Relocation Repayment Calculator
Updated November 2026 · Free · No sign-up
Calculate your relocation repayment — what leaving early costs under the payback agreement: the package total (it’s bigger than you think), the proration, and the gross-up complication.
Quick answer: Relocation agreements typically claw back over 12-24 months, prorated — on the FULL package: movers, temporary housing, travel, lump sums, AND the tax gross-up. A "$15k relocation" is often a $22k repayment exposure; leaving at month 9 of 24 owes ~$13,750.
What’s Actually in the Repayment Base
| Component | Typical | Often forgotten? |
|---|---|---|
| Household goods move | $5-15k | — |
| Temporary housing | $3-10k | — |
| House-hunting/final travel | $1-4k | — |
| Miscellaneous lump sum | $2-10k | — |
| Tax gross-up | +30-50% on taxable items | YES — and it’s repayable in most agreements |
| Home-sale assistance / lease breaks | Varies, large | Yes |
Since US relocation benefits became taxable (2018), employers gross up — and the gross-up inflates the clawback base ~35%. Request the itemized relocation statement BEFORE resigning: the exposure number surprises.
Worked Examples
Example 1. $22k package, 24-month proration, leaving at 9: 15/24 × 22,000 = $13,750.
Example 2 — the cliff variant. Same package, 12-month cliff, leaving at 11: $22,000 — four weeks from zero. Cliff agreements make exit timing worth thousands per week.
Example 3 — involuntary exit. Laid off at month 6: well-drafted agreements waive; silent ones technically claim — negotiate the waiver in severance, where it’s routinely granted.
Managing the Obligation
At offer: cap the repayment base (exclude gross-ups), prorate monthly, carve out involuntary exits, and get the package itemized. At exit: ask the new employer to cover it (standard competitive ask, like bonus clawbacks), request waivers on good terms, and check state law on final-check deductions. And honestly weigh staying: at $570/month of amortization (example 1), three more months of tolerance is $1,700 of debt burned — sometimes the cheapest option is the calendar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I repay relocation if I quit?
Within the payback window, yes per your agreement — typically 12-24 months, prorated or cliff, on the full package including gross-ups.
What counts in the relocation repayment amount?
Everything itemized: movers, housing, travel, lump sums, home-sale help — and usually the 30-50% tax gross-up, which inflates exposure well past the headline.
What if I’m laid off after relocating?
Good agreements waive repayment on involuntary termination — if yours is silent, make the waiver a severance negotiation item; it’s commonly granted.
Can the new employer pay my relocation clawback?
Often — disclosed clawbacks routinely become sign-on components in competitive offers; ask explicitly.
How do I find my exposure number?
Request the itemized relocation statement from HR/the reloc vendor before resigning — the gross-up line is the one people never expect.
✓ Formula verified • Last updated: November 3, 2026