How To Report

The following discussions explain how to report your moving expenses and any reimbursements or allowances you received for your move.

Form 3903. Use Form 3903 to report your moving expenses.

Where to deduct. Deduct your moving expenses on line 26 of Form 1040. The amount of moving expenses you can deduct is shown on line 5 of Form 3903.

You cannot deduct moving expenses on Form 1040EZ or Form 1040A.

Reimbursements. If you received a reimbursement for your allowable moving expenses, how you report this amount and your expenses depends on whether the reimbursement was paid to you under an accountable plan or a nonaccountable plan.

For more information on reimbursements, see Publication 521.

When To Deduct Expenses

If you were not reimbursed, deduct your allowable moving expenses either in the year you incurred them or in the year you paid them.

Example. In December 2000, your employer transferred you to another city in the United States, where you still work. You are single and were not reimbursed for your moving expenses. In 2000, you paid for moving your furniture. You deducted these expenses in 2000. In January 2001, you paid for travel to the new city. You can deduct these additional expenses in 2001.

Reimbursed expenses. If you are reimbursed for your expenses, you may be able to deduct your allowable expenses either in the year you incurred them or in the year you paid them. If you use the cash method of accounting, you can choose to deduct the expenses in the year you are reimbursed even though you paid the expenses in a different year.

If you are reimbursed for your expenses in a year after you paid the expenses, you may want to delay taking the deduction until the year you receive the reimbursement. If you do not choose to delay your deduction until the year you are reimbursed, you must include the reimbursement in your income.

Choosing when to deduct. If you use the cash method of accounting, which is used by most individuals, you can choose to deduct moving expenses in the year your employer reimburses you if:

1. You paid the expenses in a year before the year of reimbursement, or
2. You paid the expenses in the year immediately after the year of reimbursement but by the due date, including extensions, for filing your return for the reimbursement year.

How to make the choice. You can choose to deduct moving expenses in the year you received reimbursement by taking the deduction on your return, or amended return, for that year.

You cannot deduct any moving expenses for which you received a reimbursement that was not included in your income. (Reimbursements are discussed in Publication 521.)

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