The tax implications of changing jobs

There are many factors involved in changing your job, such as adapting to new working conditions, making a new budget, and updating your tax strategy. Whether you are moving to another employer because of a new opportunity or because you were let go from your previous position, changing jobs can have major tax implications — both for the amount of taxes owed in the year you start a new position and for your long-term retirement planning.

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When leaving your previous job, keep in mind that any severance pay you receive from your former employer is taxable in the year you receive it, as is any accrued vacation or sick pay you collect upon departure. Unemployment insurance benefits and extended benefits are generally considered taxable income. While applicants for unemployment benefits are offered the option of having income taxes automatically withheld from their unemployment benefits, it’s important to note that a decision not to withhold could mean a large tax bill the following year.

When you start your new job, you will have the chance to adjust your income tax withholding on Form W-4. This is a major component of your overall tax strategy, since it affects how much tax is withheld from your wages and whether you’ll owe more taxes or get a refund at the end of the tax year. To avoid overpaying or underpaying, take the time to carefully read the instructions for the tax withholding form for your new employer. Using worksheets or the withholding calculator on the IRS website can help you determine more accurately how many allowances you are entitled to claim.

If you had a 401(k) or similar retirement plan with your previous employer, you will have to decide how to handle your savings when changing jobs. Remember that in nearly all cases, cashing in your 401(k) account is the least desirable of your options. Distributions from 401(k)s or IRAs before age 59.5 are usually taxable, and are subject to an early withdrawal penalty of 10 percent. If you are satisfied with your previous employer’s 401(k) plan and have more than $5,000 in your account, you may choose to leave your savings in that plan, where it will continue to grow on a tax-deferred basis.

After investigating your options, you may find that it makes more sense to move your 401(k) balance to your new employer’s 401(k) — assuming the plan accepts rollovers and offers an attractive range of investment choices — or to an IRA. By rolling over your savings from your former employer’s 401(k) plan to an IRA, you may have more freedom to choose your investments. Opportunities for taking penalty-free early distributions may also increase.

For example, you are generally permitted to withdraw money from an IRA penalty free to cover the cost of health insurance premiums if you have been collecting unemployment compensation for at least 12 weeks, or to pay for qualified higher education expenses, or for the purchase of a first home. You may also want to consider rolling over your 401(k) savings into a Roth IRA instead of a traditional IRA. While you will have to pay tax on the amount rolled over into a Roth IRA, all withdrawals in retirement will be tax free.

For another great tax strategy, in some cases, you may also be able to deduct certain expenses incurred while you are out looking for a new job. You are not, however, permitted to deduct these expenses if you were searching for a job in a new occupation, or if there was a long break between the end of your last job and your new search. If you meet the requirements set forth by the IRS, you are permitted to deduct a wide range of job-seeking expenses, including employment agency fees, the cost of preparing and sending out copies of your résumé to prospective employers, and any phone and fax expenses associated with your job search. In some instances, travel expenses related to looking for a job or attending a job interview may also be deducted. However, it’s important to note that these expenses must be claimed as a miscellaneous itemized deduction, and the total of all of your miscellaneous deductions must exceed 2 percent of your adjusted gross income (AGI) before job search expenses become tax-deductible.

If your new job requires you to relocate, you may be able to deduct some of your moving expenses that are not reimbursed by your employer. You can take advantage of this tax help provided that your new workplace is at least 50 miles from your old job (a.k.a. the distance test), and the new job provides full-time employment for at least 39 weeks over a 12-month period. Deductible moving expenses include the cost of packing and shipping your household goods and personal possessions, as well as insurance and up to 30 days of storage. You can also deduct the cost of traveling to your new home one time, including hotels but not meals. If you use your own car for the move, you may claim the actual expenses for gas and oil, as well as parking and tolls, or you can use the standard mileage rate to calculate your deduction. Note that it is not necessary to itemize to claim this deduction.

Because of the generous capital gains exclusion on selling a primary residence, it is unlikely that you will be subject to federal taxes if you have to sell your home when changing jobs. If you owned and lived in the house you are selling for two out of the 5 years prior the sale, you are generally permitted to exclude up to $250,000 of the capital gain from your taxable income if you’re a single filer ($500,000 of the capital gain if you are married and file jointly). So, even if you rented out your home for a period of time before selling it, the house may still qualify as your primary residence if you lived in it for at least two years out of the 5 years preceding the sale.

Getting a new job can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Make sure you are prepared to make the most of it by taking advantage of the tax help that is available and developing a good tax strategy.

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