Got My Relocation Package Today - Eeeek
#1
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 29
Got My Relocation Package Today - Eeeek
So its become very real now. I have also negotiated a house planning trip paid for by the firm, so flights and accommodation for a week. Would appreciate any comments on the package:
Visa/Immigration Cost of obtaining and maintaining a valid work permit, passports,
visas, or inoculations incurred due to the transfer for you and
your family.
Lease Break Reimbursement of the fee to cancel your rental apartment in the
UK, as needed, up to the equivalent of two months' rent
HomeFind/Settling-in Settling-in and home finding services will be provided.
School Search Services Services for selecting and applying to schools for your child will
be provided to you by a designated school search provider.
Sea Shipment of Household Goods Reasonable packing, shipping, and insurance cost of household
effects up to 14,000lbs/40ft. container from London to the US by sea.
Air Shipment of Household Goods Up to 1,000 lbs for air shipment for items needed upon arrival.
Temporary Living - Home Location Reimbursement of up to 5 days of hotel and other living expenses up to the per diem rate for London if you need
temporary accommodations before relocating.
Loss on Sale of Car/Lease Break Reimbursement of the loss on the sale of your car up to $2,500
per car with a two car maximum.
Broker Fees Cost of fees associated with securing your permanent housing in
New York (up to 2 months' rent).
Final Relocation Airfare One-way business class airfare from London to the US for you
and your family upon transfer.
Temporary living - Host Location Cost of up to 30 days of temporary accommodations in corporate
housing as needed as you wait to enter permanent housing after arrival in New York (daily per diem provided for meals &
incidentals).
One-Time Misc Relocation Allowance Lump sum of $5,000 provided at start of transfer process to
cover miscellaneous costs of moving.
Tax Preparation & Consultation US and UK tax consultations with PwC, preparation of returns for
Year 1.
Visa/Immigration Cost of obtaining and maintaining a valid work permit, passports,
visas, or inoculations incurred due to the transfer for you and
your family.
Lease Break Reimbursement of the fee to cancel your rental apartment in the
UK, as needed, up to the equivalent of two months' rent
HomeFind/Settling-in Settling-in and home finding services will be provided.
School Search Services Services for selecting and applying to schools for your child will
be provided to you by a designated school search provider.
Sea Shipment of Household Goods Reasonable packing, shipping, and insurance cost of household
effects up to 14,000lbs/40ft. container from London to the US by sea.
Air Shipment of Household Goods Up to 1,000 lbs for air shipment for items needed upon arrival.
Temporary Living - Home Location Reimbursement of up to 5 days of hotel and other living expenses up to the per diem rate for London if you need
temporary accommodations before relocating.
Loss on Sale of Car/Lease Break Reimbursement of the loss on the sale of your car up to $2,500
per car with a two car maximum.
Broker Fees Cost of fees associated with securing your permanent housing in
New York (up to 2 months' rent).
Final Relocation Airfare One-way business class airfare from London to the US for you
and your family upon transfer.
Temporary living - Host Location Cost of up to 30 days of temporary accommodations in corporate
housing as needed as you wait to enter permanent housing after arrival in New York (daily per diem provided for meals &
incidentals).
One-Time Misc Relocation Allowance Lump sum of $5,000 provided at start of transfer process to
cover miscellaneous costs of moving.
Tax Preparation & Consultation US and UK tax consultations with PwC, preparation of returns for
Year 1.
#2
Re: Got My Relocation Package Today - Eeeek
Repatriation costs for when it's time for you and your stuff to go home?
#3
Rootbeeraholic
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Houston, Tx
Posts: 2,280
Re: Got My Relocation Package Today - Eeeek
Okay, it's a good start.
Do you have medical? That's not mentioned here although I appreciate it's probably part of your salary package. Super important to have medical though...
How much stuff are you shipping? I had a $10,000 shipping allowance and a $10,000 lump sum. I didn't ship too much (13 boxes) and certainly nowhere near a full container. If you're shipping a lot (furniture etc) then the $5k lump sum is probably okay, if you're not, you'll need more than $5k.
Since the company is paying for shipping, makes sense to ship as much as possible.
Ensure that the $5k lump sum is 'grossed up', so that YOU receive $5k (after tax) and not $5k minus appropriate tax etc...
Is your move intended to be long term? Worth asking for first and last years tax returns and also repatriation costs if you may move back to the UK in say 2 years.
Is there any chance of you getting something towards a car whether it's a hire car for a period or a lump sum to help with buying a car. You'll have no credit when you come over so either sort out a car beforehand with someone like international autosource or be prepared to pay cash.
Hope that helps a little!
Do you have medical? That's not mentioned here although I appreciate it's probably part of your salary package. Super important to have medical though...
How much stuff are you shipping? I had a $10,000 shipping allowance and a $10,000 lump sum. I didn't ship too much (13 boxes) and certainly nowhere near a full container. If you're shipping a lot (furniture etc) then the $5k lump sum is probably okay, if you're not, you'll need more than $5k.
Since the company is paying for shipping, makes sense to ship as much as possible.
Ensure that the $5k lump sum is 'grossed up', so that YOU receive $5k (after tax) and not $5k minus appropriate tax etc...
Is your move intended to be long term? Worth asking for first and last years tax returns and also repatriation costs if you may move back to the UK in say 2 years.
Is there any chance of you getting something towards a car whether it's a hire car for a period or a lump sum to help with buying a car. You'll have no credit when you come over so either sort out a car beforehand with someone like international autosource or be prepared to pay cash.
Hope that helps a little!
#4
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: May 2010
Location: San Diego, California
Posts: 9,662
Re: Got My Relocation Package Today - Eeeek
- Should the job fold up within, say, 2 years (these things unfortunately do happen) the company will pay all repatriation costs.
- rental car costs for first month or two.
- rental car costs for first month or two.
#5
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Got My Relocation Package Today - Eeeek
Okay, it's a good start.
Do you have medical? That's not mentioned here although I appreciate it's probably part of your salary package. Super important to have medical though...
How much stuff are you shipping? I had a $10,000 shipping allowance and a $10,000 lump sum. I didn't ship too much (13 boxes) and certainly nowhere near a full container. If you're shipping a lot (furniture etc) then the $5k lump sum is probably okay, if you're not, you'll need more than $5k.
Since the company is paying for shipping, makes sense to ship as much as possible.
Ensure that the $5k lump sum is 'grossed up', so that YOU receive $5k (after tax) and not $5k minus appropriate tax etc...
Is your move intended to be long term? Worth asking for first and last years tax returns and also repatriation costs if you may move back to the UK in say 2 years.
Is there any chance of you getting something towards a car whether it's a hire car for a period or a lump sum to help with buying a car. You'll have no credit when you come over so either sort out a car beforehand with someone like international autosource or be prepared to pay cash.
Hope that helps a little!
Do you have medical? That's not mentioned here although I appreciate it's probably part of your salary package. Super important to have medical though...
How much stuff are you shipping? I had a $10,000 shipping allowance and a $10,000 lump sum. I didn't ship too much (13 boxes) and certainly nowhere near a full container. If you're shipping a lot (furniture etc) then the $5k lump sum is probably okay, if you're not, you'll need more than $5k.
Since the company is paying for shipping, makes sense to ship as much as possible.
Ensure that the $5k lump sum is 'grossed up', so that YOU receive $5k (after tax) and not $5k minus appropriate tax etc...
Is your move intended to be long term? Worth asking for first and last years tax returns and also repatriation costs if you may move back to the UK in say 2 years.
Is there any chance of you getting something towards a car whether it's a hire car for a period or a lump sum to help with buying a car. You'll have no credit when you come over so either sort out a car beforehand with someone like international autosource or be prepared to pay cash.
Hope that helps a little!
#6
Rootbeeraholic
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Houston, Tx
Posts: 2,280
Re: Got My Relocation Package Today - Eeeek
That's how I read it too - I'll clarify what I was trying to say as it wasn't clear from my post.
$5k is fine if you have a whole house worths of stuff (sofa's, beds, art, kitchen crockery etc etc) but it's absolutely **** all if you're starting from scratch and trying to furnish a house, it would be spent on a single room in all liklihood.
So, if the OP has everything to ship and is only going to be purchasing a few electronic items such as TV, white good etc, $5k works. If they don't have much to ship (despite the fact the company will pay for a whole container), then that $5k isn't enough and I would recommend they push for more.
$5k is fine if you have a whole house worths of stuff (sofa's, beds, art, kitchen crockery etc etc) but it's absolutely **** all if you're starting from scratch and trying to furnish a house, it would be spent on a single room in all liklihood.
So, if the OP has everything to ship and is only going to be purchasing a few electronic items such as TV, white good etc, $5k works. If they don't have much to ship (despite the fact the company will pay for a whole container), then that $5k isn't enough and I would recommend they push for more.
#7
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 41,518
Re: Got My Relocation Package Today - Eeeek
That's how I read it too - I'll clarify what I was trying to say as it wasn't clear from my post.
$5k is fine if you have a whole house worths of stuff (sofa's, beds, art, kitchen crockery etc etc) but it's absolutely **** all if you're starting from scratch and trying to furnish a house, it would be spent on a single room in all liklihood.
So, if the OP has everything to ship and is only going to be purchasing a few electronic items such as TV, white good etc, $5k works. If they don't have much to ship (despite the fact the company will pay for a whole container), then that $5k isn't enough and I would recommend they push for more.
$5k is fine if you have a whole house worths of stuff (sofa's, beds, art, kitchen crockery etc etc) but it's absolutely **** all if you're starting from scratch and trying to furnish a house, it would be spent on a single room in all liklihood.
So, if the OP has everything to ship and is only going to be purchasing a few electronic items such as TV, white good etc, $5k works. If they don't have much to ship (despite the fact the company will pay for a whole container), then that $5k isn't enough and I would recommend they push for more.
#8
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 29
Re: Got My Relocation Package Today - Eeeek
Ok, thanks for the guidance so far guys. I need to digest what you have all said and come back with some questions/answers.
#9
Re: Got My Relocation Package Today - Eeeek
Don't know if this falls under "maintaining appropriate visas, etc," but will they pay for the cost of pursuing Greencards for you and your family?
I don't know what visa you are on or how long you intend to stay, so that may not be an issue.
I don't know what visa you are on or how long you intend to stay, so that may not be an issue.
#10
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Jan 2006
Location: San Francisco
Posts: 12,865
Re: Got My Relocation Package Today - Eeeek
A lot of this will end up as taxable income. As I've said before, one of the most important items in a relocation package, imo, is having the employer "grossing up" what is taxable so that you don't end up with a nice tax bill come the following April.
#11
Re: Got My Relocation Package Today - Eeeek
Visa costs are a given, it's the law as is repatriation flights home, but the fact they're paying for passport renewals and EADs is good.
The home finding and school service, well that's just using a realtor, nothing special there, pretty standard.
Shipping sounds standard.
5 days hotel is a joke, unless they stick you in a corporate apartment for a few weeks and move your stuff around from one to the other and then to final abode.
$5K is a bit weedy....tax prep for first and last year are great.
It all boils down to what visa you're getting, how senior you are etc, etc.
Thing you haven't mentioned is if they are grossing any of this up in your pay packet, because you'll be massively in the hole if they don't, because this will be taxed.
The home finding and school service, well that's just using a realtor, nothing special there, pretty standard.
Shipping sounds standard.
5 days hotel is a joke, unless they stick you in a corporate apartment for a few weeks and move your stuff around from one to the other and then to final abode.
$5K is a bit weedy....tax prep for first and last year are great.
It all boils down to what visa you're getting, how senior you are etc, etc.
Thing you haven't mentioned is if they are grossing any of this up in your pay packet, because you'll be massively in the hole if they don't, because this will be taxed.
#12
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 2008
Location: Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 4,913
Re: Got My Relocation Package Today - Eeeek
That's what I thought at first, but on reading it more carefully I think that it is up to 5 days in a hotel in the UK before you leave followed by 30 days temporary accommodation in the US ...
#13
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 6,848
Re: Got My Relocation Package Today - Eeeek
It sounds like a bog-standard expat package to me.
What I would add though, is that the company pays the air-fare (at economy rate, don't push it for biz class) if you have to urgently return to the UK in the event of serious illness or death of a close family member back home. Last minute airfares cost a fortune....
What I would add though, is that the company pays the air-fare (at economy rate, don't push it for biz class) if you have to urgently return to the UK in the event of serious illness or death of a close family member back home. Last minute airfares cost a fortune....
#14
Rootbeeraholic
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Houston, Tx
Posts: 2,280
Re: Got My Relocation Package Today - Eeeek
It sounds like a bog-standard expat package to me.
What I would add though, is that the company pays the air-fare (at economy rate, don't push it for biz class) if you have to urgently return to the UK in the event of serious illness or death of a close family member back home. Last minute airfares cost a fortune....
What I would add though, is that the company pays the air-fare (at economy rate, don't push it for biz class) if you have to urgently return to the UK in the event of serious illness or death of a close family member back home. Last minute airfares cost a fortune....
#15
Re: Got My Relocation Package Today - Eeeek
Last minute flight because someone got hit by a bus and might not make it can easily cost several thousand bucks and if it isn't in the contract for emergency use they'll not be obliged to get it, especially if you've already used a flight within the last 12 months.
It's a benefit that will hardly have to be used, but a real nice one to have in the event you need it.