How Long Do Travel Nurses Stay in One Place?
Travel nursing is an exciting career path that offers the unique opportunity to help others, learn new skills, and explore different parts of the country or the world. However, there are some important rules and regulations regarding the duration of assignments, travel stipends, and taxation that travel nurses need to be aware of.
At Soliant, we understand more than anyone that the travel nurse stipend and tax rules can be confusing, especially when working across state lines. To help you enjoy a stress-free assignment, our experts compiled everything you need to stay on top of your financial game while fulfilling your travel nursing assignments.
From the travel nurse one-year rule to travel nurse stipend rules, learn about the different requirements for travel nurses in this Soliant travel nurse tax guide!
How Long Do Traveling Nurses Stay in One Place?
At Soliant, most travel nurse assignments last between 8 and 13 weeks. However, assignments can range from 8 to 26 weeks, depending on the needs of the healthcare facility and the nurse’s preferences. Occasionally, a great fit will be asked to extend their assignment.
The variety in assignment length allows for flexibility, suiting nurses who wish to explore new locations frequently or those who prefer longer assignments.
Why is there a limit on how long travel nurses can stay in one place?
While there is no legal restriction on how long travel nurses can stay in one place, there are some industry and tax-related reasons for the assignment length.
In the United States, to maintain the “tax-home” status and to continue receiving travel stipends free of taxes, travel nurses must not stay in one location for more than a year in order to follow travel nurse stipend rules. If they do, the IRS may consider their new location as their primary tax home.
In addition, amid a nationwide demand for nurses, limiting the amount of time a travel nurse can stay in one location ensures that different regions can have their needs met. The role of a travel nurse is to fill in gaps in nursing care across the country. If they stayed too long in one place, they would essentially become staff nurses, which is not the purpose of travel nursing.
What is the Travel Nurse One-Year Rule?
The travel nurse “one-year rule” is a tax guideline for travel nurses in the United States. According to IRS guidelines, a nurse is considered a travel nurse if they are working in a location that is not their tax home and if they expect to be in that location for less than one year.
If a nurse works in the same general area for more than one year, the IRS may consider this as their new tax home. It would be treated as an indefinite assignment, and the tax benefits of being a travel nurse (like tax-free stipends for housing and meals) would no longer apply.
What is a travel nurse 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.” Because travel nurses don’t have a permanent work location, a travel nurse tax home is considered to be the place travel nurses return to between assignments.
Travel nurses need to keep moving around to maintain tax-free reimbursements because, according to IRS guidelines, to qualify for tax-free reimbursements, you must be traveling away from your tax home. If a travel nurse stays in one location for too long, the IRS may consider this their new tax home, and they may lose their tax benefits.
What is the 30-day rule for travel nurses?
There are a few rules travel nurses must follow to maintain their tax home status and continue receiving tax-free reimbursements. The travel nurse 30-day rule is another IRS guideline that stipulates that a travel nurse must not abandon their tax home, meaning they need to return to it for at least 30 days within a 12-month period.
Final Thoughts on IRS and Stipend Travel Nurse Rules
Navigating the complex world of travel nurse tax rules can indeed seem intimidating at first glance. However, with a thorough understanding of the basics and careful planning, you can ensure that you are making the most out of your travel nursing assignments while staying compliant with IRS regulations.
If you ever find yourself unsure, don’t hesitate to consult with a tax professional who specializes in travel nursing. When you take an assignment with Soliant, our dedicated team manages the tax and licensing requirements for you, meaning you can focus more on your passion and less on the daunting tax intricacies. After all, travel nursing is not just about exploring new places and expanding your professional horizons.
Looking for more travel nurse tax help? Check other travel nurse guides from Soliant, including a guide for filling out I-9 forms for travel nurses. Are you looking for your next assignment? Soliant is a reliable travel nurse job agency with over 30 years of experience in the industry. We have assignments located across the country in a wide range of settings waiting for you today! Explore travel nursing and travel allied health opportunities with Soliant.