I lost my CA job in Jan. 2016 and moved to my parents in NJ in Feb. 2016 . I found work in CA. and moved back in Sept. 2016. Can I claim travel for both trips?

[DS30 · Accepted solution]

No,  you will only be able to claim a moving expense deduction for the move related to getting your new employment. So you can claim the moving expenses related to moving back to CA for work but not for moving to NJ after your previous job ended.

Here is what you can and cannot claim related to moving expense reimbursement;

Not Deductible - If your company reimbursed you for your moving expenses and did not include this amount in your taxable income on your W-2. (In this case, since you are not recognizing the reimbursement as income, you are not allowed to take a deduction for these reimbursed expenses.)

Yes Deductible - If your company reimbursed you and included the reimbursement amount as part of taxable income on your W-2 or if your reimbursement was not included in your taxable income but the relocation expenses exceed your company's reimbursement amount (you can claim the difference).

Once you have signed into your TurboTax Account (for TurboTax Online sign-in, click Here), select "Take Me To My Return" and type "moving expenses" in the search bar then select "jump to moving expenses". TurboTax will guide you in entering this information

You will claim these moving expenses on Form 3903 and they will not affect your ability to claim a standard deduction.

Alternatively, to enter your moving expenses in TurboTax Online or Desktop, please follow these steps:

1. Once you are in your tax return, click on the “Federal Taxes” tab ("Personal" tab in TurboTax Home & Business)
2. Next click on “Deductions & Credits” ("Personal Income" in TurboTax Home & Business)
3. Next click on "jump to full list" or (I’ll choose what I work on or see all tax breaks)
4. Scroll down the screen until to come to the section “Other Deductions and Credits”
5. Choose "show more", then Moving Expenses and follow the onscreen instructions
6. If you are able to meet the IRS moving expense requirements, you will enter the lodging information on the screen that is titled "Enter your moving expense"

According to the IRS, if you moved due to a change in your job or business location, or because you started a new job or business, you may be able to deduct your reasonable moving expenses but not any expenses for meals.

Please refer to these links related to moving expenses: IRS - Moving Expenses and Moving Expense Deduction