Paying rent to parents/ Travel nurse stipend

[Mkmm246]

Travel nurses can receive a stipend for living expenses on contract assignments that are apparently tax free. I hear you have to be duplicating expenses though. If someone is a travel nurse and pays rent at their family home. Does the IRS acknowledge this as duplication of rent? And what if you are just renting a room with your parents and they don’t make you pay fair market value for your room? I wish to avoid tax issues if I receive the tax free stipend for rent in my travel state.

[AmyC]

1. yes, rent is still rent. 2. cheap rent is still an expense.

The stipend covers your travel expense, meals, and duplicated expenses such as rent of your main home along with rent where you are assigned.

See Understanding Travel Nurse Taxes | Guide 2022