Moving Tips

Plan ahead by:

• Deciding what to move and what not to move. Possibly plan a garage sale!
• Getting estimates from several moving companies or truck rental companies, depending on how you plan to make the move.
• Planning your travel itinerary and making transportation and lodging reservations in advance. (Leave a copy with a friend.)
• Transferring your bank accounts. We will be happy to open your accounts by mail.
• Contacting 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 placed. This will help avoid confusion for you and your 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 expense 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 dressmaker.)
• 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 you 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 pieces, etc.
• Check with your attorney about your will if crossing state lines.
• Ask for professional referrals if available (i.e. doctor, accountant. etc.).
• Change those 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:

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.

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, but prior to moving.
6. Expenses incident to the sale, purchase or lease of a residence, i.e . attorney's fees, real estate commissions, title fees. points on balloon placement charges. etc.

When using your automobile in the move, you may deduct the out-of-pocket expenses, or use a standard mileage allowance. If you receive a moving payment or 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 Expense Adjustment. and attach it to your return. For full details on tax deductible moving expenses, contact the Internal Revenue Service office in your area.