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title: "Microsoft Relocation Package: What Employees Actually Get" description: "Microsoft offers two relocation options for new hires and transfers: a Supported Move managed by Sirva or a Lump Sum ($5,800–$18,500). Here's what each covers." author: "Sam Price" keywords: ["Microsoft relocation package", "corporate relocation benefits", "Sirva moving services", "relocation lump sum", "employee relocation"] companySlug: "microsoft"
If you've landed a job at Microsoft or an internal transfer is on the table, you're probably wondering what the relocation package actually covers. The short answer: Microsoft gives you two choices—a fully managed move or cash. Which one saves you money depends on your household size and how much your actual move costs.
When you accept the offer, HR connects you with a dedicated Relocation Consultant at Sirva. This person stays with you from day one through the end of your move. Before you do anything else, you'll get a selection letter with two options: Supported Move or Lump Sum. You pick one, sign, and that decision is final. You can't change your mind later.
All benefits expire 12 months from your official start or transfer date. The window is real—expenses after month 12 won't be reimbursed, so don't wait until the deadline to start planning.
Before you sign that selection letter, get moving quotes for your specific route. The Supported Move is worth significantly more than the Lump Sum for most families, but the math changes depending on what your move actually costs. Use the moving cost calculator to get a free estimate before you decide.
Relocation benefits extend to you and your eligible dependents: legal spouse or partner and dependent children up to age 18 (or the age recognized by destination country immigration law for international moves). Parents, grandparents, siblings, and in-laws don't count.
If two Microsoft employees share a household, they're treated as a single unit and get one set of benefits, not two. If you're relocating at different times, the first person's benefits apply to the whole household.
The Supported Move is the managed option. Sirva coordinates movers, travel, housing, and pays vendors directly on Microsoft's behalf. You get a dedicated Relocation Consultant who handles all the logistics.
Sirva arranges packing, loading, transport, and unloading from your old place to your new one. Insurance covers up to $125,000. For any single item or collection worth $3,000 or more, you'll complete a High Value Inventory form.
Storage is covered up to 30 days if you can't move into permanent housing right away. After 30 days, you pay.
Microsoft won't ship vehicles, motorcycles, boats, pianos, alcohol, hazardous materials, plants, perishables, or items needing disassembly (waterbeds, pool tables). Valuables like jewelry, antiques, and art are excluded too. Review the full exclusion list with your Relocation Consultant before packing.
Microsoft covers flights or driving costs for you and eligible dependents. Flights are one-way coach economy. Driving includes actual lodging, mileage at the prevailing federal rate, and up to $50 per person per day for meals.
Your Relocation Consultant must book everything 7–21 days before your travel date using your personal credit card (not corporate). You'll be reimbursed through the expense process.
Microsoft provides up to 14 days of furnished temporary housing after you arrive, or until you secure permanent housing—whichever comes first. The unit includes utilities and basic cable. Meals, long-distance calls, damage to the property, and personal injury insurance are your responsibility.
You get a one-time $1,000 allowance (or local equivalent) for miscellaneous costs not covered elsewhere: storage fees, childcare, driver's license fees, driving lessons. No receipts required. The allowance is grossed up, so you won't owe taxes on it.
If you're relocating internationally or need work authorization, Microsoft covers visa and residency document costs for you and eligible dependents.
Choose the Lump Sum, and Microsoft sends you cash instead. You handle all logistics yourself: no Relocation Consultant, no managed movers, no corporate housing. Keep any money left over.
The Lump Sum also includes visa assistance (if applicable) and a tax gross-up.
Microsoft doesn't publish the Lump Sum in its official policy—it's in your Selection Letter. Employee reports on professional forums suggest domestic Tier 1 lump sums have ranged from roughly $5,800 to $18,500 in recent years, depending on job level and household size. Recent reports trend toward the lower end. Ask your recruiter for the exact number before you choose.
The Lump Sum works best if you're moving light—a studio or one-bedroom with minimal furniture. You handle everything yourself: rent a moving container or truck, pack, ship, and any money left is yours. Moving containers typically cost about 30% less than full-service movers.
There are rules: you must establish residence at your destination within 12 months, and if you leave Microsoft voluntarily within 12 months, you repay the full amount. No receipts required for how you spend it, but you own the logistics and the risk.
The Relocation Expense Allowance and Lump Sum both count as taxable income. Microsoft provides a tax gross-up to offset part of the tax hit—meaning they pay an extra amount to cover a portion of what you'll owe.
Two caveats: the gross-up is not designed to make you fully whole. Depending on your total tax liability, you may still owe additional taxes. Second, the gross-up amount and any taxable relocation expenses Microsoft covers will show up as income on your year-end statement.
Since the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, relocation benefits for non-military employees are generally taxable regardless of how they're paid. If you're unsure how your package affects your specific tax situation, talk to a tax professional before your move.
Microsoft's policy has administrative rules that will bite you if you miss them.
12-month window: All benefits expire 12 months from your start or transfer date. Any expense after that is out of pocket.
30-day submission deadline: Reimbursement requests must be submitted within 30 days of the expense. Receipts are required for anything over $75. Late submissions won't be honored.
No corporate card: Use your personal credit card for relocation expenses, even airfare and hotels booked through Sirva. You'll be reimbursed afterward.
No cash advances: Microsoft doesn't front relocation money. All approved expenses are reimbursed after the fact.
Travel booking window: For the Supported Move, your Consultant must book all travel 7–21 days before your travel date. Booking outside that window or independently can jeopardize reimbursement.
Microsoft's repayment requirement is broader than a standard clawback. If any of these happen within 12 months of your start or transfer date, you repay everything.
Voluntary departure: If you choose to leave Microsoft, all benefits come back. Microsoft can withhold the repayment from any money owed to you. Death or total permanent disability are exceptions.
Hybrid work decision: If you personally decide to stay in your departure location, return to it, or move to a different worksite than what's in your Offer Letter—even as part of a hybrid arrangement—full repayment applies. This is easy to overlook if your role has any flexibility around remote work. Get written clarity from HR about how your worksite is defined before you accept the relocation benefits.
Involuntary termination: If Microsoft terminates your employment within 12 months, expenses incurred before the termination date are still reimbursed (if you meet other requirements like the 30-day deadline). Expenses on or after the termination date aren't covered.
For more on navigating relocation agreements, see our guide to negotiating a relocation package.
The policy sets the framework, but how you use it determines what you actually keep. Here's how to squeeze the most value.
Get moving quotes before you choose: The Lump Sum is fixed. If movers cost more, you cover it. Compare quotes for your specific route using the moving cost calculator before you sign.
Lean toward the Supported Move if you have furniture or a family: Employees consistently report the Supported Move is worth significantly more for anyone with a full household. Full packing, insurance up to $125,000, 14 days of furnished housing, and coordinated travel for multiple people add up fast—often well beyond the Lump Sum.
Consider the Lump Sum if you're moving light: Studio or one-bedroom, no furniture, don't mind doing logistics yourself. Rent a moving container or truck, keep costs below the Lump Sum, and pocket the difference. Just remember you're responsible for everything.
Build a complete High Value Inventory: For the Supported Move, Microsoft insures up to $125,000. Submit High Value Inventory forms for any item worth $3,000 or more.
Track every expense and submit promptly: The 30-day submission window is strict. Get receipts for anything over $75.
Ask about exceptions before you spend: If you have costs outside the policy—car shipping, lease break fees, or amounts above a benefit cap—ask your Consultant to submit a written exception request before you incur the expense. Exceptions need hiring manager approval and sign-off from financial and organizational leadership above a certain threshold.
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Yes. Microsoft provides relocation assistance to eligible new hires and internal transfers through its Domestic Relocation Tier 1 policy. You choose between a Supported Move, where Sirva manages everything, or a Lump Sum cash payment. Both options include visa assistance (if needed) and a tax gross-up on taxable items.
Microsoft doesn't publish the Lump Sum amount in its official policy—it's in your Selection Letter. Employee reports suggest domestic Tier 1 lump sums have ranged from roughly $5,800 to $18,500 depending on level and household size, but these are unverified. Ask your recruiter for the specific amount before choosing between the Lump Sum and the Supported Move.
The Supported Move includes full household goods packing and shipping (insured up to $125,000), up to 30 days of in-transit storage, final travel for you and eligible dependents, up to 14 days of furnished temporary housing post-arrival, a $1,000 Relocation Expense Allowance (grossed up), visa assistance if needed, and a dedicated Relocation Consultant through Sirva.
Yes. Microsoft provides a tax gross-up on taxable relocation expenses, meaning they pay a portion of what you'd owe. The gross-up is not designed to make you fully whole, so you may still owe additional taxes depending on your total tax liability. The $1,000 Relocation Expense Allowance and the Lump Sum are both grossed up.
If you voluntarily leave Microsoft within 12 months of your start or transfer date, you repay all relocation cash allowances and any costs Microsoft paid on your behalf in full. The same requirement applies if you move back to your departure location or change worksites within that 12-month window. Microsoft can withhold the amount from money owed to you.
No. Once you sign your Selection Letter, your choice is locked in. You cannot switch between the Supported Move and the Lump Sum after that point. Get real moving quotes and understand the full value of each option before you sign.
Generally, no. Microsoft's household goods policy excludes automobiles, motorcycles, and mopeds, with a possible exception for employees relocating from the U.S. to Canada. If you need to ship a vehicle, that cost is out of pocket unless an exception is approved.
All relocation benefits must be used within 12 months of your official start or transfer date. Expenses incurred after that window aren't eligible for reimbursement. Initiate your relocation as soon as you've set your start date with your Hiring Manager.