Effective Date: |
October 7, 2021 |
Supersedes: |
Moving Expense Reimbursement Policy, effective September 28, 2011 |
Policy Review Date: |
To be reviewed every 2 years from effective date |
Issuing Authority: |
Research Foundation President |
Responsible Party: |
Chief Financial Officer |
Contact Information: |
518.434.7050 |
Support or reimbursement of relocation expenses to Employees can be considered as an incentive to assist in the recruitment of qualified candidates or a consideration provided to existing Employee to relocate. This policy seeks to ensure that The Research Foundation for The State University of New York ("RF") is compliant with applicable Internal Revenue Service ("IRS") rules when providing Moving Expense Support Payments or Reimbursements to Employees. See "Taxation and Reporting for Moving Expenses Support Procedure" for specific IRS criteria for moving expense payments.
Reasonable Moving Expense Support Payments or Reimbursements ("Payment") can be provided to Employees if the Payment meets IRS criteria and is consistent with any applicable sponsor funding requirements. Additionally, Payments must be accurately taxed and reported. The Payment amount for all moving expenses may not exceed costs of moving 12,000 pounds of household goods as determined by the commercial mover and evidenced in a bill of lading.
Campus administrators must identify the amount and / or value of the Payment, and must complete and provide the Moving Expense Reimbursement Request and Authorization Form to the appropriate payroll department for processing as set forth in the "Taxation and Reporting for Moving Expense Support Procedure." OM or their designees must review and approve the authorization form and documentation required in the procedures.
The RF must not be the "primary" payer of moving expenses support or reimbursements for SUNY Employees. Reimbursements must be first be reviewed with SUNY Human Resources staff. Note: Such RF payments may require additional approval and reporting, internally to the campus Ethics Officer, and externally to the New York State’s Joint Commission on Public Ethics, especially for those who are required to file an Annual Financial Disclosure Statement to JCOPE.
The Operations Manager at operating locations or the RF President, or the OM’s or President’s designee may waive any limitation on the Payment amount when:
The following table outlines the responsibilities for compliance with this Policy:
Responsible Party |
Responsibility |
Operating Location |
Determine if the activity meets the IRS and RF eligibility criteria (see Taxation and Reporting for Moving Expenses Support Procedure) and establish the agreed upon amount that will be covered. Complete documentation and authorization form for the amounts to pay and provide the documentation to the payroll department for processing (see Taxation and Reporting for Moving Expenses Support Procedure). |
Operations Manager or designee, Vice President for RF Central Office. |
Review and approve documentation. Ensure consistency with IRS, RF and sponsor requirements. And SUNY Requirements, if applicable. |
Operations Manager or RF President, or designee |
Authority to waive any limitation on the Payment amount as outlined in the policy. |
Employee - an individual engaged to provide services to an organization where the organization controls what services are performed and how they are performed.
Moving Expense Support Payments or Reimbursements – Negotiated and agreed upon payment or reimbursements of reasonable moving expenses.
RF
Taxation and Reporting for Moving Expenses Support Procedure
Internal Revenue Service
IRS Publication 5137 Fringe Benefit Guide
Moving Expense Reimbursement Request and Authorization Form
Date |
Summary of Change |
October 7, 2021 |
Revised policy to more recent format and changes due to H.R. 1 "The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act" suspending previous rules effective January 1, 2018. |