Job Change Relocation Tax Checklist: Salary, Housing, and First 90 Days (2026)
A new job in a new city can improve long-term growth, but it can also hide short-term cash and workload risk. This checklist helps you make one joined plan across compensation, tax impact, housing, and execution capacity before you overcommit.
1. Convert Offer Math to Real Monthly Cash
Do not compare offers on base salary only. First model total compensation with the CareerKit Offer Comparison Calculator, then convert it to expected take-home using the TaxKit Paycheck Tax Calculator.
If part of compensation is variable, keep three scenarios: conservative, expected, and stretch. Then use the conservative number for fixed-cost decisions.
2. Estimate Relocation Tax Friction Early
Relocation bonuses, sign-on structures, and split-year filing can change withholding behavior. Keep a reserve model using the TaxKit Quarterly Tax Calculator and a monthly checkpoint so you can correct quickly if withholding is off.
For mixed W-2 and 1099 income during transition, add a second reserve line with the Freelancer Tax Reserve Calculator before committing to new recurring expenses.
3. Lock Housing Boundaries Before the Move
Housing creates the biggest irreversible decision in the first month. Use Rent vs Buy for strategy and Closing Cost Calculator for execution detail. Keep a no-change fallback in case onboarding load is higher than expected.
4. Protect Execution Capacity in the First 90 Days
Most relocation failures are not budgeting failures, they are planning failures. Block onboarding and deep-work windows in FocusKit Weekly Focus Planner and reserve one weekly reset block with the Pomodoro Timer to keep the plan realistic.
When notes get messy, normalize your assumptions with JSON Formatter so every change to cash, housing, and workload is auditable.
14-Day Decision Checklist
| Day | Action | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Compare offers and net pay scenarios | Conservative monthly cash baseline |
| 3-5 | Model relocation tax and reserve needs | Quarterly reserve target |
| 6-9 | Run housing scenarios and fallback cap | Housing decision guardrails |
| 10-14 | Schedule 90-day execution cadence | Weekly planning template |
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I decide on housing before my first paycheck after moving?
Usually no. Validate your actual take-home in the new location first, then lock fixed costs.
How do I compare two offers in different states?
Use one sheet for compensation, net pay, housing, and workload. This prevents false confidence from base-salary comparisons.
How do I keep onboarding from consuming all planning time?
Treat planning as a recurring work item. One protected weekly review block is enough to catch drift early.