What Every Travel Therapist Must Know
Get these four concepts right and you'll keep thousands more each year.
Your Tax Home
Your tax home is your primary area of employment. Without a valid tax home, every dollar of your stipend becomes taxable income.
Non-Taxable Stipends
Housing and M&IE stipends are tax-free only if you maintain a valid tax home and duplicate living expenses.
The 12-Month Rule
If you work in the same area for more than 12 months, the IRS considers that your new tax home and you lose stipend eligibility.
Multi-State Filing
You'll likely file taxes in every state where you worked, plus your tax home state. A travel-savvy CPA is worth every penny.
Tax Home Maintenance Checklist
Keep these documented to prove your tax home status.
Your Tax Home Documentation
Travel Therapy Tax FAQ
Answers to the questions we hear most.
A tax home is your primary area of employment where you maintain a permanent residence. It allows you to receive non-taxable stipends.
They're non-taxable if you maintain a valid tax home and demonstrate duplicate living expenses. Without a tax home, all stipends become taxable.
Licensing fees, continuing education, professional memberships, scrubs, malpractice insurance, and unreimbursed travel costs.
Absolutely. The cost ($300–$600) is a fraction of what you could lose from incorrect filing.
Real Tax Experiences
How agencies handle tax homes and stipends matters more than you think.
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