Hello all, it's that time of the year again!

So I graduated in August from a university in Pennsylvania and moved to New Jersey immediately and started a job there. Hence, I earned income from PA from Jan - mid Aug and from NJ in mid Aug - Dec.

When I try to file my PA state taxes as a non-resident (since I'm an international student) and plug in my NJ address (using their free web service pa.direct.file), it displays this:


As a resident of a reciprocal state, your income will not be included in the Total for PA Taxable Compensation

Last time I asked a question here, I was informed I was a non-resident for tax purposes for both states since I'm an international student so I'll be filing a non-resident form for NJ.

But what I do about PA? Do I just go along with what the website recommends? I earned the money while I lived (or was a non-resident in PA) in PA, does that make a difference?

Also, when I approach the end of the form it looks like I'll be receiving all the taxes I paid to PA! Shouldn't it go to NJ through the reciprocal agreement? Does this mean I'll have to change something in my NJ form?

You are part year resident of PA and part year resident on NJ.

But my university website says,

You are usually considered a resident for Pennsylvania state tax purposes only if you were in Pennsylvania more than 183 days in the calendar year for a purpose other than study and you lived in housing that you leased for a period of 12 months.

And since I satisfy these conditions, is it still OK for me to file as a part-year resident?

Thanks!

I mean a part-year resident for Pennsylvania

You are correct; your status as an international student allows you to file as a non-resident of BOTH states.

Probably will not make any difference tax-wise, because you are still liable to pay taxes on income earned while located in each respective state.