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title: "Intel Relocation Package: What Employees Actually Get" description: "Intel pays $6,000–$20,100 in tax-protected relocation benefits depending on household size and distance. Full breakdown of SIRVA administration, repayment terms, and how to maximize your package." author: Sam Price keywords:
If you're taking a job at Intel, you already know the move itself costs real money. The good news: Intel's relocation package is straightforward, tax-protected, and actually covers what they say it will. I've worked through enough of these deals to know where the gotchas hide, so let me walk you through what Intel actually pays, what you're responsible for, and how to make sure you're not leaving money on the table.
The short version: Intel pays between $6,000 and $20,100 depending on household size, distance, and location. They cover the taxes themselves, so the number they quote you is what you keep. Before you accept an offer, use our calculator to price your actual move so you know whether the allowance covers it.
Intel gives the allowance to full-time employees if your manager approves the move and your commute increases by at least 50 miles. That includes new college hires—the 50-mile threshold is measured from your old home to the new job location.
SIRVA administers the whole thing. Within about six weeks of your start date, SIRVA contacts you with a link to your online relocation agreement and a bank deposit form. You fill both out, and the cash gets paid no sooner than four weeks before you start. Most employees get a single lump-sum payment and handle their own logistics. Sounds simple, but the devil lives in the details—and those details matter a lot.
Real talk: Before SIRVA locks in your agreement, read it thoroughly. The repayment terms are in there, and you need to know what happens if you leave.
Your eligibility depends on your grade and whether you own a home.
This is the standard tier for most new hires and technical employees. You get a tax-protected cash allowance and nothing else. You arrange the move yourself, which gives you flexibility—and means you keep the money if you move cheap. One employee on Reddit mentioned that the tax-protected cash was more than double what they actually spent to move cross-country.
If you're grade 7 or above, or you own a home, you can qualify for a bigger package. You still get cash, but now you also get access to managed moving services and home-sale help. The package gives you three options to choose from, trading cash for services depending on how much hands-on management you want to do. You also get 12 months instead of six to use the benefit.
Core covers the basics: enroute travel, packing and shipping your household goods, temporary lodging or a house-hunting trip, transportation, pet shipping, cleaning, security deposits, DMV fees, and tax prep.
Core plus Supplemental adds real services:
The three options within Supplemental trade cash for services. Option 1 maximizes your cash so you can manage it yourself. Option 2 keeps some cash while paying for moving and vehicle shipment. Option 3 minimizes what you pay out of pocket by direct-billing as many services as possible in exchange for the smallest cash payout.
Pick the option that actually fits your situation. If you hate logistics and own a home, Option 3 might be worth way more than the cash. If you're a minimalist who can move yourself cheaply, Option 1 puts the most money in your pocket.
Intel uses a published table based on three things: household size, distance, and whether you're moving to a high-cost location. These figures are the maximum cash amounts (what you'd get under Core or Option 1):
Standard locations:
| Household size | 50–499 miles | 500–1,499 miles | 1,500–2,499 miles | 2,500+ miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $6,000 | $6,300–$6,500 | $6,900–$7,200 | $7,700 |
| 2 people | $7,500 | $8,100–$8,800 | $9,400–$10,100 | $11,000 |
| 3–5 people | $10,100 | $11,100–$12,200 | $13,100–$14,100 | $15,700 |
High-cost locations (all California, plus Seattle, Redmond, Bellevue, New York City, Washington D.C., and Fairfax, Virginia):
| Household size | 50–499 miles | 500–1,499 miles | 1,500–2,499 miles | 2,500+ miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $9,700 | $9,900–$10,200 | $10,500–$10,900 | $11,300 |
| 2 people | $11,000 | $11,700–$12,400 | $12,900–$13,600 | $14,500 |
| 3–5 people | $14,700 | $15,700–$16,700 | $17,500–$18,600 | $20,100 |
Households of six or more get the 3–5 amount plus $1,300 per additional person. If you choose Option 2 or 3 under Supplemental, the cash drops because Intel is paying for services instead. A single employee moving 2,500+ miles to a standard location gets $7,700 under Option 1, but around $5,800 under Option 2 and $2,600 under Option 3.
One Blind employee at grade 5 reported pocketing about $7,000 after tax for a cross-country move, which aligns with these numbers.
Since the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, relocation benefits for non-military employees are ordinary taxable income. Intel's approach beats most employers: they pay the tax at the supplemental rate on your behalf, so what you see in the table is what you actually get to keep.
That said, a few details matter. The allowance shows up on your W-2. You can't funnel it into your Intel 401(k). If your real tax rate is higher than the supplemental rate, you can request additional tax protection for federal and state taxes (FICA is off-limits). Different situations hit differently—consult a tax professional if you're unsure.
Quick tip: If you're an internal transfer moving to Arizona or California, submit new state tax withholding forms so you're not surprised at tax time.
The money is contingent on your employment. If you get the allowance and then decide not to start, you owe it all back—including the taxes Intel paid for you.
If you join and then leave, your relocation agreement spells out what happens. Employees on Blind report a prorated payback window of roughly 1 to 2 years. Read that contract line by line before you accept, especially if there's any chance you'll leave in the first couple of years. This isn't optional boilerplate—it's enforceable.
The real value in the Core plus Supplemental package sits in the homeowner benefits. The centerpiece is the Buyer Value Option (BVX+), a managed home-sale program. You list with a SIRVA-certified agent, and once an offer is accepted, SIRVA buys the home and settles with the buyer. The equity you pocket is tax-free and doesn't get reported as income—that can be worth far more than the cash allowance.
On the buying side, Intel includes a No Closing Cost Loan program through Sirva Mortgage (no closing costs when you finance), plus a reimbursed home inspection. There's also a house-hunting trip: two round-trip coach flights, five hotel nights, and a six-day rental car. And if your old home hasn't sold, Intel covers dual housing for up to 60 days.
But location matters. A move to Phoenix costs different money than one to Hillsboro, Oregon. Get a real quote from the calculator for your specific route before you assume the allowance covers it.
Intel's allowance is formula-driven. There's no back-and-forth negotiation on the dollar amount—it all comes down to household size and distance. Where you can win is in picking the right option and making sure the inputs are correct. Here's what employee accounts show:
Confirm your household count and distance exactly. The allowance jumps significantly with each additional person and each distance band. Make sure everyone permanently moving with you is counted, and use the fastest Google Maps route—that's what Intel uses.
Run the numbers on each option. If you own a home and dread coordinating a move, Option 3 might be worth more to you than the cash. If you can move lean and cheap on your own, Option 1 puts the most cash in your pocket. Actually do the math both ways before you decide.
Ask about start date flexibility. Several employees note Intel is flexible on start dates and you can do the move on their dime. If timing is tight, ask your recruiter before you commit.
Get a real moving quote first. Use the calculator and get a quote from a vetted long-distance mover so you actually know if the allowance will cover your move. Guessing costs you money.
Intel's U.S. presence centers on a few major campuses. Most relocations point to one of these:
Intel's own policy flags California and the Seattle area as high-cost destinations that trigger a bigger allowance. Moving costs vary significantly by route, so check real quotes for your specific destination. We've researched movers for the main Intel relocation cities:
Use the calculator to price your exact route and compare quotes from vetted movers.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Yes. Intel offers a relocation allowance to eligible full-time employees whose commute increases by at least 50 miles. It's administered through SIRVA, Intel's relocation management company. Most employees get a tax-protected lump-sum cash allowance and handle their own move. Grade 7 or higher employees and homeowners can qualify for a larger Core plus Supplemental package that adds managed moving services and home-sale help.
Intel's allowance is set by a published table based on household size, distance, and destination cost. For a standard location, a single employee gets $6,000–$7,700, and a household of 3–5 gets $10,100–$15,700. High-cost destinations like California, Seattle, and New York City pay more, up to $20,100 for a larger household moving 2,500+ miles. The amount is tax-protected, so that's what you actually keep.
SIRVA is Intel's relocation management company. They contact you within about six weeks of your start date with a link to your online relocation agreement and bank deposit form. Once you complete the forms, payment happens no sooner than four weeks before you start. For higher-tier moves, Relocity provides destination support like area tours and lease review.
The allowance is taxable income on your W-2, but Intel pays the tax at the supplemental rate on your behalf, so the listed amount is what you actually keep. If your real tax rate is higher, you can request additional tax protection for federal and state taxes (not FICA). You can't contribute it to your Intel 401(k). Talk to a tax professional if your situation is complex.
Relocation funds are contingent on your employment. If you get the allowance and don't start, you owe it all back, including the taxes Intel paid. If you leave after joining, your relocation agreement governs repayment. Employees report a prorated payback of roughly 1–2 years, so read your signed agreement before you accept.
Yes, for grade 7+ employees and homeowners under Core plus Supplemental. Benefits include household goods and vehicle shipment, up to 60 days of storage and temporary housing, a house-hunting trip, and a Buyer Value Option (BVX+) home sale where the equity is tax-free. There's also a No Closing Cost Loan program through Sirva Mortgage for your new home.
Core benefits are authorized for six months from your start date. Core plus Supplemental gives you up to 12 months. Homeowners get an additional 90 days after expiration to submit eligible reimbursements. Always confirm your specific window with your SIRVA consultant—the terms vary by package.
