How long to stay at a company until I no longer have to return sign on bonus?
Specifically Amazon gives a sign on bonus for years 1 and 2 plus 10k for relocation. Also is there a difference regarding quitting vs getting fired?
1 year at most places. If you get fired/laid off you keep it. If you leave you return it.
You do not need to return the sign-on bonus at Amazon. You return the relocation expenses (prorated).
Signing bonus is also prorated on a daily basis. It’s written in the offer.
^^ correct. Depending upon the amount of your sign on, they pay it out over 2 years until your stock vests start really being significant.
At Amazon the only potential issue is relocation which should be repaid prorated if leaving within 2yrs. So if you leave after 18 months you pay back 25% of the relocation cost (and you have a hassle of adjusting taxes as that was income and Amazon paid those as well)
Whats the relocation package generallly look like at Amazon? Is it some lump sump amount or actual expenses
It can be either. Actual expenses can easily run into tens of thousands
Since the sign on bonus is taxed, you’ll even have to pull more money than you were given, right? And then the taxes will get adjusted. Is turbotax able to handle that?
Signon is prorated so you just stop receiving it. The real hassle is with relocation cost as that's income but Amazon pays taxes on it. If you have to pay a part of it back, you should get some taxes back as well.
How long must you stay without having to pay relocation back?
2 years. Search for employee termination in intranet.
My understanding is that the sign on bonus is prorated and given monthly to avoid a nasty clawback.