TravelTax News for January 2012

Hope each of you had a wonderful Christmas and New Year. 2012 is underway and that means yet another tax season.

Our annual tax workbooks are ready for your download. If you have not been to our website in the last few months, you'll notice a fresh look and much better organization thanks to my wife who is officially working full-time in the office. An added benefit of the workbook will be a fill-in Adobe version which should be posted by the 13th of January. This will allow you to enter information and save it randomly as you assemble your material. As always, if you have any questions along the way any of our helpful staff will be able to assist you.

***Upcoming Seminars and Workshops

A reminder about our January tax workshops and teleconferences. Our live workshops will be held in

• San Francisco, January 6th and 7th
• Seattle, January 8th and 9th
• Fairbanks Alaska, January 10
• Los Angeles, January 13th and 14th
• Phoenix, January 15
• Dallas, January 23

Our teleconferences will be scattered throughout January and the remainder of the tax season.

Details including times, registration and locations can be found on the first page of our website www.traveltax.com

***Federal Tax News

Presidential election campaigns no longer financed through tax returns Have you ever noticed the little checkbox on the first page of a tax return asking whether you want to fund the presidential election campaign? That question is now a thing of the past with recent legislation.

Standard mileage rates: For 2012, the standard mileage allowance for business expenses remains the same at 55.5 cents a mile. Medical/moving expenses are $.23 a mile and charitable mileage at $.14 a mile.

Assistance for returning veterans - Employers that hire returning veterans have an expanded list of incentives and tax credits to encourage their employment. If you are returning veteran or an employer and want to find out more about these programs, the free to contact us

***State Tax News

Professional practice licenses targeted more It all started in California-the practice of pulling a list of active professional practice licenses including nurses and physicians, and cross-referencing the list with state tax return filings. Any non-filer, regardless of whether they earned income in the state, was sent a letter asking for a tax return. If there was no reply within a certain period, a tax lien was filed based on the amount of income reported on the federal return. This practice is now extended to almost every state. We are encouraging clients to file what is known as "zero" returns in states in which they hold licenses, but do not have income. Since the "possibility" of earning income still exists, state tax agencies hungry for additional revenue are pursuing this.

New York no longer accepting federal extensions Most states will typically accept a federal filing extension in place of their own form. Only a few states require separate extension to be filed. New York is now among those requiring a separate extension.

***Other Tax News

Staffing firms under exam: As we mentioned in our last newsletter, there are over a dozen staffing firms under audit by the IRS. We may see some additional changes in the way agencies construct their tax residence statements. One possibility is that some may require proof of mortgage payments or rent for those travelers claiming to have a tax home. A problem that industries employing mobile professionals have had all along is the lack of consistency with screening traveler's tax homes.

State residency Issues: We have mentioned in previous newsletters that state tax departments have become very aggressive in asserting residency on anybody remotely tied to a state. States are particularly targeting those who have moved to another state but have lingering ties to the former state. It is important to note that most states assume that your residency continues until you have not only established a residence in the new state AND shut the door behind you in regards to the former state. It's not enough simply to move but it's equally important to sever all ties to the former residence.

Otherwise the former state of residence will have adequate justification to assert residency under their domestic laws spreading their tax net over your worldwide income.

Receiving per diem for housing while the company provides the housing One issue that is arising frequently in industries employing mobile professionals is when an employer or staffing agency provides the housing for the traveler AND pays lodging per diem, taking out their costs, and then paying the remainder the traveler tax free.

This is not kosher in the eyes of the IRS. A per diem given to an employee as a reimbursement for lodging should be free of any employer involvement in the lodging cost. In other words, per diem is for the employee to use not the employer to dictate its use.

When the employer is involved in the cost of lodging and pays a per diem or stipend in excess, the amount that exceeds the cost is taxable to the employee and subject to employment tax to the employer.

60/40 splits: Another issue that is common among staffing agencies is the practice of paying a blanket per diem or allowance without allocating a portion to meals. Under the regulations, when an allowance, stipend or per diem is less than the published rates, 60% of the payment is deemed to be for lodging and 40% for meals.

Since meals are only 50% deductible to the individual and employer (absent rare exceptions), allowances cannot be held out as 100% deductible payments. An employee's tax return is also required to reflect this allocation.

Would you like to work as a state tax auditor in California? There on a hiring binge right now. The qualifications are listed below- notice, no experience is required

"We are now accepting applications for our Auditor Evaluator I positions.

The California State Auditor is seeking motivated candidates who already have or are within a year of graduating with a degree in accounting, business, finance, economics, or MPA/MPP/MBA/JD graduate degrees. Candidates must have strong analytical and writing skills and a desire to be challenged. No experience is required; we will train you"

***Last Things

Remember to mark your calendars for October 18 and 19th, 2012 and attend the fifth annual Travelers Conference in Las Vegas. Details can be found at www.travelersconference.com

The filing deadline for the 2011 tax year is April 16, 2012 since the 15th falls on a Sunday.

With the emergence of 2012 a number of tax provisions have expired.

Congress will be quite busy this year deciding which one of these to keep as many of them are popular tax deductions. A list of these can be found at http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=EYDex&m=JNIfeKoe1Xkidv&b=qGStyS5xvH0xDs_iod97Xw

Joseph Smith EA

Enrolled Agent, Admitted to Practice Before the IRS

www.traveltax.com

jsmith@traveltax.com

Office 402.379.7818

Fax 877.872.8829

TravelTax LLC

Box 1643 Norfolk, NE 68702

Supplemental Health Care Expands Staffing Services With Health Information Management Division

PARK CITY, Utah , Dec. 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Supplemental Health Care, a leading healthcare workforce solutions provider, has established a national Health Information Management (HIM) division to support organizations enduring wide-spread changes to the industry's insurance billing policies and overall healthcare delivery process. This division extends the company's staffing services to identify non-clinical personnel to assist clients in managing and improving their internal medical data procedures.

Based in Dallas, TX , the HIM division will implement strategies to connect organizations with HIM coders, managers, directors, auditors, clerks and clinical documentation improvement specialists. The division will utilize Supplemental Health Care's suite of workforce solutions, offering contract, travel, remote and permanent work options to meet the varied demands of its client facilities.

"Creating flexible staffing options that evolve with the needs of our clients is one of the foremost commitments of our company," said Janet Elkin , President and CEO at Supplemental Health Care. "Our HIM division continues this commitment by providing our partners with resources needed to maintain productivity through new industry regulations and the sweeping impact information technology has on the healthcare industry."

In recent years, the HIM industry has experienced substantial growth as more professionals continue to enter this popular sector of the healthcare industry. Supplemental Health Care, committed to sourcing knowledgeable talent from this growing pool of health information specialists, requires all employees hold nationally-recognized certifications to ensure they are highly-skilled, well-versed in the latest HIM advancements and meet industry-wide compliance standards.

"Patient information impacts multiple areas of the healthcare delivery process, including treatment plans, billing procedures and electronic medical record-keeping," said Julie Barrera , Director of Sales for Supplemental Health Care's HIM Division. "We will ensure our professionals understand the dynamics of these areas and consistently expand their expertise through our various continuing education and career development opportunities."

To learn more about Supplemental Health Care, visit the HIM Division online or call 855-268-4087.

About Supplemental Health Care: Based in Park City, Utah , Supplemental Health Care delivers wide-ranging workforce solutions that address staffing challenges faced by healthcare organizations today. For more than 27 years, the company has provided organizations better access to skilled nurses, therapists, physicians and other healthcare specialties. With more than 60 local offices in major U.S. markets and five national travel divisions, Travel Nursing, Direct Hire, Travel Allied, Locum Tenens and Health Information Management, Supplemental Health Care places healthcare professionals in temporary and travel positions throughout the country. Learn more about Supplemental Health Care online at www.supplementalhealthcare.com.

Just about everyone in America rubs elbows with healthcare. And now with federal healthcare reforms aimed at granting millions of Americans improved access to quality care, American Traveler healthcare employers from hospitals to home health are on the hunt, once again, for skilled RNs. Good news for nurses looking for RN jobs and even better news for Registered Nurses looking to connect with travel nursing jobs.

Boca Raton, FL (PRWEB) October 20, 2011 - Leading travel nurse agency, American Traveler, announced in October a year-over-year increase of 56 percent in nurse job employment, a number that includes both staff RN positions and travel nurse jobs. The uptick, said Clinical Resource Manager, Deborah Bacurin, RN, is due to larger healthcare employers rebounding from recession and hiring travel nurses again, along with a sprouting up of ambulatory outpatient centers across all 50 states.

“It looks like healthcare is back in business,” Bacurin said. “The demand for ambulatory nurse jobs has skyrocketed and almost half of all jobs created in September went to healthcare.”

Bureau of Labor numbers confirm what Bacurin says. Hospital job growth in the first nine months of 2011 is four times what it was in all of 2010. Moreover, 42 percent of new jobs last month were healthcare jobs. Of those, ambulatory care jobs doubled in number.

Driving growth in ambulatory services is a number of factors, Bacurin said. First, technological advances in patient care have enabled a greater number of health problems to be treated by outpatient doctors and nurse practitioners. Add a boon in nursing care, as record numbers hit retirement age, and a clinical emphasis on preventive care, spawning thousands of jobs for nurse specialists and therapists. Healthcare jobs projected to increase most in coming years include registered nurses (RNs), nursing aides, licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses, reports Labor.

"It’s a really good time for nurses to consider a career in travel nursing, and for some to look beyond the hospital. New business models have pervaded healthcare. These include not only ambulatory care centers, but skilled nursing facilities, outpatient surgery clinics and various types of physician practices subject to a seasonal census," said recruitment VP, Mary Kay Hull.

Though nurse pay flattened during the recession, Hull said, she’s starting to see wages bounce back to pre-recession levels and better. Her firm is experiencing a significant demand for nurse job specialties such as Operating Room and Labor and Delivery, and continues to fulfill requests for nurses and therapists well-versed in computerized patient care systems and modern therapies.

“Depending on regional and state economies, physical therapists are now earning six figures in some markets,” she said.

What does the future hold?

The outlook for healthcare jobs is positive according to Labor. Healthcare jobs continue to outpace employment sectors manufacturing and construction and are expected to number 344,000 by year’s end, a level of growth not seen in four years.

Hull said American Traveler recruitment figures fall in line with the boom in healthcare jobs growth. The company is on track to exceed last year’s placements in the first nine months of 2011 and continues to grow postings for niche nurse specialties and certifications.

“The nurse jobs are out there,” said Hull. “They pay good and come with great benefits. On the other hand, healthcare employers are looking for the ‘cream of the crop.’ They’ve raised performance standards for nurses and are keeping better track of where and how they spend labor dollars.”

About American Traveler: The Joint Commission-certified American Traveler specializes in short-term, per diem, travel nursing and permanent positions for RNs, Physical Therapists, OTs, SLPs and other allied health professionals. American Traveler places these professionals in rewarding positions across the nation, from world-renowned university teaching hospitals to rural medical facilities. In addition, American Traveler is proud to offer a full array of workforce management software to hospitals that includes Internal Staffing, Vendor Staffing, and Contingent Workforce Management. Our solutions encompass all aspects of supplemental staffing that optimize hospitals' valuable human resources, savings of significant capital, and ease the burdens of maintaining adequate staffing levels.

Dream Nurse Travel

What kind of career opportunities does your company offer?

We offer Per Diem and travel assignments to RNs and LPNs.

Do you cover all the United States, parts of the U.S. or do you also offer international assignments?

Currently we are limited to NY state and PA.

What size is your company, and can I expect to be treated as a number or a name?

We are a small family run business that boasts the ability for customer service.

Can I expect personal service with your company?

Absolutely. That is one of our missions.

I work night shift, what if I have problems at night?

We have 24 hour point of contact. Absolutely.

What other type of benefits does your company provide?

We are owned and operated by two traveling nurses and one ER physician. In our experience in the traveling world, we felt the nurse should get higher wages. Therefore, we as a company take more of the top to provide our nurse with higher wages.

What about professional insurance?

We believe that the insurance a company provides should be sufficient.

What makes your company more than “just another” travel company?

We feel we are different. We make sure all of our nurses have health insurance. If they don't we offer up to single+dependent at no cost to the nurse. As stated above, we really do take off the top to supply nurses with higher rates.

We are not corporate America. We will never function like that. We will fight for our nurses even if it means losing contracts and/or money. We will always do right by the nurse.

For more information... check them out here:

Dream Nurse Travel, LLC

11 Leslo Lane

Newfield, NJ 14867

866-368-3708

www.dreamnursetravel.com

Travel Nursing Conference Coming Soon!

Don't miss the Travel Nursing Conference coming to Las Vegas in just a few more weeks! Spots are filling up quick, but there are still come left! CHECK IT OUT!

Travel Nurses can win 1 of 20 weekly prizes in Medical Solutions Room 2 Roam Mobile Sweepstakes

If you have a smart phone and are a travel nurse, entering is easy.

Omaha, NE (September 1, 2011) – Medical Solutions, a nationwide Travel Nurse and Travel Therapy staffing company has launched its first ever Room 2 Roam Mobile Sweepstakes. For two months beginning today, the sweepstakes offers 20 weekly giveaways of a mobile phone accessory kit complete with mobile charger, portable battery and other attachments, and a grand prize drawing for an Apple iPad 2.

Sweepstakes entries are only open to traveling healthcare professionals, whether in Nursing, Allied Health or Therapy. Entries into the sweepstakes can only be submitted through a mobile device or smartphone, now through the end of October.

Just recently the company has re-launched its newly designed website as well as a new mobile friendly version. The company has also created a new brand identity which is a direct result of continued growth and its overall objective to widen the reach and appeal to the modern day healthcare professional.

“The sweepstakes will be a great Medical Solutions brand marketing effort as well as a great opportunity for traveling healthcare professionals to win prizes that can be invaluable during their travels between job assignments,” said Patrick Fuerstenau, Brand Craftsman at Medical Solutions.

Medical Solutions “Room 2 Roam” Mobile Sweepstakes prize details: 20 weekly winners will receive one Mobile Phone Accessory Kit. One Grand Prize winner will receive an Apple iPad 2 (16G – WiFi + 3G)

Prize Eligibility: Must be at least 18 years or older, a person residing in the United States and a licensed traveling healthcare professional.

Sweepstakes timeframe: Room 2 Roam Mobile Sweepstakes starts September 1, 2011 at 12:00am (CST) and ends October 31, 2011 at 11:59pm (CST).Official rules: Official rules and details can be found on the Medical Solutions website at, http://www.medicalsolutions.com/mobile-sweepstakes-terms-and-conditions/

About Medical Solutions, Inc.: Medical Solutions, Inc. was one of the first travel nurse and allied healthcare staffing companies to be certified by the Joint Commission and has been continuously certified since 2004. Its focus is on meeting the urgent and short-term staffing needs of its clients with highly skilled allied health professionals, nurses and technologists. A nationwide network of travelers allows Medical Solutions to help its client hospitals continue to provide excellent patient care amidst a nursing and allied health shortage. Medical Solutions has contracts with nearly 900 client hospitals nationwide and is one of the fastest growing companies in the travel nursing and allied health industry. Visit MedicalSolutions.com to learn more.

Travel Nurse Solutions Changes Name and Focus

Travel Nurse Solutions, a Birmingham-based staffing company is now Jackson Nurse Professionals. The change stems from the company’s recent expansion in services and opportunities and the higher standard of customer service the company provides.

Birmingham, AL (PRWEB) July 07, 2011 - Travel Nurse Solutions, a Birmingham-based staffing company, has changed its name to Jackson Nurse Professionals. The change stems from the company’s recent expansion in services, opportunities and a higher standard of customer service. This decision better aligns Jackson Nurse Professionals with its parent company, Jackson Healthcare, a name that is synonymous with quality in the healthcare industry. Jackson Nurse Professionals has not undergone any ownership changes and is still led by the same management team who focuses on keeping quality at the forefront.

“Our vision is to build a brand that is strategically aligned not only with our partners in healthcare, but also our nurses by building upon their professionalism and making sure we give our clients the best nurse on the market,” said company President Greg Sanchez. Jackson Nurse Professionals’ new commitment to clients is a detailed approach in the development and implementation of unique staffing solutions. According to Joanna Edge,RN, Director of Client Development, “Each client is different; they have their own challenges, demands and issues.”

Jackson Nurse Professionals can effectively staff the following service levels for clients: travel, per-diem, permanent, rapid response, EMR conversions, long-term care, disaster crisis teams and ambulatory services.

Clients can also expect hands-on consulting aiding in EMR transitions and software implementations. “We want clients to look at Jackson Nurse Professionals as a resource and not just another staffing agency, “says Joanna.

Jackson Nurse Professionals takes the time to focus on quality by equipping nurses with the tools and opportunities needed to enhance their professional skills in the nursing field. The company serves as a partner and guide in directing nurses in their career paths ensuring they receive the right experience and resources needed to meet their future goals.

Along with the expansion in client and nurse services, Jackson Nurse Professionals is also placing an importance on giving back to the community. “We want to truly adopt the Jackson mentality of other’s first,” says Greg. The company encourages nurses and clients to get more involved in the community by volunteering and serving to help others in need.

Jackson Nurse Professionals has developed a new website, jnpnursing.com, which caters to the needs of clients and nurses, and expresses the “other’s first” motto. Along with the new website, the company has added other communication avenues such as newsletters, blogs and social media sites.

Jackson Nurse Professionals strives to continue to make beneficial and progressive changes as the nursing industry changes. “It is our commitment to make sure we are providing a higher standard of excellence in the nurse staffing industry, says Greg.

About Jackson Healthcare: Jackson Nurse Professionals is proud to be a part of the Jackson Healthcare family. Jackson Healthcare provides hospitals with physicians, clinicians and allied health professionals to ensure the delivery of timely, high quality patient care. Founded by healthcare innovator Richard L. Jackson, Jackson Healthcare serves more than two million patients in nearly one thousand hospitals each year. Jackson has consistently been recognized as one of the largest and fastest growing staffing companies in the country by Inc. Magazine, Atlanta Business Chronicle, Georgia Trend and Staffing Industry Analysts. Its healthcare research and charitable work continue to garner national media attention. Visit JacksonHealthcare.com to learn more....