August 8, 2025

2965 Views

10 Things the Big Beautiful Bill Has for Travelers

Posted on August 8, 2025August 6, 2025 by Joseph Smith @ Travel Tax

With lots of fanfare and media buzz, the tax legislation promised since the elections has officially passed and been signed into law. Nicknamed the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), these 2025 tax changes for healthcare travelers include a few shiny gems that everyone on the move should definitely take a peek at. Most of these laws apply retroactively to January 1, 2025.

Here’s what’s in it for you—especially if you’re constantly on the move. Want the deep-dive version? Head over to www.traveltax.com!

2025 Tax Changes for Healthcare Travelers: What to Know

1. Mortgage Insurance Premiums Are Back 💰

Remember when mortgage insurance premiums were deductible? Well, they’re making a comeback! If you itemize deductions and have mortgage insurance, this adds some extra value to your mortgage interest deduction.

2. No More Itemizing Just to Be Charitable 💝

Good news: you can now deduct donations even if you don’t itemize. That’s right—charitable contributions are allowed up to $1,000 for singles and $2,000 for joint filers without the extra math.

3. Big Win for High-Tax State Folks: SALT Cap Increase 🧂

The State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction jumps from $10K to $40K. If you live in a high-tax state or pay high real estate taxes (looking at you, coastal cities), this could make itemizing more worthwhile—and possibly reduce your tax bill.

4. A Boost to the Child Credit 👶

The child tax credit is getting a $200 raise, bringing it up to $2,200. Every little bit counts, especially for families on the road.

5. OT Tax Deduction for Travelers 💼

Travelers who work overtime, listen up: for those making under $100K (single) or $200K (joint), OT premiums up to $12,500 are now deductible from income taxes.
A few fine print details:

Only the OT premium (not base pay after 40 hours) is deductible.
Still subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes.
State-level OT overrides don’t impact this—it only applies to federal OT rules.

6. Auto Loan Interest Is Deductible (Yes, Really!) 🚗

Buying a car between 2025 and 2028? You can now deduct up to $10K in auto loan interest—but only for vehicles assembled in the U.S.
Fun fact: this was common pre-1986 and is still a thing in Puerto Rico!

7. More Flexibility with 529 Plans 🎓

529 Educational Programs just got more traveler-friendly! These funds can now be used for:

Homeschool expenses
Trade schools
Apprenticeships
Great news for RV-traveling families who homeschool on the go.

8. Green Energy Credits Are Ending ⚡

Thinking about going solar or snagging an EV? Move fast:

EV credits end Sept 30, 2025
Home improvement/solar credits end Dec 31, 2025
Buy now or wait and see if post-credit prices drop.

9. Student Loan Changes on the Horizon 🎓

For student loans granted after July 2026, a few big changes:

No more income-based repayment options
Annual loan limits based on degree type
Filing separately to reduce repayments? That option is phasing out too

10. Federal ≠ State: Be Ready for Gaps 🗺️

Important reminder: All of these are FEDERAL changes.
Most states do use parts of the federal return to calculate their own taxes, but not always. Some states may conform automatically, while others will pass new laws to match.
👉 This creates a growing gap between federal and state tax law—something all multistate travelers should keep an eye on.

Wrapping It Up 🎁

These tax changes for healthcare travelers might not sound thrilling—but when they affect your wallet, they matter. The OBBB includes some surprising wins for travelers and their unique lifestyles. Bookmark this, plan ahead, and when in doubt, check in with your tax pro!

For the full breakdown and ongoing updates on the tax changes for healthcare travelers, visit www.traveltax.com.

Staying on top of tax changes is just one way to protect your paycheck.
Want more traveler-friendly tips like this? Join our community or follow us on social for real-time updates, resources, and tools to thrive on the road.

By Joseph Smith @ Travel Tax

July 15, 2025

123936 Views

What Is A Tax Home As A Travel Nurse

Posted on July 15, 2025July 15, 2025 by Joseph Smith @ Travel Tax

After a day of managing potent medications on a critical patient, one would think that unraveling the concept of tax home would be an easy task. Unfortunately, the concept of a tax residence is very similar to an ACLS algorithm which few of us actually master unless we routinely manage codes or are lucky enough to have extra room in our scrub pockets to carry around an ACLS flow chart. So, what really is a tax home?

The Complexities of Tax Homes

The complexity of a tax home determination is mind-boggling. However, it is the litmus test of the taxability of tax-free reimbursement payments.

The confusion is exacerbated by agencies, recruiters, and executives who only know part of the rules. Like a patient that knows enough about a diagnosis to be dangerous, players in the healthcare staffing industry are just as suspicious. Unfortunately, the same applies to many tax professionals who stumble over the rules with equal blindness.

The following discussion will just address the foundation of a tax home. There is no one thing that settles the issue. Just like the ACLS algorithm. The determination of tax home goes through many decision points governed by unique facts and circumstances.

Starting point: A tax home and a permanent residence are NOT the same things!

What? What do you mean? All the agencies want to know where my permanent residence is.

This is where most of the confusion over a tax home starts. These terms are, unfortunately, used synonymously by many in our industry.

Permanent Residence = Legal Home / Tax Residence = Economic Home

A permanent residence is a legal concept. Ties that bind you to an area all contribute to the location of your permanent legal home. These include driver’s licenses, car registration, memberships, where you get your mail, the home state of your professional practice license, etc. This does not rise to the level of a tax residence and initially has NO impact on it.

A tax residence is defined by the IRS as one’s principal place of business, which is a loaded term that basically means the area where one makes the majority of their income. It is not where you live.

This is why it is better called an economic home. Most people work where they live. Hence, their permanent and tax residences are in the same place, which explains the synonymous use of the terms. However, many people do not work where they live. Some have more than one permanent job, seasonal jobs, or commute a significant distance to a main job. The definition of a tax residence for these individuals is no different. The tax residence is still the location where the individual makes the majority of their income in relation to the other places of work.

Travel nurses occupy a different sphere. Because their work is mostly temporary, they do not have a primary place of business or income. Since they are in constant motion, never stay in one place for more than a year. The tax code has recognized that it would be unreasonable to expect these individuals to actually move their residence to a different location with each assignment. Travelers with tax homes are never moving. They are mobilizing. The difference is those terms are important as moving involves a change of residence while mobilizing is more of an accurate description of someone who is temporarily away from home.

How do the tax rules address the travel nurse?

For true “travelers,” as defined above, the tax rules allow an exception to the tax home definition. Instead of looking at the primary place of income/business, it allows the tax home to default (fall back on) the permanent residence. For this to apply, however, the travel nurse must meet 2 out of 3 of the following criteria.

Does the individual have significant income at home?
Does the individual have substantial expenses maintaining their primary residence that is duplicated when on assignment?
Has the individual abandoned their historical place of lodging and work?

Most travelers do not work at home (Criteria 1). This means that the balance of travelers must satisfy the second and third criteria to have an acceptable tax residence. (Criteria 2) They have an apartment or house that they own, duplicating these expenses when away from home on assignment. Further, their home is in the same area that it was when they started their traveling career, or they established an income base in the area before traveling (Criteria 3). Some travelers keep regular jobs at home (Criteria 1) and return home on a regular basis between contracts. If the income earned from this job is significant, the requirement of a financial obligation for a residence is not as critical, since they are still satisfying Criteria 1 and 3.

Check out the TOP 10 Questions for Travel Nurses on Taxes

Are you searching for a GREAT Paying Travel Nurse Position?

Check out these HOT Travel Nurse JOBS

By Joseph Smith @ Travel Tax

December 27, 2023

9871 Views

It’s Time to Think About Tax Returns

Posted on December 27, 2023December 18, 2023 by Joseph Smith @ Travel Tax

Once Christmas and New Year’s holidays have passed and you have moved on from wondering where 2023 went, one of the first rituals you will embark on is your tax returns. For many travel healthcare professionals, this can be a headache gathering the info, making sure you have all the documents, and then getting the return done. If you have many oars in the water, there is work to do.

Gathering your documents – the most common

W2s and 1099NEC

These are the basic forms that report income as employees and contractors. Travelers can frequently forget all the agencies and employers they worked with (remember the last two weeks of December 2022 that you were paid for in January 2023?) If you worked in more than one state, you want to make sure that your W2s show every state unless the one did not have an income tax or was a reciprocity state to your home state. This is where many travelers realize that they forgot one basic task during the year- checking the first pay stub of a new contract. If you worked in, say, Oregon and there is no Oregon withholding, then something is wrong. Always check the first pay stub of each contract. W2s and 1099NECs are supposed to be sent by the end of January. You should receive a W2 or 1099NEC from each agency you worked with in the 2023 tax year.

1099 INT, 1099DIV, 1099B

If you have a bank account with interest, own stocks with dividends, or buy/sell stocks, then it will be recorded on these forms. Many brokerages will issue a 1099 Composite to include all of these in one report. These 1099s come LATER than the W2s and 1099 and are not required until February 15. There are often corrections to these documents or delays that can mess up your tax return. Also, remember that just because you didn’t take money out of your brokerage account doesn’t mean you are not taxed. If the interest, dividends, or sales of stocks generated cash flow, you are taxed on these distributions. Also, if you have a 1099 Composite, don’t ignore the gobbledygook after the first few pages. There are possibly reportable transactions or deductible interest buried in those pages. Your tax professional will know what to look for.

1099R, 5498

Retirement statements. The number one thing travelers forget to give their tax preparer are 1099R or 5498s for retirement transactions. Did you contribute to a retirement account that was NOT managed by your employer? Then, likely you have some report for that that shows how much and to what type of account it was for. Did you withdraw, rollover, characterize, or convert funds to a different type of account? You will probably have a 1099R for that. The amount contributed to an employer’s plan will show on your W2s, so you don’t need anything for that.

1099G

This is an odd form used to report state refunds paid to you during the year and unemployment compensation. It’s used to report payments from the Federal or State governments. Unemployment is taxable at the Federal level, but many states exempt it.

W2G

Gamble? Did you win? It gets reported here and, in some cases, on a regular 1099MISC. Gambling winnings are considered income, and there are at least 2 methods of determining how much is taxable, but most people who gamble do it a LOT. We have seen clients with over 50 W2Gs, and making sure you have all of them can be a challenge.

K1s

If you are involved in any partnership, a shareholder in an S-Corp, or a beneficiary of a trust /estate, you are bound to receive one of these. If you had a relative die recently and received an inheritance, there is a very strong chance that you will get one. These can take FOREVER, especially when dealing with the competing interests of relatives when they bicker over a deceased person’s estate. Some investments are actually partnerships where you own a certain percentage of the investments.

1099K

This is the form that everyone was scared of – the new rules required every 3^rd party payment system like PayPal, Venmo, etc., to issue 1099Ks to each person who received more than $600 during the year. The IRS has delayed this till the 2024 tax year, so that is a problem for next year. When implemented this can affect everyone sharing the cost of a meal or reimbursing a friend.

1099MISC

This form reports many miscellaneous items, but the most common for travelers are rents (for renting your home out) and Royalties. If you use a property manager for your rental, they will often report your gross rent on a 1099MISC. Sometimes, gambling winnings show up on a 1099MISC as well.

Tax Law Changes, Opportunities and Bummers

IRS Personal Account

All taxpayers should open an Online Account with the IRS. You can see all of your statements and items reported on your behalf, make payments, and communicate with the IRS. It is simple to sign up. https://www.irs.gov/payments/your-online-account

Home Energy Credits

Credits for energy improvements to your home were greatly expanded for the 2023 tax year. There are no longer any lifetime limits like there were before. Only annual limits. That new HVAC system, windows, insulation, or doors are worth a lot more credit now.

EV Credit Transfers

If you purchase an EV, you can request that the credit offset the purchase price of the vehicle. Since there are income limitations, you can now use the income from the year of the tax return or the previous year to qualify. Transferring credit can be tricky if you exceed the income limits during the year unexpectedly. If the previous year’s income does not allow you to qualify, you will have to pay the credit back on the tax return. Credit transfers can only be done through dealers, not private sales.

Beneficial ownership reporting

Do you own or are a part owner of an LLC, Corporation, or any entity formed in a state? You are now required to disclose all owners of 25% or more annually, 30 days after any changes, and 90 days after forming a new one. The penalty for not filing is steep and can be as high as 10K or imprisonment if the lack of disclosure is willful. The report does not go to the IRS but to FinCEN (Financial Crimes Enforcement Network). Information can be found here https://www.fincen.gov/boi-faqs

By Joseph Smith @ Travel Tax

April 6, 2022

41801 Views

Talking Travel Nurse Taxes: Should I (ever) File Tax Exempt?

Posted on April 6, 2022September 28, 2023 by Joseph Smith @ Travel Tax

There are patients that we dread to care for. During report, we tactfully offer to take more patients, a more critical patient, or even offer to float to another area to avoid being assigned to the ONE patient no one wants.

In the tax world, one conversation tax professionals dread is with a taxpayer who filed exempt and owes a bundle of taxes.

You do everything you can to avoid the obvious, and you hope the taxpayer is already aware of their situation. If they confess, it’s your chance to exhale.

What is “filing exempt?”

“Filing Exempt” is a term that describes any change in withholding that claims extra exemptions or declares outright exemption for tax withholding. The form that is used for this is called the W4. Most states follow this Federal form, but some have their own that works similarly.

Travel nurses file exempt for various reasons.

The most common is to bolster take-home pay during a financial hardship. Those periods in life are understandable, but there are other reasons travel nurses file exempt that do not benefit them in the long haul, especially when there is an amount owed with the annual tax return.

1) Extended period of overtime

Travel nurses often confuse tax withholding with actual tax. The statement that someone is “taxed more” for working overtime is misleading. While more taxes may be withheld during an extended period of overtime, the extra withholding is triggered by formulas that anticipate taxes based on a prospective estimate of total annual income. If one makes $1000 a month, the withholding formula will base withholding on $12,000 a year. If they make $2,000 a month, the withholding will be based on $24,000 of income for the year. A dip in earnings or a part-time second job can trigger less than optimal withholding for that source of income when compared to the total income the travel nurse earns for the year.

2) Bonuses

The same principle discussed in #1 applies here. However, the IRS stipulates that a 25% flat amount be withheld for these payments. The employer can use the W4 claim as an alternative. The 25% is not a tax but simply a mandated default withholding rate to ensure adequate taxes are withheld.

Take Away’s

If you anticipate an extra boost of income or a large amount of deductions, consider the following before filing exempt from tax withholding:

Only adjust your withholding slightly by 1-3 exemptions. You may have some excess withholding, but you are still earning income that needs tax payments, and it prevents the worst-case scenario of the next takeaway.
Make sure that if you file exempt or significantly increase your exemptions, to change the withholding back quickly. Many travel nurses forget to do this. A one-month delay can cause the travel nurse to owe at the end of the year.
Just ignore it and leave the withholding where it is. You will get a larger refund at the end of the year, but it is one less hassle to deal with.

We hope you found this article on whether a travel nurse should file exempt or not helpful. We hope it answers any questions you may have.

Interested in a travel nursing job? Our job board is a great place to search for assignments, and if housing is an issue, our housing page can help. It’s time to make a difference!

Would you like to learn more?

Check out the TOP 10 Questions for Travel Nurses on Taxes.

By Joseph Smith @ Travel Tax

March 17, 2021

25731 Views

Talking Taxes: Your Mailing Address and State Revenue Agencies

Posted on March 17, 2021September 28, 2023 by Joseph Smith @ Travel Tax

As a traveler mobilizes from assignment to assignment, they will occasionally have mail sent directly to one of the temporary travel nurse mailing addresses instead of having it forwarded from the main mailing address.

While this may be convenient, it is a recipe for trouble on the tax end. In our practice, we have seen the following scenarios that travelers should be aware of.

Retirement distributions are received during assignments.

Most financial institutions are required to designate the state in which any distributed retirement funds are sent. If you withdraw from your retirement funds or do a ROTH conversion, be sure to confirm that the financial institution is reporting the distribution to your home state.

When filing your annual tax return, it is a strong possibility that the 1099R that reports the distribution will be coded for the state of receipt and not your home state. Since most states take the position that the 1099 or W2 is correct unless otherwise documented or corrected, a traveler could be liable for taxes to that state on income they never earned there.

Residency Audits

State revenue audit departments often make the IRS look like a harmless fuzz ball. They will aggressively pursue the smallest shred of evidence that would suggest that a taxpayer is a resident of that state. Many of them have departments called “Discovery Units” or some title that makes them sound like military special forces.

Examples

The following are just a few examples of traveler’s cases that we have helped resolve.

W2s are sent to parents’ addresses during a traveler’s move to another state. The parent’s home state assessed tax on total income for the year based on W2 address.
Utilizing an out-of-state hospital for delivery. A resident of one state with family in another state chose to close out her pregnancy near her family. The state assessed the mother for full-year taxes, asserting that she was a resident since she used the hospital facilities.
The traveler took a travel assignment in a state bordering their grandfather’s home state to care for him during off days during terminal illness. The traveler had their grandparent’s address listed on financial mailings for convenience. Grandfather’s state assessed travelers for taxes as if they were a resident.
Using professional practice licenses as evidence of residency. Almost all states with an income tax now cross reference professional practice licenses and their tax return database. If no tax return is found during a year in which the license is active, letters are randomly generated to the last known address requesting an explanation or a return.
Adjacent year return. Often, filing in a state for one year will trigger an expectation of a return the subsequent year regardless of whether any income was earned.
Incorrect filing. A common mistake of chain tax companies and DIY travelers is claiming part-year residency in every state worked. This becomes a license issue. Compact state licenses require that a resident return be filed in the home state OR, if the home state does not have an income tax, that no other state has a resident filing.

What happened with these cases? Years later, travelers either discovered tax liens during loan applications or received notices that were sent to the wrong address. One locum client of ours had a six-year-old, $56,000 lien filed by the state of California. The traveler discovered the lien when applying for a mortgage.

Would you like to learn more?

Check out the TOP 10 Questions for Travel Nurses on Taxes.

By The Gypsy Nurse

February 7, 2021

53699 Views

Understanding Travel Nurse Bill Rates

Posted on February 7, 2021May 14, 2024 by The Gypsy Nurse

All of your compensation and the company’s expenses/profits will come from one thing; The Bill Rate. A bill rate is the amount contracted for the hospital to pay the agency based on hours worked for each nurse contracted. You, as the travel nurse, may never know your bill rate between the agency and the hospital. You need to know how it’s broken down and why you only have a certain amount to negotiate with.

Bill Rate Broken Down

Please note: The actual numbers in this calculation are strictly for example purposes. Bill rates fluctuate continuously, so this in no way is a statement on what a current bill rate might be.

Bill Rate: $65/hr
Nurse pay rate: $35/hr (~53%)
Social Security and unemployment,
workers’ compensation, liability,
malpractice, recruitment and
other administrative costs (including profit or GPM): $30

Think of it as a huge pie

The best way that I can think to break down the bill rate is by thinking of the Bill Rate as a huge pie. Each separate component is a slice of the pie. Each individual contract has its own pie….some are large, and some are small. This is dependent on many factors, including location, hospital size, company relationship with the hospital, level of hospital need, etc. Ultimately, the size of the pie is beyond your negotiation. There is a separate contract between the hospitals and the nursing agencies that defines this.

The travel company gets their slice

The travel company is going to take a percentage of the pie right off the top. It’s important to remember that your recruiter does not have a say in this. This is generally corporate-mandated and covers such things as overhead for the company, employee salary/benefits, and a defined profit margin. The amount of the pie that the company will lock out of negotiations varies from company to company.

The standard GPM (gross profit margin) is 20-22%. Some agencies, the larger agencies, maintain a 25% GPM for most contracts. Smaller companies tend to maintain a lower GPM, as low as 15%.

– Crystal Lovato, Placement Specialist at Freedom Healthcare Staffing

The last part of the pie belongs to the traveler (you).

Several items will come out of your part of the pie. These may include:

– Travel reimbursements
– Licensing reimbursements
– Any benefits offered, i.e., 401K, health insurance, etc
– Housing

And last but not least…..Salary.

How these items come together in your contract is discussed in Preliminary Contract Negotiations. Check out the TOP 10 Questions for Travel Nurses on Taxes

If you are a new travel nurse or looking into becoming a travel nurse:

START HERE

Travel Nurse Guide: Step-by-Step (now offered in a PDF Downloadable version!)

By Joseph Smith @ Travel Tax

December 16, 2019

17059 Views

Another Tax Year Upon Us 2020: Tax Tips for Travel Nurses

Posted on December 16, 2019January 16, 2023 by Joseph Smith @ Travel Tax

As I write this piece, it is a few weeks from Christmas and I’m thinking about the Holidays. Lurking on the other side of the festivities is another tax season. This is the life a tax professional. Not much different from the mass exodus of patients during the holidays only to face the caravan of returning patients afterwards.

Are there new rules to consider?

This is the second year after tax reform and surprisingly, refreshingly, and incredibly, there are no big surprises barring any efforts of congress to pass something last minute which is unlikely to happen.

There are a few things to watch as we go into a new year.

End of year planning:

If you are a serious retirement saver, plan your employer-based retirement contributions to reach your goals before the end of the year OR set aside the amount you want to contribute to your individual IRA by 4/15/20
Set aside enough to contribute to any 529 plans you participate in to reach your annual target
If you have significant itemized deductions, consider making that end of year donation to take advantage of any addition tax savings
If you know you owe the IRS, state or municipality, make your payment before 1/15/20 to help reduce or avoid any underpayment penalties
Make sure all your employers and financial institutions have your current mailing or electronic address. You do not want to file your return only to discover that you missed an important document

New Items

New W4s – W4s are the forms that you complete when you start a job or wish to change the amount of tax payments that are withheld from your paycheck. For many years, It has asked for your marital status and the number allowances you are claiming. These forms have changed and the next one you fill out will look very different – like one of those new documents you have to learn with you start a new assignment, only this is the IRS, mind you. The new forms will be hard to understand as they will ask a LOT of questions about all your jobs and deductions. The shortcut? Just fill out your filing status and check the like box just above the midline that says, “multiple jobs”. Ignore the rest 😊
Smaller refunds – The goal of the new W4s is to reduce the amount of refunds and amounts due. Basically, to make filing a tax return something closer to an end of the year statement than a bonus check.
More aggressive states – States have taken audits and reviews into their own hands and not waiting for the IRS to start the process. We fielded more state inquiries than ever during the 2019 filing season.
Politicians pontificating about taxes. An election year would not be the same without wide eyed promises to put more money in your pocket or socking it to the rich. Look for more practical proposals instead of the impossible.

*Edit

Last minute tax bills buried in appropriations bill

In my last article I had waited till the last-minute hoping Congress would not pull another end of the year change to the tax law, but ……… despite my confidence, it happened after I sent the article

Changes to note

1) Mortgage Insurance Premiums treated as interest. This provision ended with the 2017 tax year but has been renewed RETROACTIVE to the 2018 tax year through the 2020 tax year. Lots of amended returns!
2) Discharge of Principal Residence Indebtedness: This ended in 2017 and is now retroactive and extended through 2020 as well
3) Medical expense itemized deduction: Has now reverted to the 7.5% threshold of AGI through 2020. This is also retroactive
4) Tuition and Fees Deduction: This ended in 2017 as well but is back until 2020. When you cannot use the American Opportunity Tax Credit or the Lifetime Learning Credit, you can possibly use this deduction. It allows up to 4K of tuition and fees to be deducted. The income limitation is higher than the previous credits mentioned.
These items were not originally deductible on the 2018 tax return and now are with amended returns. Some taxpayers can amend now, BUT each state will now have to decided whether to follow these changes. So, it may be best to wait a few months before amending to see if your home state is agreeable.

Other items to note

1) You can now withdraw 5K from your IRA penalty free for the birth or adoption of a child
2) Starting in 2020, If you inherit an IRA, you now must withdraw all the amounts and pay the taxes within 10 years vs the life expectancy of the beneficiary.
3) The age limit for IRA contributions has been repealed
4) You can now use 10K of 529 Plan balances to pay off student loans and pay for the cost of apprentice programs. The student loan provision is a per child, per lifetime. In other words, the student can only use 10K in their entire lifetime and it only applies to loan principal, not interest
5) You are no longer required to withdraw from IRAs will age 72

We hope you have a great 2020!

Do you have questions regarding your tax home? Travel Nursing: What is a Tax Home? is a great resource for travel nurses.

By Kayla Reynolds

October 20, 2019

52345 Views

8 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Became a Travel Nurse

Posted on October 20, 2019May 20, 2021 by Kayla Reynolds

Guest Post by The Gypsy Nurse Ambassador Kayla:

8 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Became a Travel Nurse

One of the great things about travel nursing is the variety of experiences that it provides for those that choose this path. As a ICU travel nurse for the past 5+ years, I’ve learned a lot through trial and error. If you have interest in becoming a “Gypsy”, or are new to travel nursing, here are 8 things I wish I know before I became a travel nurse that I hope helps you in your journey.

1.) Have A Safety Net!

Traveling is a risky business and it may sound like a no-brainer but do not start traveling without some kind of savings. You have to be ready for the unexpected like when you car breaks down in the middle of nowhere or contract gets cancelled. You may have to live without working for a few weeks. SO, be prepared for it.

2.) Trust your gut!

I had a pretty lucrative contract in CA but I sold my soul for it. It was a pretty rough assignment using the most outdated charting system and floated from one end of that hospital to other. Yes I got paid well but I certainly worked for it. My gut was right when it said “this is too good to be true”. If you feel after an interview uneasy about anything ask more questions and don’t be afraid to pass on it.

3.) Read your contract!

You have to go over your contract with a fine toothed comb. Make sure you understand everything in your contract and that it includes all the things you have asked for. Some of the top things I make sure is in my contract are pay rates for the first 36 hours, hours from 36-40, and hours from 40+ (the exception is California), requested days off, cancellation policy or guaranteed hours, cancelled contract policy, travel and any other reimbursements, per diems, shift times, specific unit I will be working, and floating policy. Also make sure you understand things like non compete clauses in your contract or any other terms you are agreeing to.

4.) Educate yourself on taxes regarding travel nursing and what is meant by maintaining a tax home.

I spent hours researching articles related to travel nursing and taxes before becoming a travel nurse. This can be very complicated.

5.) Before starting to apply to companies have all your documents ready.

This will include a resume, certifications, copy of your diploma, vaccination records, copy of your identification card, nursing licenses, and references. Also, every company will request that you do a skills checklist before being submitted to hospitals.

6.) Learn from the experienced travel nurses.

All of us have made mistakes going in but if you know before you start what to look out for this may save you a lot of heartache.

7.) Travel nursing can be uncomfortable at times.

If you were to meet me now you would probably never guess I was not the most social and certainly not as confident as I am today. That I owe to travel nursing pushing me out of my comfort zone. I have learned to go at it on my own and not wait for anyone to tag along with me to have an adventure. I like to call it dating myself or solo explorations.

8.) Be ready for whatever is thrown your way.

Finally, your reaction to situations will make or break your travel nursing career. You can choose to throw in the towel or you can handle it. Travel nursing will test your limits sometimes but you have the power to run it or let it run you.

I hope you found these tips to be helpful. One of the keys to being a successful Gypsy nurse is the willingness to help your help your colleagues. Feel free to let me know if they do by leaving a comment here.

Want to share your own travel nursing tips with fellow Gypsies? Leave a comment here or (for the budding travel nursing writers out there!) email content@thegypsynurse.com with your ideas and we may be able to turn it in to an article and share it with the thousands of Gypsies in our network!

By The Gypsy Nurse

June 23, 2019

35526 Views

Ask A Travel Nurse: Can I Rent Out My Tax Home?

Posted on June 23, 2019November 10, 2023 by The Gypsy Nurse

Can I rent out my travel nurse tax home and still receive a housing stipend?

The short answer is YES. However, there are additional considerations you should be aware of if you are attempting to use the tax home as a qualifier for ‘duplicated expenses’ for tax-free stipends. If you are receiving tax-free housing stipends, you need to have a residence available for personal use in the area of your tax home. Once you have rented out your house, it is no longer your residence but a business property.

ADDITIONAL TRAVEL NURSE TAX INFORMATION

As a Travel Nurse, Can I rent out my tax home and still receive housing stipend?

Answer:

Travel nurse tax home: Understanding the tax home can be very daunting. There are several articles on this topic, and it’s always recommended if you have questions, contact the expert: TravelTax

According to TravelTax:

Generally, you need to have a residence available for personal use in the area of your tax home. Once you have rented out your house, it is no longer your residence but a business property. However, here are a few options if you get the urge to become a landlord.

You rent it out and lease other accommodations somewhere in the same metropolitan area for yourself. This essentially turns your ex-residence into a business venture, regardless of profit or loss.
You rent it out but retain a portion for personal use, NOT just storage. (This could be done in the case of an in-law apt or renting to friends/family who you know well enough to stay at the house in between assignments.)
You rent it out as a vacation rental. This is great for those who live in tourist areas. You are allowed to rent it out completely for part of the year while you go off on assignment. Because the lease is for less than a year, and you are occupying it the rest of the time, it qualifies, and you can still keep your reimbursements tax-free.

See more at: TravelTax.com and check out the TOP 10 Questions for Travel Nurses on Taxes

Finished the travel nursing guide and are ready to look for an assignment?

2025 Tax Changes for Healthcare Travelers: What to Know

1. Mortgage Insurance Premiums Are Back 💰

2. No More Itemizing Just to Be Charitable 💝

3. Big Win for High-Tax State Folks: SALT Cap Increase 🧂

4. A Boost to the Child Credit 👶

5. OT Tax Deduction for Travelers 💼

6. Auto Loan Interest Is Deductible (Yes, Really!) 🚗

7. More Flexibility with 529 Plans 🎓

8. Green Energy Credits Are Ending ⚡

9. Student Loan Changes on the Horizon 🎓

10. Federal ≠ State: Be Ready for Gaps 🗺️

Wrapping It Up 🎁

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Think of it as a huge pie

The travel company gets their slice

The last part of the pie belongs to the traveler (you).