Category: Uncategorized

By Uladzislau Kandybovich Qshark Moving Company CEO

Embrace new beginnings with confidence. At Qshark Moving Company, we’re committed to turning your moving challenges into a smooth and stress-free experience.

When it comes to relocating, whether it’s for a new job, a change of scenery, or other reasons, one of the top concerns is the cost of moving. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the question: are moving expenses tax deductible? We’ll provide you with valuable insights and tips to help you save on your taxes and make the most of your moving experience. Let’s dive in!

Understanding Tax Deductible Moving Expenses

Moving expenses were once tax deductible for most taxpayers. However, the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) of 2017 changed the rules, significantly limiting the scope of this deduction. Currently, only active-duty members of the Armed Forces who are relocating due to a military order or a permanent change of station qualify for moving expense deductions. This change is in effect from 2018 until 2025, unless Congress decides to extend or modify it.

Qualifying for Moving Expense Deduction

Distance Test

To qualify for the moving expense deduction, the move must satisfy the distance test. This test requires that the distance from your new workplace to your old home must be at least 50 miles farther than the distance from your old workplace to your old home.

Time Test

In addition to the distance test, you must also meet the time test. This means you must work full-time for at least 39 weeks during the first 12 months after your move. This condition applies to both employees and self-employed individuals. For self-employed individuals, there’s an additional requirement of working full-time for at least 78 weeks during the first 24 months after the move.

Tax Deduction Eligibility for Moving Expenses

Eligible Moving Expenses

If you qualify for the moving expense deduction, the following expenses are eligible for deduction:

1. Transportation and storage: You can deduct expenses related to moving your household goods and personal effects, including packing, crating, and transportation costs. You can also deduct the cost of storing your belongings for up to 30 days before the final move.
2. Travel costs: Expenses for traveling from your old home to your new home are deductible. This includes lodging but excludes meals.
3. Utility connection fees: The cost of connecting or disconnecting utilities in your old and new homes can be deducted.
4. Vehicle expenses: If you use your vehicle for moving, you can deduct either the actual expenses or the standard mileage rate, which is adjusted annually by the IRS.

Non-Deductible Moving Expenses

The following expenses are not deductible, even if you qualify for the moving expense deduction:

1. Meals: Costs of meals during your move are not deductible.
2. House hunting: Expenses related to pre-move house hunting trips, such as travel and lodging, are not deductible.
3. Temporary housing: The costs of temporary housing or living expenses incurred while waiting for your new home to be ready for occupancy are not deductible. 4. Real estate fees: Expenses related to the purchase or sale of your home, such as realtor fees, closing costs, and mortgage points, cannot be deducted.
4. Loss on the sale of a home: If you experience a loss on the sale of your old home, this loss cannot be deducted as part of your moving expenses.
5. Lease penalties: Penalties for breaking a lease on your old home are not deductible.
6. Security deposits: Any costs associated with security deposits or forfeiting a security deposit are not deductible.

How to Claim Moving Expense Tax Deduction

If you’re eligible to claim moving expense deductions, follow these steps:

1. Keep records: Maintain accurate records of your moving expenses, including receipts, bills, and mileage logs. This will help you accurately calculate your deductions and provide necessary documentation in case of an audit.
2. Complete Form 3903: Use IRS Form 3903, Moving Expenses, to calculate your deductible moving expenses. This form will guide you through the process of determining which expenses qualify and how to calculate the total deductible amount.
3. Report the deduction on Form 1040: Include the total deductible amount from Form 3903 on your individual income tax return, Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return. Attach Form 3903 to your tax return when filing.

Special Circumstances and Exceptions

There are some special circumstances and exceptions to the moving expense deduction rules:

1. Spouses and dependents: If you and your spouse both work and move together, you can combine your work weeks to satisfy the time test. However, each spouse must still meet the distance test individually. Expenses for moving dependents are also deductible, provided the move meets the distance and time tests.
2. Surviving spouses: Surviving spouses who move within one year of the date of their spouse’s death due to a job-related reason can deduct moving expenses.
3. Retirees: If you retire and move to a new location in the United States, you may be able to deduct moving expenses if you meet the distance and time tests before retirement.
4. Members of the Armed Forces: As mentioned earlier, active-duty members of the Armed Forces who move due to a military order or a permanent change of station can deduct moving expenses without having to satisfy the distance and time tests.

Deduct Moving Expenses: Impact on Your Taxes

Deducting moving expenses can have a notable impact on your taxable income. By claiming these deductions, you effectively reduce your gross income for the tax year, which can lead to lower taxes owed. It’s essential to understand the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) guidelines for claiming moving expense deductions, as they are subject to change based on tax laws and regulations.

When filing your federal return, be sure to complete the appropriate IRS form, such as Form 3903, to claim your moving expense deductions. Keep in mind that these deductions are separate from the standard deduction, which is a fixed amount that taxpayers can subtract from their taxable income. Moreover, it’s important to consult your state tax return instructions, as state tax rules may vary when it comes to moving expense deductions.

By understanding the nuances of deducting moving expenses and working with a tax professional to ensure compliance with IRS and state tax guidelines, you can potentially reduce your tax liability and make your move more financially manageable.

Moving for Work: Costs and Considerations

Moving for work can be an exciting opportunity, but it also comes with various expenses. Storage costs, car expenses, moving costs, and hiring a moving company all factor into the overall cost of relocation. When planning a work-related move, it’s essential to be aware of which moving expenses qualify for tax deductions and which ones don’t.

To make your move as smooth as possible, consider hiring a reputable movers like Qshark Moving Company. Qshark offers a range of services to accommodate your moving needs, from local to long-distance moves. We provide detailed information on how much to tip your movers and share valuable advice on things to consider when you schedule your move. For long-distance moves, Qshark’s guide on long-distance moving costs is an invaluable resource for understanding and preparing for the expenses involved.

Planning and organizing your move can be overwhelming, but at Qshark we offer a wealth of resources to help you navigate the process. Their ultimate packing checklist ensures you don’t forget any essential items, while their guide on how to move out offers step-by-step instructions for a stress-free move. Visit Qshark Moving Company’s website for more information or to request a quote, and consult their Google Maps location for directions to their office.

By carefully considering your moving expenses and working with trusted movers like Qshark, you can make the transition to a new location for work as seamless and cost-effective as possible. Keep track of your moving expenses, consult with a tax professional if you have questions, and take advantage of the resources available to you to ensure a successful move.

Conclusion

While the moving expense deduction is currently limited to active-duty members of the Armed Forces, it’s essential to be aware of the rules and requirements if you qualify. By understanding which expenses are deductible and following the necessary steps to claim this deduction, you can save on your taxes and make your relocation more financially manageable. Remember to consult with a tax professional if you have questions or need assistance with your specific situation.

Moving can be a stressful and overwhelming process, and one of the biggest challenges is figuring out what to keep and what to get rid of. It’s easy to accumulate a lot of stuff over the years, and it can be tough to let go of certain items, especially if they have sentimental value. However, the more clutter you have, the harder it will be to pack, transport, and unpack your belongings. Plus, removing unnecessary items before a move can save time, money, and effort. Here are 14 tips on how to get organized before your move:

1. Make a plan: Before you start decluttering, make a list of areas you want to focus on. This will help you stay focused.
2. Start early: Don’t wait until the last minute to start decluttering. Give yourself plenty of time to go through your belongings and decide what to keep and what to get rid of. Start a month or two before your planned move. This will help you avoid feeling rushed and overwhelmed. 
3. Start with hard-to-reach areas: Clear out hard-to-reach cabinets, upper shelves, and corner units, etc. This is likely where a lot of our clutter lives. Do you know that corner unit in the kitchen where you hide your once-a-year appliance? Start there.
4. Be honest with yourself: As you go through your belongings, be honest with yourself about what you really need and use. If you haven’t worn or used an item in the past year, chances are you don’t need it. Hiring an accountability partner for this part of the process can be helpful.
5. Be selective: As you go through your belongings, be selective about what you keep. Don’t hold on to items just because they were expensive, because you might use them one day, or because they were gifted to you. Things are only useful if you are actually using them.
6. Donate or sell: Instead of throwing away items that you no longer need or want, consider donating them to a charity or selling them. (If you’re hoping to sell them, be sure to start even earlier than you think to allow time for the sale to happen.) This will not only help you declutter, but it’ll also benefit someone else.
7. Be realistic: It’s important to be realistic about what you can fit in your new home. Don’t hold on to items that won’t fit or work with your new place. Know that each home is unique and you may need new furniture or organizing solutions for your new spot.
8. Work within your home’s constraints: Whether you’re downsizing or just losing storage when you move, work within the constraints of your home. Use the 80% rule. No drawer, cabinet, or closet should be filled by more than 80%. The idea here is you’ll be able to maintain organization if it’s only filled 80%.

Wondering what things you should get rid of before the move? Read on.

1. Duplicate items. When I moved in with my now husband, I discovered we had accumulated four can openers. I kept our favorite and donated the rest.
2. Outdated or broken items. This includes the old phones you have stashed in a drawer somewhere. Recycle your old electronics at Best Buy, free of charge.
3. Unused or infrequently used items. For example, during my most recent decluttering session, I decided it was time to donate my home gym equipment I purchased during the pandemic and no longer use. Can you think of any items like this you’re ready to part with before the move?
4. Sentimental items you don’t have room for. It’s natural to have sentimental attachments to certain items, but if you don’t have room for them in your new home, consider getting rid of them. If this is tough for you, remember the memory is not tied to the physical item.
5. Excess and tattered linens and Tupperware. As a professional organizer who’s seen the insides of many homes, I’m fairly confident you don’t need all those linens, towels, or Tupperware.
6. Expired or unused food. Quickly scan the expiration dates in your pantry and rejoice to know you’re not moving a bunch of old food to the new spot.

Remember, the goal is to declutter and eliminate items you no longer need or use. It’s important, to be honest with yourself about what you need and be selective about what you keep. Hiring the right moving company will help you have a smoother and more organized move. We hope you found these 14 tips for getting organized before a move helpful!

What Is Double Drive Time?

It’s this time of the year, you have already explored everything in your neighborhood, and the person downstairs would not stop fixing his kitchen, drilling walls, and having parties—thoughts about having your backyard keep you up at night. With a quick online search, you found a fantastic house with a spacious kitchen and the backyard you always wanted. It’s available and move-in ready. Things couldn’t get better until you realize that you need Movers. So you made a few calls, and you know less now than before. You have all these questions like, how many movers do I need? How big is the truck? Do I need to tip the movers? What are all these fees? What is Double Drive Time?

Finding answers to these questions is difficult, sometimes because of dishonest businesses, but most of the time is a simple lack of knowledge. But don’t worry. In this post, you will find the answers you are looking for! In this post, we will finally explain What Double Drive Time is.

Short Answer:

Double drive time is a policy used by moving companies. It means they charge twice how long it takes to drive from your old place to your new one. For example, if it takes 30 minutes to drive, they will charge you for 60 minutes. This covers the time and costs for them to return to their original location.

The Wild West Of Moving or Why We Need Double Drive Time

Let’s go back to the wild times in the moving industry before the regulations, licenses, required insurance, online reviews, and endless ways for unethical companies to thrive. As soon as your hard-earned items end up in the moving van, it’s time for the moving company to turn evil and demand every possible fee they can come up with. But what can you do, you want your items back? The answer is nothing but paying off the thieves and trying to forget this nightmare.

One of these shady fees was the Drive Time from your unloading location back to the movers’ office. They claim it took them two hours to drive five miles when this morning it only took them 15 minutes. Crazy? While it sounds outrageous, it would happen daily, and more and more people would fall victim to these scams.

Creation Of The DDT

Moving became such a big part of our lives that lawmakers had to create rules and regulations to protect consumers from “moving thieves.” Double Drive Time was born to regulate the drive time between locations and minimize the room for scams. It’s a simple idea but a big difference-maker regarding your bill. Movers are only allowed to charge you for the time it takes them to drive from your pick-up location ( point A ) to your second location ( point B ). To get paid for the time it takes to go back; they can only double the time from point A to point B. Still sounds confusing? Don’t worry we have examples!

Example number one ( the wild west of moving )

John is moving 30 minutes from his parent’s house to a new apartment in the city. You can’t be a village boy forever. Dad recommended a local moving company he had used in the past, so without further research, John hired them. Everything is going great. The tv and couches are in the truck. A few hours later, before unloading the final ( and most expensive items ), the foreman comes up to John to take care of the final bill. Something doesn’t add up. John keeps checking the hours. ” Where these two additional hours came from?” John is suspicious. Foreman replies: ” It’s time for us to drive back.” But it only took 30 minutes to drive here. I’m not paying for two additional hours! ” – John screams, quietly letting go of his dreams of buying a new DVD player. ” We won’t unload the rest until you do.”
And you got the idea. John would end up paying to get the rest of his items back. So sad and unfair, but it was the reality back then.

Example number two ( current Qshark Moving Company )

It’s been 20 years since John moved, he swore to himself never to do it again, but his family of five can no longer fit in this tiny apartment. The new house is exactly 30 minutes away, just like the first move. Ready to relieve his old horrors, John picked a company he found online. He didn’t believe when they said there were no additional fees or their five-star reputation.
Finally, moving day is here. Everything is going very well, but John is still skeptical. ” Looks like everything is unloaded, and it’s time to pay your bill. ” John could feel the old feelings of anger coming back even after all this time. ” But where is additional time to drive back? ” John is surprised. The foreman shows him the Double Drive Time field and explains: ” It took us 30 minutes to drive between point A and point B, so it will be doubled to 1 hour” It’s that simple.
By the way, he could buy a brand new TV because of the extra money John budgeted.

Double Drive Time Is Your Friend

We hope this paragraph helped you understand what Double Drive Time is. Our team of specialists is always happy to assist you with any questions. We recommend visiting Government Website to learn more about moving fees and licensed companies. As a special thank you for reading this entire post, we will offer $25 off if you mention ” Double Drive Time Post” when you contact our company

It doesn’t matter if you’re moving for the fifth time or a first-time homebuyer. The moving process can be incredibly stressful. There’s the time investment, the fear of valuable belongings breaking, and, of course, all those cardboard boxes. You may be asking yourself, “How many boxes do I need to move?” The short answer: it depends. While there is no concrete rule or formula to determine exactly how many moving boxes you’ll need, there are a few ways to estimate that number. Whether you’re moving out of a house in Denver or a one-bedroom apartment in New York City, we’ll help you unpack how many boxes you’ll need.

What you’ll need to begin packing

In addition to lots (and lots) of cardboard boxes, you’ll need several other supplies to ensure that your belongings are packed properly and kept safe on the way to your new home. Here are some packing materials you will need:

Packing tape: It’s easy to overlook something as mundane as the type of tape you choose, but using the proper tape will ensure that your belongings remain safe. Opt for packing tape instead of regular office tape, as it tends to be wider and provides a more reliable seal on cardboard boxes.

Bubble wrap: If you’re dealing with glass, dishes. or other fragile items, keep plenty of bubble wrap on hand to protect against potential impacts such as drops.

Packing paper: This is an additional tool at your disposal to protect your belongings. Packing paper takes up less room in boxes and is also recyclable.

Don’t cut corners with your supplies

Ensuring that you have the right packing supplies on hand will make your move go smoothly and prevent your belongings from breaking. Skimping on supplies to save money can backfire in the long run.

Types of packing boxes

Packing for a move is not a one-size-fits-all affair. There are many different types of boxes needed to store certain items properly. Here is a rundown of what you’ll need to store your personal belongings.

• Small packing boxes/book boxes have dimensions of 16″ x 12″ x 12″, making them the smallest size typically used for moving. They are ideal for small items such as books or kitchen utensils.
• Medium packing boxes have dimensions of 18″ x 16″ x 18″ and are perfect for items such as towels and decorative items such as sculptures or art.
• Large packing boxes have dimensions of 18″ x 18″ x 24″ and can store small appliances, bedding, and smaller pillows.
• Extra-large packing boxes have dimensions of 24″ x 20″ x 24″ and can hold large, light items like comforters, sports gear, and pillows.

Specialty boxes you’ll need

Household items come in all shapes and sizes, and conventional cardboard boxes won’t always get the job done. Luckily, there are many special boxes made to fit any number of oddly-shaped items.

• Wardrobe boxes include a metal rod across the top of the box and are designed specifically for hanging clothes. You can store items such as belts or shoes at the bottom of a wardrobe box.
• Dish barrel boxes are about the same size as medium boxes (18″ x 18″ x 28 or 18″ x 18″ x 18″) and feature extra-thick walls. The double-wall feature protects fragile items like glass, plates, bowls, and cups that are particularly prone to breaking during moving.
• Mirror and picture boxes are flat and designed to fit items like artwork, mirrors, and framed photos. You can adjust these to the required size.
• TV boxes, as the name implies, can store flat-screen TVs. They can be adjusted to fit a screen up to 70 inches.
• Lamp boxes are ideal for tall, narrow items such as lamps or fans.

How many boxes do I need to move?

So, how do you know how many boxes you need?  There’s no magic formula to calculate the ideal number of boxes, but the next few sections should give you a general idea.

Calculating how many boxes you need in advance saves you time and money; avoid running out multiple times to get more boxes or spending money on boxes you don’t need. Generally, the longer you have lived in your home, the more stuff you will have accumulated. If you’re a packrat, now’s the time to own it.

Factors that determine how many moving boxes you need to move

Number of rooms

The type of home you live in and the number of rooms your home has can serve as the simplest indicator of how many boxes you need to prepare for a move. A studio apartment might only require a dozen or so boxes. On the other hand, a four-bedroom house will likely call for north of 100. If you find the packing process overwhelming, this is a simple way to estimate the number of boxes to buy.

Breakdown by number of rooms

Square footage

It probably comes as no surprise that moving out of a larger home generally means having more stuff to move. The square footage of your space is a decent indicator of how many moving boxes you will need to relocate all of your belongings. For example, moving out of a small apartment (500 square feet) might only require 25 boxes. On the other hand, a larger house (2,000 square feet) might need up to 130. The size of your home is not the sole determining factor in figuring out how many boxes you’re going to need, but it can provide you with a good benchmark.

Room type

Another way to estimate how many packing boxes you’ll need to move is by considering the types of rooms in your home. This is a slightly more specific way to approximate the number of boxes required to move all your things successfully. Here’s a room-by-room breakdown of how many boxes you need based on room type.

Breakdown by room type:

As you can see, the kitchen and the master bedroom tend to use the most boxes. One thing to consider is that the number of boxes used for bedrooms can vary widely based on who’s using those rooms, especially if you’re moving with kids. A toddler is unlikely to have as many personal belongings as a teenager, and the total box count will reflect this.

How many boxes do I need to move based on my lifestyle?

Lifestyle is an important factor to consider, as two houses with the same dimensions or rooms can have very different needs regarding the number of boxes needed to move. Whether you live in a studio apartment or a large house with a walk-in closet, your lifestyle will significantly affect how many moving boxes you’ll need. Whether you enjoy skiing, pottery, painting, or any other hobby, those additional items will also need to move.

Tips for a successful move

Don’t overfill your boxes

It can seem intuitive to cut costs on boxes by filling them to the max. In reality, this is often counterproductive because it leaves less of a cushion between the box’s contents and the environment on the outside. Remember to leave room in the box for packing paper or bubble wrap for adequate protection. Remember that a few extra boxes won’t outweigh the cost of replacing your fine china if it breaks.

Buy more boxes than you think you’ll need

On a similar note, there’s no need to be stingy when buying boxes. Cardboard boxes are relatively cheap, and having to buy more at the last minute only increases the stress of moving.

Take the opportunity to declutter

If you’re wary of taking too much stuff to your new place, take the opportunity to get rid of items you no longer need. 

Plan ahead and stay organized

With any large undertaking, preparation is key, and this certainly applies to moving. Give yourself plenty of time before moving day to strategize. Be sure to clearly label each box with its contents and where it needs to go. This will make the unpacking process go much smoother.

Although there is no hard and fast rule when packing for a move, these tips and guidelines will help you find out how many boxes you need for a successful move.

Chose a right moving company

If you feel tired after reading this, maybe the best answer is to hire movers and make your life a little bit easier.

We love working with our residential and commercial customers! Over the years we’ve worked with a lot of different businesses and built strong relationships. We wanted to make this post to show our application to all our loyal customers and partners. We are proud to be partners with Tom’s Truck Center

Contact us today at 866-925-5012 or via email at [email protected] for your residential or commercial move, local or out of state!

Whether it is because you’re moving to a new home or you’re just doing a lot more online shopping lately. Collections of cardboard boxes are probably a part of your life or have been at one time or another. Cardboard boxes may seem useless, but they can be reused in many ways before you end up recycling them. Here you will learn How to Reuse Your Cardboard Boxes!

February 4, 2021 by Julia Weaver

It’s no surprise that moving is one the most stressful life events. Moving to a new place requires careful planning, organization, and stamina. No matter how many times you do it, it never seems to get any easier.

There are many things in life that are best learned through trial and error. Moving, however, is not one of those things. Whether you’re moving to a new home in your local housing market, or from Sacramento, CA to New York, NY, there’s plenty of room for error. To help your move go seamlessly, we’ve asked experts to share the most common moving mistakes they see so you can ensure a smooth transition for your belongings over any distance. 

Continue reading “19 Common Mistakes: Moving Company Addition”

Dear customers, We do everything possible to stop the spread of COVID-19 and protect our clients and our movers. That’s why our movers must always wear masks during the moving process. If any of our crew members aren’t wearing a mask, please report it to the office (866)925-5012 immediately. This is our masks policy at Qshark – Moving Company

If you have any questions or any concerns please call us or email at [email protected]

Stay Safe

In the moving industry, few things are considered oversized or need special attention to them. So let’s start by clarifying what those items are! And how to move oversized items

• The first one, and probably the most common one, will be a Piano ( including Uprights, Baby Grands, and Grand Pianos ). They are considerably harder to move because of their weight, largeness, fragileness, and price. It’s crucial to mention your piano when you are getting a moving quote because it can change your price. Every company has a different policy about moving a piano. Some companies even specialize in moving just pianos. Still, at Qshark, we wanted to make it easy so we won’t charge you extra to move a piano. However, we will require to have a certain number of movers. It will depend on the type of your piano and it’s location. For example, moving a regular Upright piano from a garage to first-floor house would only require 2 movers. When moving a Baby Grand piano, we will need 4 movers.

• The second most common item would be Safe. They are pretty easy to move but at the same time, it can get really complicated as they can be very heavy and may even damage the hardwood floor or stairway. So, when you want to get a quote it’s always good to clarify the weight and the location of the safe, and the moving company you chose can come prepared. Most of the time safes over 300lbs require a special dolly designed to move heavy items. At Qshark we won’t charge you extra for this addition but if you don’t mention your safe, it can cause problems during the move.

• And finally, the third most common item is a pool table. It’s quite difficult to move because it requires disassembling and assembling. Most of the pieces are very heavy and can be damaged easily. The pool table needs the most preparation and a specialized crew that knows exactly how to handle your model of a pool table. We will also need specific tools. Most of the companies will have the same policies about moving a pool table which will include extra charges. It’s very important to clarify that you need to move a pool table.

To sum everything up, everything can be moved. You need to find the right specialist to help you move Oversized Items.