Workcamping

[Home_on_Wheels]

Has anyone every heard of you "not" being able to work for your RV site? That it was against the IRS tax rule?

[HappyKayakers]

Some employers have abused the system and the IRS has nailed them. I seem to recall a few big corporations in the southwest or CA who got caught so now they tax everything.

Here is an excerpt from IRS Publication 525 for tax year 2011:
Meals and Lodging
You do not include in your income the value of meals and lodging provided to you and your family by your employer at no charge if the following conditions are met.
1. The meals are:
a. Furnished on the business premises of your employer, and
b. Furnished for the convenience of your employer.
2. The lodging is:
a. Furnished on the business premises of your employer,
b. Furnished for the convenience of your employer, and
c. A condition of your employment. (You must accept it in order to be able to properly perform your duties.)


The way I understand this is if a workamper and a local employee are performing essentially the same duties but the workamper is getting a free site, then the employer is NOT in compliance.

[Home_on_Wheels]

Thanks for the reply. Someone at work was talking about this issue.

[Dog_Folks]

Home on Wheels wrote:
Has anyone every heard of you "not" being able to work for your RV site? That it was against the IRS tax rule?

It has been rumored many times that if you work camp in exchange for a campsite, it is income and you need to pay taxes on it.

If the campground issues a 1099, for the perceived value, maybe.

Otherwise in 99.9% of cases you do not have to pay taxes on work camping for a site.

I haven't heard about it being against a "rule." I don't think the IRS cares a flip about HOW your earn your income. They only care about collecting tax on it if applicable.

You can read the answer here: IRS Publication 525 It is only 40 pages of PDF. 🙂

Paraphrasing the IRS:

The IRS does not consider workamping for your site as a taxable income if three conditions exist:

#1 The lodging is provided on your employers property,

#2 The lodging (site) is furnished for the convenience of the employer, and

#3 you are required to accept the lodging as a condition of employment.

I hope this helps.

[gbopp]

Where did you hear that?

The IRS doesn't care where you work, just so they get their share.