Tax season isn’t just here but rapidly coming to a close. And if you’ve put off filing because you’re not sure how per diem taxes work, we’ve got you covered! Here are 4 essential tips for per diem taxes for nurses and healthcare professionals.
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Ready to File? 4 Tax Tips for Per Diem Nurses & Healthcare Professionals
First thing's first: If you worked per diem shifts last year, your taxes will be different! The good news is that filing is easier than you think — and if you do it right, you’ll probably end up saving money, too. Here’s what you should know.
#1: Don’t Be Late!
Taxes are due on Tuesday, April 15th, 2025. It may be tempting to put off it off by filing a six-month extension. But you shouldn’t do this until you absolutely have to, since you’ll either have to pay late fees on the amount you owe, or wait another few months to get the money you’re owed on a refund.
#2: Look at Your Income
Whether you work per diem full-time (an increasingly popular option for some very good reasons) or pick up per diem shifts in addition to your full-time job, you need to add all of that income to your yearly taxes.
But how? There are two ways: If you worked per diem shifts as an employee, your employer will add that work to your W-2 forms, which means you can file a standard return.
But if you worked as a contractor, the per diem pay you earned will be reported on Schedule C of your 1040 tax form.
- Did you work for HealthTrust in 2024? Click here for a simple, step-by-step guide to how to access your HealthTrust tax documents online.
- Don’t forget: You may need to report other work you got paid for outside of healthcare, too, including everything from writing a blog post to driving a Lyft to selling things online — read more about that here.
#3: Make the Right Per Diem Tax Deductions
The more items you deduct on your taxes, the less money you’ll owe, or the more you’ll get refunded back to you. In some (not all) instances, you may also be able to deduct work-related costs like:
- Scrubs, lab coats, shoes, and other work clothes
- Accessories and equipment like stethoscopes, pens, subscriptions to medical journals, or other job-related expenses
- Any licenses, continuing education (CE) credits, or certifications you earn, or medical tests you have to take for a job (e.g., physical exams or vaccinations)
- The cost of higher education, plus up to $2,000 in deductions with the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC) if you're enrolled in an undergrad, grad, or professional program — learn more here
- The cost of membership in, or donations to, work-related organizations like the ANA, AORN, AACN, ACS, etc.
- The percentage of your phone or Internet bill you spend on work-related activities — for instance, managing your online schedule or texting co-workers
- Travel expenses related to work — for instance, the fees for parking at your per diem job, and the gas you bought getting to and from it
- The cost of work-related conferences or events you may have attended last year, including traveling there and buying meals
When preparing your taxes, be sure to ask about your eligibility to deduct work-related expenses!
#4: Keep Track of Everything!
The list of deductions above could add up to thousands of dollars! But even if you’re only claiming a few of them, you should still be ready to prove those deductions with receipts, whether physical or digital. Bonus points for keeping it all organized together in a single folder for easy reference.
- Pro Tip: Today is the perfect time to start getting organized for next year!
Maximize Your Per Diem Career Potential
As the nation’s leading provider of per diem jobs for nurses, aides, and allied clinicians, you can trust HealthTrust for the opportunities you need to truly succeed in your career. And you can always turn to us for new per diem assignments across the USA! Browse hundreds of openings here.
This article is intended to serve as general information and not as valid financial advice. Speak with a professional before making any decisions about your finances or taxes.
