Since I deal with an area of the tax code that is more prone to urban myth and opinions instead of the actual facts, I am providing some citations to show what the IRS really thinks:
The One Year Rule. A temporary assignment cannot be expected to last beyond 12 months (1 year)
Remember that Corporate compliance is a lower threshold than PERSONAL compliance
30 days is not enough: IRS PLR 200020055 - 1 month break disregarded
Less than 30 days breaks is continuous employment: Reg 31.3402(h)(4)-1 30 day payroll break
7 months is preferred: IRS PLR 200026025 - 7-month break in service
12 months is more significant (Look in the last Section) Chief Counsel Advisory 200025052 - 12 Months
Distance Rules - Overnight Stay Required to be "Away from Home. There is no "50-mile rule."
This is well established in case history so here are a few: Note: When reading court cases, "Petitioner" refers to the taxpayer, and "Respondent" is the IRS.
Marple v Commissioner May 2007
Governing Document for Per Diem Method of Reimbursement
Previous: Revenue Procedure 2011-47
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U.S. GSA PER DIEM RATES
The U.S. General Services Administration establishes the rates that federal agencies use to reimburse their employees for lodging and meals and incidental expenses incurred while on official travel within the continental United States (CONUS). One noticeable thing about the new perdeims is that the baseline ,meal rate increased by $9 and the lodging only $3. This reflects inflationary pressure on on groceries and food.
U.S. General Services Administration Per Diem Rates
Wage Recharacterization in Healthcare Staffing and Other Industries
The IRS released this Ruling during the peak of the agency audits in 2012
The Standard by Which The IRS Determines a Tax Home / Residence
The IRS uses Revenue Ruling 73-529 as its primary guideline for determining a taxpayer’s tax home status which I have linked below. In a nutshell, to have a fixed tax home (vs an itinerant tax home that goes wherever you work) you must maintain a regular job in one area, OR NOT have a place of regular income and duplicate living expenses in the form of rent/mortgage while maintaining a second residence for work.
Per Diems as Treated as Wages
This DOL case shows the problems with low wages where the per diem is treated as a substitute for wages.
A Seasonal Assignment is a Permanent Job
If you work in the same place each year and earn significant income, unless there is income in another location that exceeds the income you earn in this place, the seasonal job is your tax residence
Deductibility of RV Expenses as a 2nd travel residence
Since an RV is generally used as a residence > 14 days, and it’s virtually impossible to have an exclusive carve out for an office, the acquisition expenses for the RV are not deductible as a business expense (as opposed to the interest and taxes)
Nurses as Independent Contractors
These citations do not mean that it is impossible to be an IC. There are a few agencies that have successfully defended their model.