Beginning in 2018, Moving Expenses Deductions have been suspended. If you are a member of the Armed Forces, this suspension does not apply to you.
For tax years prior to 2018
You can deduct the reasonable expenses of moving your household goods and personal effects and of traveling from your old home to your new home. Reasonable expenses can include the cost of lodging (but not meals) while traveling to your new home. You cannot deduct the cost of sightseeing trips.
Can I deduct Household goods and personal effects?
You can deduct the cost of packing, crating, and transporting your household goods and personal effects and those of the members of your household from your former home to your new home. For purposes of moving expenses, the term “personal effects” includes, but is not limited to, movable personal property that the taxpayer owns and frequently uses.
- You can deduct any costs of connecting or disconnecting utilities required because you are moving your household goods, appliances, or personal effects.
- You can deduct the cost of shipping your car and your household pets to your new home.
- You can deduct the cost of moving your household goods and personal effects from a place other than your former home. Your deduction is limited to the amount it would have cost to move them from your former home.
Can I deduct storage expenses?
You can include the cost of storing and insuring household goods and personal effects within any period of 30 consecutive days after the day your things are moved from your former home and before they are delivered to your new home.
Can I deduct travel expenses?
You can deduct the cost of transportation and lodging for yourself and members of your household while traveling from your former home to your new home. This includes expenses for the day you arrive.
You can include any lodging expenses you had in the area of your former home within one day after you could no longer live in your former home because your furniture had been moved.
Note: Only expenses that are not reimbursed by an employer but paid out-of-pocket may be deducted.
When you have moving expenses, you are able to take the larger of the mileage expense or the actual expenses but not both. The program will automatically calculate this for you.