I'm moving from bay area to Fargo,ND. So Microsoft guys, please help - My recruiter asked me if I wanna go with the lump sum (13.5k) or relo package (35 day acc, car rental, storage, shipping and moving, 2.5k cash)? Which one do you think makes more sense? Also, remember all the money is pre-tax and there are high taxes on relo bonuses.
No way of knowing what’s best for you. Just do the math. How much will it cost you to move? How much stuff you got? Do you mind organizing everything yourself? I am moving from Europe to SF. For me the relo package is the much much much better option.
How is it a "much much much" better option though? I cant imagine a company giving less than 20k for a cross continent move, in which case you could probably just trash everything and buy everything in SF and come out ahead, unless you already have a house with some expensive things inside. Usually the packages just charge you an expensive premium for taking care of stuff, which is not really worth it most of the time.
@NlrO85, I got 18.5k for cross-continent and it was more than enough. Young and single, all my possessions fit into three big travelling bags. All I paid was my flight costs + excess baggage. Altogether, including first month’s rent and transport, I didn’t spend more than 4.5k on relo.
If you are single, take lump sum, go on a month vacation and use up 10k, then move to new city and use remaining 3.5k for rent
You get taxed hard on that relo package though. I got a 3k rent reimbursement in the new city and got paid to break the lease in the old city (which was a significant amount) and got cash in addition to all this which turned out to be a better deal than taking lumpsum despite being single.
Nope. Microsoft's relocation is post tax. Microsoft pays the tax for you.
Depends how much you're shipping, but the lump sum sounds better. It's not like you're going to pay Bay Area rates for temporary accommodation.
Lump sum MUCH better if you’re single. Also Cartus is a piece of shit and they destroyed my furniture, were a week late with delivery, hired shitty movers that smoked weed infront of my neighbors house, didn’t answer my calls, and didn’t work with me on a claim for my damaged furniture. Worst relo experience of my life, avoid at all costs.
I would say then go for lump sum.
I did lump sum. Way less paperwork and saved a bunch of money.
If you are single, currently renting, and don’t have many/valuable furniture.... take the lump sum
Holy Shit you are serious about Fargo.
Definitely lump sum. Cartus, the relocation provider, is so incompetent you end up spending a lot of your time arranging the move for them.
Single- take the lump sum, much easier. My move to seattle was with my family. My final invoice(company paid everything) was 52k. If I would have taken the money I would have only received 25k plus a major headache of coordinating and shit.
Depends on your background. Much better to take the package if you have a family but better to take $$ if you are single. Also msft relo is post tax meaning you get what they tell you; msft will pay the tax for you so you get 13.5
Oh I didn't know that. Then it makes allot of sense.
I'm single btw