When a relocation is approved in the fall, HR has to decide whether to move the employee before the holidays or wait until January. There is no single right answer, because the best timing depends on the business need, the family, and the budget. This guide lays out the trade-offs so you can decide employee by employee.
Start With the Business Need
The first question is whether the role needs to be filled right away. If the employee is needed on site by a certain date, that drives the timeline. If there is flexibility, the other factors below decide it. Our fall corporate relocation guide explains how to work backward from a start date.
The Case for Moving Before the Holidays
Moving in the fall lets the employee start the new year settled and productive. Household goods carriers and temporary housing are often easier to book after the summer rush, which can give you more flexibility on dates. It also lets families finish the move before the busiest travel days. On the finance side, expenses for a move completed this year fall into this year’s budget, which can simplify planning.
The Case for Waiting Until January
Some families prefer to enjoy the holidays in their current home and move afterward, especially when children are in school and the move would split a semester. Waiting also avoids winter weather and holiday delays during the move itself, and gives the employee a clean start in the new year. The trade-off is that January and the start of a semester can be busy for carriers and for employers filling new positions.
Consider the Family
Family needs often decide the timing. A move in the middle of a school year can be harder on children, which we cover in mid-school-year relocation. Our guide to back-to-school relocation timing looks at the same question from the other side of the calendar.
Compare the Costs
Timing can change what a move costs. Temporary living may need to cover a longer gap if closing dates and lease dates do not line up, and household goods pricing varies by season. For a component-by-component view, see what employee relocation costs, and for the budgeting side, when to budget for relocating an employee. Our look at household goods shipment trends for 2026 covers current market conditions.
Think About Tax and Year-End Reporting
Because most relocation benefits are taxable, the year in which expenses are paid can matter to both the company and the employee. Review relocation packages and taxes and our guide to year-end relocation expense reconciliation before deciding, and confirm with your tax advisors.
A Simple Way to Decide
Ask four questions for each employee: Does the business need them in place now? Does the family have a natural break to move at? Are carriers and housing available at a fair price? Will the year-end budget and tax timing work? If the answers point in different directions, give the most weight to the business need and the family situation, and use cost and tax timing as tiebreakers.
If you would like help weighing the timing for a specific move, contact GMS.
