Disclosure of Real Estate Relationships

Don't Forget 

The Good Side of Moving Expenses

Plan ahead by:

• Deciding what to move and what not to move, Possibly plan a garage sale!
• Getting estimates from several moving companies, depending on how you plan to make the move.
• Planning your travel itinerary, make transportation and lodging reservations in advance.  (Leave a copy with a friend)
• Transferring your bank accounts.  
• Contact your local credit bureau to find out if they are on the same system your new home town subscribes to, if not, they will be able to transfer your credit file.
• Requesting records from doctors and dentists, including eyeglass prescriptions, dental x-rays and vaccinations.
• Obtaining your children's school records to make for an easier transfer.
• Drawing up a floor plan of where your furniture should be place (don't forget to mark the boxes that way!). This will avoid confusion for you and for the movers.
• Paying existing bills and closing out local charge accounts.
• Recording expenses incurred during your house-hunting trips. You will also want to save your moving expenses receipts (if the move is employment related) for tax deductions.

Don't forget to:

• Discontinue deliveries, electricity, water, gas, newspaper, garbage collection.
• Check on personal items that might be at the photo shop, bank safe deposit box, a neighbor's house, on lay-away or in the repair shop (i.e. shoe repair, jewelry store, small appliance repair or tailor.)
• Make arrangements for transporting your plants and pets.
• Save the phone book from your former city residence for tying up loose ends or for future correspondence.
• Transfer insurance policies or arrange for new policies.
• Gather all valuables, jewelry, important papers (birth certificates, deeds, documents) to take with your personally.
• Have the car serviced for the trip.
• Pack an arrival kit of necessities just in case you arrive before the mover.
• Get refunds from your present utility and phone companies and arrange for service at your new home.
• Purchase moving insurance.  Your mover's liability for lost or damaged goods will not equal their replacement cost.
• Appraise valuable items, such as antiques, art prices, etc.
• Check with your attorney about your will if crossing state lines.
• Ask for professional referrals if available (i.e. doctor, accountant, etc.)
• Change addresses:  Post Office, charge accounts, subscriptions (at least four weeks in advance), relatives and friends, national and alumni organizations, church, mail order clubs (books, tapes, catalogues), firms with which you have time payments, past employer in order to receive your W-2 form.

The Good Side of Moving Expenses

If your move was employment related (excluding first-time employment), and the distance between your former residence and your new residence is over 35 miles, many of the moving expenses you incurred are tax deductible.

Deductible moving expenses include:

1. The cost of transporting you and the members of your household from the old residence to the new.
2. The cost of moving your household and personal goods.
3. The cost of meals and lodging en route.
4. Temporary living expenses for up to 30 days in the new job location.
5. House-hunting expenses incurred after obtaining employment in the new location.
6. Expenses incidental to the sales, purchase or lease of a residence, i.e., attorney's fees, real estate commissions, title fees, points on loan placement charges, etc.

Items 4 through 6 are limited to $3,000, and temporary living expenses and house-hunting expenses may not exceed $1,500 of the $3,000.  When using your automobile in the move, you may deduct the out-of-pocket expenses, or use a standard mileage allowance of $.09 per mile.

If you receive a moving payment of reimbursement from your employer, the amount must be included in your gross income as compensation for services.

To deduct moving expenses, fill out Form 3903 Moving Expenses Adjustment, and attach it to your return.  For full details on tax-deductible moving expenses, contact the Internal Revenue Service office in your area.