Intel Relocation Package and Policy (2026)
The short answer: Intel pays for relocation, with typical payout running from $6,000 to $20,100 depending on your household size, distance, and location. Intel pays the taxes so you keep the full amount. Before you accept an offer, use moveBuddha’s free moving cost calculator to see what your move will actually cost.
Intel relocation package at a glance
Unlike many employers, Intel uses a structured allowance table rather than a single negotiated number. The details below come from Intel’s U.S. relocation guides and are corroborated by employee accounts. Use this snapshot as a starting point, then confirm the specifics of your corporate relocation package with your recruiter or SIRVA consultant.
| Relocation provider | SIRVA, with destination support from Relocity for higher-tier moves |
|---|---|
| Who qualifies | Full-time employees increasing their commute by at least 50 miles; grade 7 and higher employees and homeowners qualify for the larger package |
| Package type | Tax-protected lump-sum cash allowance (Core), or a choice of three options that trade cash for services plus home-sale help (Core plus Supplemental) |
| Allowance range | $6,000–$20,100 depending on household size, distance, and location |
| Taxes | Tax-protected: Intel pays the tax at the supplemental rate |
| Home sale | Buyer Value Option (BVX+) with tax-free equity for eligible homeowners |
| Repayment | Relocation agreement required: Funds are contingent on staying at Intel, with a reported prorated 1–2 year payback |
| Benefit window | 6 months from start date (Core) up to 12 months (Core plus Supplemental) |
| Sources | Intel U.S. Domestic Core and Core plus Supplemental Relocation Guides, levels.fyi, and employee accounts on Reddit and Blind |
Jump to the Intel relocation info you’re looking for:
How Intel relocation works
Intel offers a relocation allowance to help offset the cost of moving to an Intel work site. According to Intel’s U.S. relocation guides, you are generally eligible if you are a full-time employee, your manager approves your move, and your commute increases by at least 50 miles. College and technical graduates qualify when the distance from their old home to the new job location is at least 50 miles.
The program is administered by SIRVA, Intel’s relocation management company. SIRVA contacts you within about six weeks of your start date and sends a link to your online relocation agreement and bank deposit form. You must complete those forms before any allowance is paid.
For most employees, the benefit is a tax-protected lump-sum cash payment. You are responsible for arranging the move and deciding how to spend the money, and Intel provides no additional services at this tier. The allowance is paid no sooner than four weeks before your start date.
Pro tip: Before SIRVA finalizes your agreement, see moveBuddha’s guide to negotiating a relocation package.
The two relocation tiers
Intel runs two versions of its U.S. domestic relocation, and which one applies to you depends on your grade and whether you own a home.
Core (cash only)
This is the standard package for most new hires and technical employees. It is a single tax-protected cash allowance with no managed services. You handle the logistics yourself, which many employees prefer for the flexibility. One employee on Reddit noted that after tax protection, the allowance was more than double what they actually spent to relocate.
Core plus Supplemental (grade 7 and higher, or homeowners)
Employees at grade 7 or higher (or equivalent grades) and homeowners can qualify for a larger package. It still includes a cash allowance, but it adds managed moving services and home-sale assistance. It also gives you three options to choose from depending on how much of the move you want to manage yourself. This package authorizes benefits for up to 12 months from your start date, compared with six months for Core.
What the Intel relocation package includes
At the Core level, the allowance is meant to cover the everyday costs of a move. Intel’s guides list examples including enroute travel, household goods shipment, temporary lodging or a home-finding trip, transportation, pet shipment or kenneling, cleaning services, deposits, DMV fees, and income tax preparation.
The Core plus Supplemental package adds real services on top of the cash. Across its three options, it can include:
- Household goods and vehicle shipment: Intel’s supplier packs, loads, ships, and unloads your belongings, including up to two operational vehicles, with 60 days of storage available if needed.
- Temporary housing and transportation: Up to 60 days in a corporate apartment and 14 days of a rental car at the new location, sized to your family.
- Enroute travel: One-way coach airfare for you and your household, or mileage and hotel reimbursement if you drive (up to six nights).
- Homeowner assistance: A Buyer Value Option (BVX+) home sale, new-home purchase help, a house-hunting trip, and dual housing reimbursement for up to 60 days.
The three options trade cash for services. Option 1 maximizes your cash allowance so you can manage your own move, Option 2 keeps some cash while adding household goods and vehicle shipment, and Option 3 minimizes your out-of-pocket costs by direct-billing as many services as possible in exchange for the smallest cash payout.
Pro tip: If you are shipping a car as part of your move, confirm whether it is covered under your option or comes out of your cash allowance. See moveBuddha’s guide to the best car shipping companies.
How much does Intel pay for relocation?
Intel sets the cash allowance with a published table based on your household size, the distance of your move, and whether your destination is a high-cost location. The figures below reflect Intel’s U.S. relocation guides for a standard location and represent the maximum cash option (Option 1 or Core).
| Household size | 50–499 mile-move | 500–1,499 mile-move | 1,500–2,499 mile-move | 2,500+ mile-move |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (employee only) | $6,000 | $6,300–$6,500 | $6,900–$7,200 | $7,700 |
| 2 (employee + 1) | $7,500 | $8,100–$8,800 | $9,400–$10,100 | $11,000 |
| 3–5 (employee + 2–4) | $10,100 | $11,100–$12,200 | $13,100–$14,100 | $15,700 |
If you are relocating to a high-cost location, the allowance is higher. Intel defines these as all of California, plus Seattle, Redmond, Bellevue, New York City, Washington D.C., and Fairfax, Virginia.
| Household size (high-cost) | 50–499 mile-move | 500–1,499 mile-move | 1,500–2,499 mile-move | 2,500+ mile-move |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 (employee only) | $9,700 | $9,900–$10,200 | $10,500–$10,900 | $11,300 |
| 2 (employee + 1) | $11,000 | $11,700–$12,400 | $12,900–$13,600 | $14,500 |
| 3–5 (employee + 2–4) | $14,700 | $15,700–$16,700 | $17,500–$18,600 | $20,100 |
Households of six or more receive the allowance stated for three to five people, plus an extra $1,300 per additional member. If you choose Option 2 or Option 3 under the Supplemental package, your cash drops because Intel is paying for services instead. For example, a single employee moving 2,500 or more miles to a standard location gets $7,700 in cash under Option 1, about $5,800 under Option 2, and $2,600 under Option 3. Employee reports line up with these numbers. One grade 5 employee on Blind reported receiving about $7,000 after tax for a cross-country move.
Taxes and gross-up on Intel relocation benefits
Since the 2018 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, relocation benefits paid to non-military employees are treated as ordinary taxable income. Intel’s approach is more generous than many employers here. The allowance is tax-protected, meaning Intel pays the tax at the supplemental rate on your behalf, so the amount listed in the table is what you actually keep. Employees confirm this on Blind.
A few details still matter. The allowance is reported on your W-2 and you cannot contribute it to your Intel 401(k). If your actual tax rate is higher than the supplemental rate, you can request additional tax protection for federal and state taxes (though not FICA). Intel advises consulting an independent tax professional, since the impact varies by person.
Pro tip: If you are an internal transfer moving to Arizona or California, submit new state tax forms so your withholding is correct from day one.
The repayment agreement
Relocation funds are contingent on your employment with Intel. According to Intel’s guides, if you receive the allowance and then decide not to join, you are responsible for returning all funds, including the taxes Intel paid on your behalf.
If you leave after joining, the relocation agreement you sign governs repayment. Employees on Blind describe a prorated payback period of roughly one to two years, with the exact terms spelled out in the contract. Read that document line by line before you accept, especially if there is any chance you might leave within the first couple of years.
Home sale and moving services
For eligible grade 7 and higher employees and homeowners, the Supplemental package is where the real value sits. The centerpiece is the Buyer Value Option (BVX+), a managed home-sale program. You list your home with a SIRVA-certified relocation agent, and once a fully financed offer is accepted, SIRVA purchases the home and settles with the buyer. The equity you receive is tax-free and not reported as income, which can be worth far more than the cash allowance itself.
On the buying side, Intel includes a No Closing Cost Loan program through Sirva Mortgage that eliminates normal closing costs when you finance your new home, plus a reimbursed home inspection. There is also a house-hunting trip that includes up to two round-trip coach airfares, five nights of hotel, and a six-day rental car. You also get a dual housing reimbursement for up to 60 days if your old home has not sold.
Where you land changes your budget significantly. Price your specific route with moveBuddha’s moving cost calculator rather than assuming the allowance will cover everything. If you are still deciding whether to take the move, our work relocation decision tool can help.
How to maximize your Intel relocation package
Intel’s allowance is formula-driven, so there is little room to negotiate the dollar figure itself. Employees consistently report that the amount comes down to household size and distance rather than a negotiation. The opportunity is in choosing the right option and getting the inputs correct. Here is what employee accounts suggest.
Confirm your household count and distance: The allowance jumps meaningfully with each additional household member and distance band. Make sure everyone permanently relocating with you is counted and that the mileage uses the fastest Google Maps route, as Intel specifies.
Pick the option that matches your move: If you own a home and dread logistics, Option 3 with direct-billed services may be worth more than the cash. If you can move cheaply yourself, Option 1 puts the most cash in your pocket. Run the numbers both ways.
Use the start date for flexibility: Several employees note Intel is flexible on start dates, and you can do the move on company time. If the timing is tight, ask your recruiter before you commit.
Get a real moving quote first: Use moveBuddha’s free moving cost calculator and a quote from a vetted long-distance mover so you know whether the allowance will actually cover your move.
|
|
|
rating
Moving to an Intel hub city?
Intel’s U.S. footprint centers on a handful of large sites, and most relocations point to one of them. The biggest is Hillsboro, Oregon, followed by major operations in Chandler and the greater Phoenix area in Arizona, Folsom and Santa Clara in California, Albuquerque, New Mexico, and a growing campus near Columbus, Ohio. Intel’s own policy flags California and the Seattle area as high-cost destinations that pay a larger allowance.
The relocation process is the same regardless of destination, but moving costs vary significantly by route and distance. moveBuddha has researched movers for the cities where many Intel relocations land:
- Best movers in Portland, Oregon
- Best movers in Phoenix
- Best movers in Albuquerque, New Mexico
- Moving cost calculator: free quotes for your specific route
Why moveBuddha
- On average, moveBuddha users save more than 30% by comparing movers before booking.
- When you choose a moveBuddha Certified mover, you get $1,000 in added move coverage, plus dedicated support throughout your move.
- If something goes wrong, moveBuddha provides dispute mediation with Certified movers to help resolve the issue and protect your move.
How Much do Movers Cost?
Get instant ballpark pricing. No email or phone required. It's fast, free, and easy.
Pros and cons of Intel’s relocation package
- Tax-protected; the listed allowance is what you keep
- Clear published amounts based on household size and distance
- Higher allowance for high-cost destinations
- Lump-sum cash gives you flexibility to manage your own move
- Grade 7 and homeowner package adds full moving services and a tax-free BVX+ home sale
- Little room to negotiate the formula-driven amount
- Core package provides cash only, with no managed services
- Allowance is paid close to your start date, so you may be out of pocket first
- Repayment agreement applies if you leave within the prorated window
- Cannot contribute the allowance to your Intel 401(k)
FAQ
Does Intel pay for relocation?
Yes. Intel offers a relocation allowance to eligible full-time employees whose commute increases by at least 50 miles, administered through its relocation management company, SIRVA. Most employees receive a tax-protected lump-sum cash allowance to manage their own move. Employees at grade 7 or higher, and homeowners, can qualify for a larger Core plus Supplemental package that adds moving services and home-sale assistance.
How much is the Intel relocation package?
Intel’s relocation allowance is set by a published table based on household size, distance, and whether you move to a high-cost location. For a standard location, a single employee receives $6,000 to $7,700 and a household of three to five receives $10,100 to $15,700. High-cost locations such as California, Seattle, and New York City pay more, up to $20,100 for a larger household moving 2,500 or more miles. The amount is tax-protected.
Who handles Intel relocation?
Intel uses SIRVA as its relocation management company. SIRVA contacts you within about six weeks of your start date and sends a link to your online relocation agreement and bank deposit form. Once you complete the forms, the cash allowance is paid no sooner than four weeks before your start date. For higher-tier moves, Intel also partners with Relocity, a concierge service, for destination support like area tours and lease review. For context on how this compares to other employers, see our guide to corporate relocation packages.
Is the Intel relocation package taxable?
The allowance is taxable income reported 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 than the supplemental rate, you can request additional tax protection covering federal and state taxes, though not FICA. You cannot contribute this income to your Intel 401(k). Intel recommends consulting an independent tax professional.
What happens if I leave Intel after relocating?
Your relocation funds are contingent on your employment with Intel. If you receive the allowance and then do not join, you must return all funds, including the taxes Intel paid on your behalf. If you leave after joining, your relocation agreement governs repayment. Employees report a prorated payback period of roughly one to two years, so read your signed agreement carefully before you accept.
Does Intel offer home-sale help and moving services?
Yes, for eligible grade 7 and higher employees and homeowners under the Core plus Supplemental package. It includes 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 you receive is tax-free. There is also a No Closing Cost Loan program through Sirva Mortgage for buying at your destination.
How long do I have to use Intel relocation benefits?
Core relocation benefits are authorized for six months from your start date, while the Core plus Supplemental package 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 relocation consultant, since the terms vary by package and can change.
Relocation packages by company
Relocation policies vary widely between employers. We’ve researched specific company programs, drawing on public policy documents and employee reports so you can see exactly what to expect before you negotiate.
- Accenture relocation package
- Amazon relocation package
- Apple relocation package
- Boeing relocation package
- Caterpillar relocation package
- Chevron relocation package
- ExxonMobil relocation package
- Goldman Sachs relocation package
- Google relocation package
- Home Depot relocation package
- JPMorgan Chase relocation package
- Lockheed Martin relocation package
- Marathon Petroleum relocation package
- Meta relocation package
- Microsoft relocation package
- Oracle relocation package
- Tesla relocation package
- Walmart relocation package
- Wells Fargo relocation package
Not what you were looking for?
Check out other categories that can help you find the information you need!
