Changing jobs or accepting a new assignment across the country (or across the world) is exciting. But once the offer letter is signed, the next question hits fast: Who handles the move? For most employees accepting a corporate transfer, the answer involves two parties working in close coordination: your employer’s relocation policy and a professional moving company. 

Understanding how these two pieces fit together can save you weeks of confusion, prevent out-of-pocket surprises, and make the transition genuinely smooth. 

Ready to plan your corporate move? Contact McGuire Moving & Storage today or request a free quote. Our relocation specialists are standing by.

What Is a Corporate Relocation Package? 

A corporate relocation package is a benefit offered by an employer to cover some or all of the costs associated with moving an employee from one location to another. These packages are used when a company hires talent from another city, promotes an employee to a position that requires a physical move, or expands operations to a new region or country. 

Relocation packages vary widely by company size, industry, and the seniority of the employee. Some organizations offer a flat lump-sum payment and let the employee manage every detail. Others work directly with a third-party relocation management company (RMC) that coordinates vendors, timelines, and reimbursements on the employer’s behalf. 

Either way, a professional moving company is almost always the centerpiece of the actual physical move. 

The Structure of a Typical Corporate Relocation Package

Most relocation packages include some combination of the following components: 

Transportation of Household Goods: This is the core of the package. The employer typically authorizes a moving company to pack, load, transport, and deliver the employee’s belongings. In cases where the employee is moving internationally, this extends to ocean or air freight, customs documentation, and destination delivery. 

Temporary Housing: Many packages include 30 to 90 days of temporary housing at the destination while the employee searches for permanent residence. The moving company may coordinate storage of household goods during this period. 

Travel Expenses: Flights or mileage reimbursement for the employee and family members to reach the new location. 

Destination Services: These can include help finding schools, setting up bank accounts, or navigating local bureaucracy — especially common in international relocations. 

Miscellaneous Expense Allowance: A set dollar amount meant to cover incidentals like cleaning fees, car registration, or other transition costs. 

Home Sale and Purchase Assistance: Some employers help with agent fees, closing costs, or provide a guaranteed buyout program for the employee’s existing home. 

How a Moving Company Fits Into the Process 

Once a relocation package is authorized, the moving company typically enters the picture in one of three ways. 

• Employer-Selected Vendor: Many companies have preferred vendor relationships with moving companies, negotiated for price and service consistency. The employer or their RMC assigns the move to that vendor directly. The employee coordinates scheduling and logistics with the moving company but does not handle billing. 
• Employee-Selected with Reimbursement: The employer provides a budget or a lump sum and lets the employee choose their own moving company. The employee pays upfront and submits receipts for reimbursement up to the approved amount. 
• Managed Relocation Program: Larger corporations often work through a relocation management company that acts as a middleman. The RMC vets and coordinates the moving vendor, manages the authorization paperwork, and handles billing directly between the company and the mover. 

In all three scenarios, the moving company’s role is the same: handle the physical move professionally, on time, and within the scope of what the relocation policy covers. 

What Services a Moving Company Provides in a Corporate Relocation 

Professional movers handling corporate relocations are equipped to manage moves far more complex than a standard residential move. Here is what a full-service corporate move typically includes: 

• Pre-Move Survey: A professional estimator visits the employee’s home to assess the volume and nature of items to be moved. This survey determines the cost estimate submitted to the employer or RMC for authorization. 
• Packing Services: Professional packers use industry-grade materials to protect belongings. For corporate moves, full packing is standard. The employee is generally not expected to pack their own boxes. 
• Specialty Item Handling: Antiques, pianos, artwork, wine collections, and electronics all require specific packing and handling protocols that trained movers follow. 
• Loading and Transport: The moving company manages logistics including truck routing, driver assignments, and delivery windows, often coordinating across state lines or internationally. 
• Storage Solutions: If the employee’s new home is not ready at delivery, the moving company provides short- or long-term storage, typically in a climate-controlled warehouse facility. 
• Delivery and Setup: At the destination, the crew unloads, places furniture according to the employee’s direction, and removes packing materials. 
• International Coordination: For employees relocating abroad, a qualified international moving company handles export documentation, customs declarations, import permits, and coordination with destination agents in the receiving country. 

Preparing for a corporate move? McGuire Moving & Storage are the corporate movers in St. Louis with the experience to handle every compliance requirement so you don’t have to. Get your corporate move quote here. 

Corporate Relocation and International Moves: A Closer Look 

When a corporate relocation crosses international borders, the complexity multiplies considerably. A company moving an executive from St. Louis to London, Frankfurt, or Singapore needs a moving company with specific international competencies, not just a local mover with a website. 

As a leading international moving company St. Louis businesses rely on, McGuire Moving & Storage understands the full scope of what international corporate relocation involves: 

Customs Compliance: Every country has different rules about what can be imported, what requires duty payment, and what documentation must accompany a shipment. An experienced international mover knows these requirements and ensures the shipment clears without delays or fines. 

Ocean Freight vs. Air Freight: Most international corporate moves ship household goods by sea in a shared container (LCL) or a full container (FCL), depending on volume. High-priority or smaller shipments may go by air. The moving company helps employees understand the tradeoffs in cost, transit time, and coverage. 

Destination Agent Network: Reputable international movers work with vetted partner agents in the destination country who handle local delivery, customs clearance at the port of entry, and final-mile transport to the employee’s new residence. 

Insurance and Valuation: International moves carry different liability standards than domestic moves. A corporate relocation package will typically include a specific level of transit insurance, and the moving company should be able to explain exactly what is and is not covered. 

Timeline Management: International moves take longer. Ocean freight from the U.S. to Europe typically takes four to six weeks. A professional moving company helps the employee plan around this timeline, often coordinating an air shipment of immediate essentials while the main shipment is in transit. 

What Employees Should Know Before the Move 

Even with a generous relocation package and a professional moving company in place, the employee has an important role in making the move go smoothly. 

Read the Relocation Policy Carefully: Know exactly what is covered, what the dollar caps are, and what documentation is required for reimbursement. Ask your HR contact to clarify anything that is not clear before the move begins. 

Be Present for the Pre-Move Survey: Walk the estimator through every room, including the attic, basement, and garage. Point out items that need special handling. The accuracy of the survey affects the cost estimate and the resources the moving company assigns. 

Declutter Before the Survey: Items you do not intend to take should be removed before the survey. This keeps the estimate clean and reduces your costs or the company’s costs. 

Understand What Is Not Covered: Most corporate relocation packages exclude certain items: cars (sometimes), plants, hazardous materials, and items of extraordinary value above the declared limit. Know this before the movers arrive. 

Communicate Schedule Changes Immediately: Corporate moves involve multiple parties — HR, the RMC, and the moving company. If your closing date shifts or your start date changes, notify everyone immediately. Last-minute changes to moving schedules are expensive and stressful for everyone involved. 

Keep Records: Whether you are being reimbursed directly or the company is paying the mover, keep copies of every document: the bill of lading, the delivery receipt, insurance declarations, and any receipts for out-of-pocket expenses.

Tax Considerations for Corporate Relocation Benefits 

Since the 2017 tax law changes in the United States, most employer-paid moving expenses are treated as taxable income for the employee. This means that if your employer pays the moving company directly or reimburses your moving expenses, that amount may appear on your W-2 as income. 

Some employers “gross up” relocation packages, meaning they pay additional funds to cover the estimated tax liability so the employee is not left with an unexpected tax bill. Ask your HR department whether your package includes a gross-up provision. 

For international relocations, tax implications can be even more complex, particularly if the employee becomes a tax resident in the destination country. A tax advisor specializing in expatriate assignments is worth consulting before a major international move. 

How to Choose the Right Moving Company for a Corporate Relocation 

If your employer allows you to select your own moving company, or if you are part of HR and are evaluating vendors, here is what to look for: 

Corporate relocation experience is not the same as general household moving experience. Look for a company that regularly handles employer-sponsored moves and understands the authorization and billing processes that RMCs and HR departments use. 

For international moves, verify that the company is a member of the International Association of Movers (IAM) or FIDI, the global alliance of international movers. These memberships indicate adherence to professional standards and a vetted global agent network. 

Transparency in pricing matters. Get a binding or not-to-exceed estimate when possible, and make sure you understand the basis of the estimate: weight, cubic feet, or a flat rate. 

Service breadth matters too. A single provider that handles packing, transport, storage, and delivery creates fewer handoff points and reduces the risk of miscommunication or damaged items. 

The McGuire Moving & Storage Approach to Corporate Relocation 

McGuire Moving & Storage has been serving St. Louis businesses and individuals with professional moving services in St. Louis for over 80 years, building a reputation on reliability, care, and transparent communication. Corporate relocations are a core part of what we do, from local employer-to-employer moves across Missouri to full international relocations supporting companies with global workforces. 

Our team coordinates directly with HR departments and relocation management companies to streamline authorization, billing, and scheduling. Employees deal with a single point of contact who knows their file, understands the timeline, and is reachable when questions come up. That means less stress for the employee and fewer headaches for the HR team managing the relocation program. 

For international moves, our network of vetted destination agents ensures that a shipment leaving St. Louis arrives in the right place, at the right time, properly cleared through customs. 

Ready to Make Your Corporate Move Seamless? 

Your next chapter starts here. Let McGuire Moving & Storage handle the logistics. 

Corporate relocations are complex enough without the added stress of coordinating your own move. Whether your employer has already authorized a package or you are evaluating options as an HR professional, McGuire Moving & Storage brings the experience, resources, and personal service to make it work. Contact us today or fill out our quick quote form to get started and our team will walk you through every step.

McGuire Moving & Storage: Trusted corporate movers in St. Louis. Contact us to learn more about our services. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Corporate Relocation and Moving Companies 

Does my employer pay the moving company directly, or do I pay and get reimbursed? 

It depends on your company’s policy. Many employers pay the moving company directly through a purchase order or relocation management company account. Others provide a lump sum and ask the employee to arrange and pay for their own move, then submit receipts for reimbursement. Check your relocation policy document or ask HR to clarify before signing any moving contracts. 

What if my moving costs exceed the relocation budget my employer provided? 

You are generally responsible for any costs above the approved amount. To avoid this, be thorough during the pre-move survey — do not underestimate what you are moving. Some companies allow employees to request a budget exception if circumstances change. Ask before the move, not after. 

Are international moves handled differently than domestic ones? 

Yes, significantly. International moves require customs documentation, export packing standards, freight coordination (ocean or air), and coordination with destination agents in the receiving country. Transit times are much longer, often four to eight weeks by sea. Working with an experienced international moving company in St. Louis like McGuire Moving & Storage is essential for a smooth international corporate relocation. 

What happens to my belongings if my new home isn’t ready when I arrive? 

Most moving companies offer storage-in-transit (SIT) services, holding your shipment in a secure warehouse facility until your residence is ready. Many corporate relocation packages include a specified number of days of storage at the employer’s expense. Beyond that period, costs typically shift to the employee. 

Can I pack some items myself to save money? 

Yes, but items packed by the owner (PBO) are typically excluded from the mover’s liability coverage. If those items are damaged in transit, the moving company is not responsible. For a corporate move where insurance is provided, it is usually best to let the professional packers handle everything. 

How far in advance should I contact the moving company? 

For domestic corporate moves, four to six weeks of lead time is ideal. For international moves, eight to twelve weeks is recommended to allow time for customs documentation, container booking, and destination coordination. The sooner you contact us, the more options we have to work with your timeline. 

Is my corporate relocation taxable income? 

Under current U.S. tax law, most employer-paid moving benefits are treated as taxable wages. Your employer may provide a gross-up payment to offset the tax impact, but not all companies do. Speak with your HR department and a tax professional before your move to understand your specific situation.