Does anyone know if moving expenses are considered 'tax deductible'?

Question

Also, do I have to still file a 'non resident' tax form if I was a non resident of New York City for most of last year but worked in New York City full time?

Answer 1

Who Can Deduct Moving Expenses
You can deduct your moving expenses if you meet all three of the following requirements.

Your move is closely related to the start of work.

You meet the distance test.

You meet the time test.

Move Related to Start of Work
Your move must be closely related, both in time and in place, to the start of work at your new job location.

Closely related in time. You can generally consider moving expenses incurred within 1 year from the date you first reported to work at the new location as closely related in time to the start of work. It is not necessary that you arrange to work before moving to a new location, as long as you actually go to work in that location.
Closely related in place. You can generally consider your move closely related in place to the start of work if the distance from your new home to the new job location is not more than the distance from your former home to the new job location. If your move does not meet this requirement, you may still be able to deduct moving expenses if you can show that:
You are required to live at your new home as a condition of your employment, or

You will spend less time or money commuting from your new home to your new job location.


Your move will meet the distance test if your new main job location is at least 50 miles farther from your former home than your old main job location was from your former home. For example, if your old main job location was 3 miles from your former home, your new main job location must be at least 53 miles from that former home. You can use Worksheet 1 to see if you meet this test.

The distance between a job location and your home is the shortest of the more commonly traveled routes between them. The distance test considers only the location of your former home. It does not take into account the location of your new home. See Figure A, below.

See publication 521
http://www.irs.gov/publications/p521/ix01.html

Answer 2

Moving expenses are deductible if they are in conjunction with a job change. If a job change is not involved, you cannot deduct moving expenses. Contrary to what the poster above me stated, if you moved to NY from NE and changed jobs in the process, the move IS deductible. Your personal motivation for the move does NOT matter though a job change IS required. If you're retiring and will not be working at the new location, you cannot deduct the moving expenses.

The distance moved must be at least 50 miles farther than the commute was for your previous job. If you commuted 35 miles for your old job, you must move at least 85 miles to deduct moving expenses. You also must work full time at the new job for at least 39 weeks out of the 52 weeks following the move.

You use a non-resident return if you are not a legal resident of the state or city you are filing the return with.

Answer 3

Absolutly, they are. If, you moved more than 50 miles to commute to your new job vs old and your company has not reimbured you. You may include travel rentals some of the food and a lodging amount

Answer 4

It depends on the reason for the move.

If you just decided you didn't like Nebraska any more and wanted to try your luck in New York, then no. If you got a NEW job or transferred to a NEW location, then it can be deductible. If you kept your old job but moved closer to it, no, it's not.

Job-related moves can cost a lot, but some moving expenses can be tax deductible - they are deducted when figuring adjusted gross income on your federal income tax return. Moving household goods is tax deductible, as is travel and lodging on the way to your new home.

A tax deduction may be available for the unreimbursed moving expenses of changing residences if the move is made in conjunction with changing the location of your job.

To deduct the moving expenses on your tax return you must meet the following tax tests:
The 50 mile distance test; and
The time test for remaining in your new location.

The new job site for which you want to deduct the moving expenses to must be at least 50 miles farther from your former home than was your previous job site. You must also either work full-time as an employee in the general location of your new home for at least 39 of the 52 weeks following the move for which you want to deduct moving expenses on your tax return; or work full-time as a self employed individual for both 39 of the 52 weeks and 78 of the 104 weeks immediately following the move for which you want to deduct moving expenses on your tax return. This tax requirement can be met either with one job or through a series of full-time positions.

If the above two tax tests are met you may deduct the following moving expenses on your tax return:
Travel costs of yourself and members of your household en route from your old location to your new location; and
The actual cost of moving your personal effects and household goods.

Actual car expenses such as gas and oil are tax deductible if accurate records are kept, or you can take a 18 cents a mile tax deduction instead. Parking fees and tolls are tax deductible, but general car repairs, maintenance, insurance or depreciation of your car are not tax deductible.

Other moving expenses that cannot be deducted for income tax purposes include pre-move house hunting expenses, temporary living expenses, meals, expenses of buying or selling a home, home improvements to help sell a home, loss on a home sale, real estate taxes, car tags, and driver's license and storage charges except those paid in-transit and for foreign moves.

Reimbursed moving expenses are excluded from taxable income (unless you previously deducted them on your income tax return) and unreimbursed moving expenses are tax deductions in computing your AGI rather than your itemized tax deductions.

Report your tax deductible moving expenses on IRS Form 3903. Also make sure that you notify the IRS of your change of address on IRS Form 8822.

Here's the link to the IRS publication on Moving Expense.

Answer 5

only if you itemize your return.