<prompt> Human: Hi rpf,Im currently applying to jobs out of state California from Illinois. A few of the employers Ive spoken with have asked me if Id be willing to apply as a traveling worker. Im a therapist and apparently these kinds of positions are common there are entire staffing agencies devoted to travel therapy, travel nursing, etc.. Apparently my take-home could be much higher as a portion of my earnings could go tax free their words, not mine that pay for food and housing. Theoretically, all of my earnings will come from a company in Illinois January through August, and from September to December theyd be from a California employer.My question is, what would I need to do to do this and stay above the bar so to speak? The plan is to give up our apartment in Illinois and live in California for a while, potentially long-term - well see where things go. I could use my parents address as a permanent address in Tennessee, but not sure how that convolutes things, if it does at all. I like the idea of more take-home pay, but how would that work tax- and legally-speaking? Is this shady?Thanks in advance!  <response>: This is also very common in IT. Dont ever trust the employer or agency for tax advice, get a good CPA. There are lots of tax benefits if done correctly. The major downside are; - You will spend a lot of time traveling, and may never feel at home. You will want a much higher income to compensate for this. - Some firms pay all your expenses, some dont. There are advantages to each setup, but ensure you calculate your costs accurately when you pay, the firms typically pay more, and you are likely better at finding cheap accommodation flights etc. than corporate mandated policies when they pay. - At least on the IT side, this industry is full of fly-by-night operators who can disappear before you get paid. Ensure the firm you work with has positive history, and is large enough you dont want to be 1 of 3 workers. 300 is a lot better. - Sometimes with this style of work, you can get paid 1-2 months after the work I have operated on net 30 basis, so work the month, invoice company, receive payment 30 days later. So 2 months without pay. If you are covering travel costs in that time, ensure you have the money. - Dont make up your home base. The company wont care, but IRS may if you get audited. This is why you need a CPA. 