Income Tax Question

[UserX]

I have a question related to state income tax, I'm hoping someone here can help. This is completely new to me, I've lived in TX my whole life.

I accepted a job based in LA and officially started 5-16-11. This was a new position for me, but with the same company. I started paying CA state income tax on this date, even though I was still living and my office was located in Plano.

I did not officially move to CA until 11-8-11. Before I even moved there I had already paid several thousand dollars in state income tax.

Now I'm trying to do my state tax return and I'm confused how much state income tax I should be paying. Or more specifically, how much of my annual income I should be taxed on. The Tax Act software is defaulting to my total annual income which I know is not what I should be paying CA state tax on. My question is, do I start paying when I accepted the job, or when I moved to the state? This has a HUGE difference on my tax refund, like a $5K difference.

Between May and November when I moved, CA was not my primary work location. My office was in Plano, and I was working all over the country, only part of the time in CA. I still owned a house in TX and resided there.

Any input? Either way I'm getting a refund and I would like to get this taken care of. I have never used an accountant before, and would prefer to do it myself. But this year it might makes sense to go to one, with the moving expenses, part time resident, etc.

I've tried looking online and at the CA tax guide but not finding anything concrete.

Thanks for any advice, other than to leave LA immediately

[GE]

It's a good thing this board is full of California tax attorney's and CPA's.

[UserX]

It's a good thing this board is full of California tax attorney's and CPA's.

It's not specific to CA, nearly all states have state income tax and I'm sure it's the same shit. Lots of people here have lived in other states, and you don't have to be a CPA, just have prior experience.

[UserX]

But thanks for your help anyway

[Jenn]

I just dealt with a situation similar to this because my company purchased a veterinary practice in Arkansas (which has state tax) and from what I understood, our CPA stated that it doesn't matter what state you reside in, it's where the income was earned. So technically any income earned in AR would be subject to state tax.

[UserX]

Thanks for the info. That is such a grey area though. I traveled back and forth, worked in TX and other states during that period. I guess I could only pay taxes for the days/weeks I was actually physically in CA? That's going to be a PITA for me to go back and verify.

[bcoop]

Hire a CPA. They are cheap enough, and worth it to not have to deal with it. You won't have to use one next year. The one time I used a CPA, sure, I paid around $400. But they got me $1300 more out of the refund than I would have gotten on my own. I did my taxes before visiting, but had not filed yet, so I knew where I stood. So it was well worth what I spent.

[UserX]

I might have to do that, but damn that hurts. I'm a cheap bastard

[GE]

But thanks for your help anyway

So if you take the advice of 90% of the asshats on this site, and then get audited/fucked by the IRS, who are you gonna blame? Seriously? Asking for tax advice on this forum?

[UserX]

I'm going to blame you, because you're worthless LOL.

[GE]

I'm going to blame you, because you're worthless LOL.

You're just now figuring that out?!

[UserX]

I'm not an idiot, I would validate anything I read here. But this is completely new to me, never dealt with this before, any advice is helpful. Well, except yours