What Moving Expenses are Reimbursable?

For eligible employees, based on the policy, UCI will pay the vendor on behalf of the employee or reimburse the employee for the expenses detailed below when such costs are preauthorized, deemed reasonable and necessary, have been incurred during the employee's move, and are properly supported by original invoices and itemized receipts. Complete the employee UCI Relocation Expense Form.

In accordance with IRS guidelines, employees seeking reimbursement for these moving expenses incurred from their personal funds must submit their expense reports within a reasonable amount of time not to exceed sixty days after the expenses were paid or incurred.

Move & Relocation Policies

For Academic Personnel Move & Relocation questions, please send an email acadpers@uci.edu.

Reimbursable Expenses

The following reimbursable moving expenses have specific conditions attached to them:

Transportation of household goods and personal effects from the old to the new residence.

Household effects may include those in storage and used by the employee at or before the time of the move to the new residence; however, shipping items that are in storage may not exceed the cost of shipping these items if they had been located at the residence.
Furniture or household effects purchased en-route from the old to the new residence must be transported at the employee's personal expense.
Household items do not include: farm tractors, implements, and equipment; trailers with or without property; boats; livestock (animals raised for profit); belongings that are not the property of the immediate family of the employee; building materials of any kind.
Academic appointments: reimbursement for one-half the total cost for packing, freight (but not storage) and insurance of household goods, when properly supported by invoices and receipts.

Transportation of the employee and members of the employee's household from the old to the new residence.

Members of the household may travel separately.
Transportation must consist of a single trip that does not exceed the cost of air economy/coach transportation.
Academic appointments: reimbursement for one-half the total cost for air economy/coach transportation for appointee and immediate family or an equivalent amount for other travel in accordance with standard airline fare policies and university travel regulations.

Transportation of the employee and members of the employee's household from the old to the new residence.

Members of the household may travel separately.
Transportation must consist of a single trip that does not exceed the cost of air economy/coach transportation.
Academic appointments: reimbursement for one-half the total cost for air economy/coach transportation for appointee and immediate family or an equivalent amount for other travel in accordance with standard airline fare policies and university travel regulations.

Travel Expenses, Meals, and Lodging

UC reimburses travel expenses for the new employee and members of his/her household in accordance with the UC Policy G-28 Travel Regulations:

One-way air travel must be coach/economy class. Optional air upgrades or higher cost services are not allowed.
The cost of furnished temporary lodging for up to 30 days and groceries for up to 30 days of residence in the temporary furnished lodging if it has cooking facilities. If the lodging is in a hotel-type facility without cooking facilities, meals are reimbursable.
Mileage may be reimbursed based on most direct route from former residence to new residence. Must drive at least 300 miles per day.
Lodging - not to exceed $333 per day, per person (before taxes and fees).
Meals are based on actual out of pocket expenses, up to $79 per person, per day.
Costs to transport household pets are allowable, no kennel or boarding expenses.

Academic appointments: reimbursement for one-half the total cost for airfare, lodging, meals en route for appointee and immediate family in accordance with university travel regulations. If travel is by automobile, the cost of lodging and meals is an allowable expense only to the extent that might have been necessary if travel had been by air coach.

Meal cost if travel is by automobile

If travel is by automobile, the cost of meals is allowable only to the extent that might have been necessary if travel had been by air coach.

Driving or shipping automobiles to the new residence

For eligible employees, automobiles may include vans, minivans, passenger trucks, or other vehicles that are used as the employee's or spouse's primary daily mode of transportation.

If the automobile(s) to be used will transport the employee and the employee's household members, household goods, or personal effects, the eligible employee will be reimbursed at the published relocation mileage rate based on the most direct route to Orange County.

Packing household goods

Costs for packing and crating the employee's household goods at the old location and unpacking and installing the household goods at the new location are eligible only at 50% based on policy for Academic appointments.

Storing and insuring household goods

The storage and insurance of an employee's household goods and personal effects while in transit are eligible.
The storage and transit fees must be incurred within any consecutive 30-day period after removing the household goods and effects from the old residence and before delivering them to the new residence.

Disconnecting and connecting utilities

Reimbursement does not apply to refundable deposits associated with these expenses.

Passport expenses

The employee's passport expenses incurred with the commencement of work in the United States are reimbursable.