GTN Mobility Tax Blog

Picture this.

In order to attract and retain the best talent, your company has made the decision to continue to allow employees to work from home indefinitely.

To you, the HR Manager, “home” means employees must work from the address on their paycheck, but to the employee, “home” just means they can work remotely from anywhere they choose. And some have chosen to work in another state while others have chosen to work in another country.

Your mobility tax provider has informed you that when your remote workers work outside of their Home jurisdiction, they are potentially creating reporting and withholding tax risks and compliance requirements for both themselves and the company. You now realize you need to know exactly where everyone is working so you can begin to address any potential compliance risks.

When a mobile employee relocates across borders, whether internationally or domestically within the US, they soon discover that their tax situation has become far more complex as a result of the move. If that employee is moving from a low-tax location to a high-tax one, they could potentially face a major increase in tax liability. Additionally, they may also encounter tax issues related to the sale or rental of their home, moving expenses for state reporting purposes, state residency issues, and a number of other issues they may not be prepared to handle on their own.

Our 10th annual Beards and Braids for Busy Season (BBFBS) campaign has begun!

Ten years ago, what began as a simple way to infuse some fun into the tax busy season has turned into an annual event to provide support for non-profit organizations around the world. To date, we have raised over $36,000 for nonprofit organizations such as AdoptAClassroom.org, Canines for Disabled Kids, Move For Hunger, and No Kid Hungry.

As companies adjust to the new reality of work and reassess their mobility programs, there is an opportunity for them to examine the costs associated with running their mobility programs and explore innovative solutions. We are witnessing a renewed interest in mobility as companies seek to adopt the best structure for their business and employees. While non-traditional forms such as remote and hybrid work are becoming more prevalent, there is also renewed interest in both short and long-term assignments. 

Whether you manage business travelers, short-term international employees, or remote workers, you have no doubt heard about the “183-day rule.” Both globally and domestically, many tax jurisdictions expect an employer (as well as the employee) to track and report non-resident business travel. However, simply applying a “183-day” threshold does not always work to ensure tax compliance. Here we will take a deeper dive into the impact of income tax treaties on the tax cost of business travel, short-term assignments, and remote work scenarios.

If your auditor doubles as your company’s mobility tax services provider, you may have found benefits from this seemingly convenient arrangement.

It’s not unusual to see companies using the same firm to provide multiple kinds of accounting and tax services, especially for emerging and fast-growing companies. However, it is important to be aware of the challenges that may arise in this situation and understand why it may be beneficial to use different firms for your auditing and mobility tax needs.

By understanding your specific needs and the service limitations that can exist for audit firms, your organization will be in a better position to assess and select a vendor that will provide the experience needed for your mobility program and employees.