth it? There are several issues to consider when answering this question.

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Travel Nursing: Establishing a Tax Home

First, travel nurses should consider the possibility of establishing and maintaining a tax-home so that they can qualify to receive the tax-free stipends. You can review this four part series ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ) for detailed information on how to accomplish this. I assume that those who believe they don’t have a tax-home are harboring this belief because they don’t incur duplicate expenses. In other words, they aren’t paying rent or a mortgage somewhere. However, travel nurses may still be able to establish a tax-home. Again, please refer to the four part series above for the details.

Travel Nursing Without a Tax Home: Comparing Pay Packages

If you determine that there is no way you can establish and maintain a tax-home, then you should compare the pay package with your permanent compensation package. When doing so, it’s important to consider ALL of the compensation variables when determining the total value of both compensation packages.

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For your permanent package, you must consider items such as the value of any paid vacation, paid sick days, medical benefits, and 401K matching if you’re participating in a 401K plan. For your pay package, you must consider the value of housing , bonuses , the pay rate, travel stipends , 401K plans , medical benefits  and all other compensation related items.

As a recruiter, I routinely had healthcare professionals rebuff pay offers because “the rate” was too low. For example, if the assignment had a rate of $28 per hour, they’d tell me that there was no way they’d work for such a low rate. But of course, they’d also be getting company provided housing in addition to other compensation components.

Now, if you are paying duplicative expenses, then you don’t really care about housing because you’re paying rent or a mortgage back home. However, if you don’t have a tax-home and aren’t paying rent or a mortgage, then the housing should indeed be considered compensation. You can review this three part series ( 1 , 2 , 3 ) for more information on determining the value of a compensation package.

This free eBook will help you negotiate travel nursing pay like a pro.

Ultimately, your goal is to make an apples-to-apples comparison between your permanent compensation package and the compensation package. This means that you’ll need to break everything down to a common denominator. The best common denominators to use are those related to time. We’re talking about hours worked . You’re going to break everything down to an hourly value, a weekly value, or a monthly value. I prefer hourly values. For more information on how to accomplish this, please watch our travel nursing pay video .

Of course life is about more than just money, so you’ll have to consider the intangibles. Why are you considering travel nursing? Are you interested in travel? Are you tired of dealing with workplace politics? Do you just need a break from the permanent job scene? Are you hoping to quickly expand your skills and learn new procedures and systems? Travel nursing is a means to accomplishing all of these things. It’s up to you to determine how much they’re worth to you.

Travel Nursing Without a Tax Home: How do Agencies Handle It?

If after making these considerations you determine travel nursing to be a viable option, then you’ll need to consider how agencies are going to deal with your “itinerant” status. Itinerant just means that you don’t have a tax home. Determining how the agency handles this is important because it helps you understand how you’ll need to approach your own taxes when it’s time to file.

Some agencies may be unwilling to work with you unless you sign a document attesting that you have a tax-home and are entitled to receive tax-free stipends. They are concerned with being tagged by the IRS for wage recharacterizaton. It’s typically the larger corporate agencies that maintain such policies. This is largely a problem for the agency and not you, but if you’re interested, you can read this blog post for more information on wage recharacterization.

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You’ll also find agencies that may not require you to sign such a document, but will still only provide their standard compensation package that includes tax-free stipends. You’ll also find some agencies that are willing to pay you an all taxable wage. In any case, if you do not have a tax home, then you’ll need to declare any tax-free compensation variables on your income tax return. Of course, some of these items will still be tax deductible. You can seek the advice of an experienced travel tax adviser to determine the best options for your unique circumstances.

In the end, I think the majority of nurses without a tax-home will find that travel nursing is indeed worth it even if they only consider the financial aspects. Even in difficult economic times, the fully blended rate for the average travel nursing contract is still somewhere between $37/hour-$43/hour. This puts it in-line or above the national median wage for Registered Nurses with 5-9 years of experience.

As always, your feedback is appreciated. Please share your thoughts and let me know if there’s anything I missed.

Related posts:

• Travel Nursing Pay – Qualifying for Tax-Free Stipends and Tax Deductions: Part 2: Maintaining Temporary Status In our previous blog post we laid out the criteria under...
• Travel Nursing Pay – Qualifying for Tax-Free Stipends: Part 3: The 3 Factor Threshold Test Now that we have made the distinction between indefinite work...
• 6 Things Travel Nurses Should Know About GSA Rates Understandably, there is a lot of confusion about GSA rates...

If I don’t have a tax home, what all is considered taxable besides my regular wages? For example, if I take company housing instead of the housing stipend, is the amount they pay for that considered taxable income for me? The utilities on it?

Thanks for the inquiry, Sunnie. In general , yes, the value of housing and utilities are taxable if you don’t have a tax home. Other items, like license and certification reimbursements, are not taxable. Please note that I’m not a tax adviser, so this is for informational purposes only. We recommend discussing your unique circumstances with a registered tax professional in order to ensure that you’re receiving the most reliable advice.

We own our home , it is paid for. Do I still qualify for a tax home? Thanks Kelly B

This is a really good question. Unfortunately, I don’t have the answer. My sincerest apologies. However, you can contact traveltax.com. They’ll typically answer questions like this free of charge.

No tax home then nothing’s is taxfree

Yes, that’s true for the most part. You could receive a tax free payment for travel expenses and write off your moving expenses. Also, you won’t be duplicating expenses, so that’s a plus. But yes, housing and M&IE are definitely not tax-free when you don’t have a tax home.

I don’t have a tax home and I’m losing about 50% in taxes every week. Is this right?

Thanks for the inquiry. I’d have to see the entire pay package to answer your question definitively. However, I’d be surprised if you were losing that much in taxes. For example, let’s say you received $30 per hour taxable, instead of receiving it tax-free, you’d pay taxes on that $30 per hour that you wouldn’t have otherwise. As a result, you shouldn’t lose 50% of your entire pay check to taxes…just the additional taxes on that $30 per hour.

I hope that makes sense. Please feel free to provide additional information or let me know if there are any questions I might be able to help with.

I Have a question about the tax home, I just moved in with my sister do I have a tax home or not.? If I paid her rent money would that make me have a tax home? If I don’t pay rent would I have a tax home?

Good question, Sandra. Unfortunately, you don’t have a tax home by simply moving in with your sister. If you pay rent, then it can work. However, you need to make sure that you’re paying “fair market value” for the rent because that’s what the IRS requires. There are other things to consider as well, and establishing and maintaining a tax-home can get a little complicated. You can review our 4 part series on the topic starting with this post: Travel Nursing Pay – Qualifying for Tax-Free Stipends and Tax Deductions: Part 1 . I hope this helps!

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Tax Tips Q&A for Travel Nurses & Allied Health Pros with Travel Tax Expert Joseph Smith

Here at Trusted Health, we know that navigating the intricacies of taxes for multi-state healthcare professionals can be daunting. That's why we've partnered with the founder of TravelTax, Joseph Smith, EA/MS Tax, to bring your clear, comprehensive insights into your tax obligations as a healthcare traveler.  Joseph is a former Respiratory Therapist and healthcare traveler turned tax expert and the visionary behind TravelTax. 

Our Q&A session with Joseph was packed with tax knowledge and insightful questions from our healthcare traveler audience.  Keep reading for a glimpse into what we covered! 

What is a Tax Home?

A tax home, or tax residence is your principal place of work income, where you make your money.  Tax laws provide exceptions for mobile professionals who duplicate their expenses for maintaining a primary residence, as well as their lodging while they are away from home working.  As a traveler, you could have multiple different locations where you are duplicating expenses throughout the year. You are allowed to be reimbursed for your expenses at the second residence in which you work (via stipends for lodging and meals), if you are duplicating your expenses to maintain a second place of residence to fulfill your work duties.

Multi-State Tax Complexities

Common myth: is there a 50-mile rule.

No.  Ultimately, you have to be working far enough away from home that it would require you to obtain lodging to rest/sleep at the assignment location, meaning that you’re working too far from home to reasonably drive back and forth each shift.

What is the 12-month rule?

It is recommended that you take a 7-12 month break from assignments in the same geographical or commutable area in order to avoid shifting your tax home to this new location. Try to avoid working more than 12 out of 24 months in the same area.

What is the 30-day rule?

Based on IRS guidelines, the best practice for traveling professionals is to return home for at least 30 days within a 12-month period in order to show that they have not abandoned their tax home.  The 30 days that you are home do not have to be consecutive.

Will I be taxed in the state in which my travel agency is located?

Your travel agency’s location is not pertinent to filing your personal taxes. 

The nomadic lifestyle of travel nurses and allied health professionals can sometimes make it challenging to file taxes by the standard deadline. Therefore, seeking a tax extension can be a prudent strategy. It's crucial to understand that while an extension grants additional time to file your tax return, it does not postpone the due date for any taxes owed. However, securing an extension can help you avoid penalties associated with late filing if you anticipate owing taxes.

Under the existing tax reform laws, set to be updated in 2026, most travel nurses and allied health professionals cannot claim tax deductions for work-related travel or job expenses on their federal tax returns. This restriction applies unless you're classified as an independent contractor or if you're filing in certain states that still permit these deductions despite the federal limitations. It's important for healthcare travelers to be aware of these nuances to navigate their tax obligations effectively.

Proactive W2 Correction Strategies

• Verify Early: Upon receiving your initial pay stub, promptly review it to confirm that the withholding amounts align with your expectations. Addressing discrepancies early can prevent complications down the line.
• Immediate Action: Should you spot any inaccuracies, reach out to your agency to rectify the situation. Proactive communication ensures issues are resolved swiftly, sparing you from potential headaches during tax season.
• Documentation is Key: Adopt the medical adage "if it isn't documented, it didn't happen" for your financial records. Preserve all receipts, favor electronic payments for traceability, and keep a comprehensive collection of your pay stubs. Meticulous record-keeping is your first line of defense in the event of an audit , ensuring you have the necessary evidence to support your tax filings.

Wrapping Up: Your Path to Tax Clarity

We hope this session has illuminated the path through the complexities of tax season for traveling healthcare professionals. Should you feel inspired to dive deeper with Joseph Smith and his knowledgeable team at TravelTax, remember to leverage your exclusive Trusted Community benefit. Use the discount code Trusted10 to enjoy a $10 reduction on your tax consultation—a small token of our appreciation for your dedication and hard work.

Tax season, while daunting, doesn't have to be a journey you embark on alone. Our curated resources are designed to guide and support you every step of the way.  Be sure to check out our Travel Nurse & Allied Health Tax Guide - your comprehensive handbook for navigating tax season, tailored specifically for healthcare travelers.

Remember, staying informed and prepared is the key to a stress-free tax season. We're here to support you with the resources and expert advice you need to tackle your taxes with confidence.

Britt Greaves has been a nurse for 9 years, working in a myriad of specialties such as hospice, palliative, step-down, and traveling for 5 years in the PICU/CVPICU & Covid ICU before transitioning to Community Manager at Trusted Health. When she's not helping other nurses live their best lives you can catch her volunteering on international medical missions, hosting mental wellness sessions, or sharing her sunshine on IG @catchbrittifyoucan!

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