[cloud1159]

Hi,

I work in NY, currently live in NJ, but still has IL driver's license since I moved from IL to NJ last year.

1. Which tax do I pay in this case?

2. On my paystub, it looks like I'm paying for the federal tax plus NY state tax. Is this correct?

3. Will I need to pay both NJ and IL tax if I keep my IL license?

4. Do I need to change my IL driver's license to NJ license to prove that I currently reside in NJ?

5. If I decided to get a NJ license, what are my next steps (where to go, what to do, etc.)?

6. I moved from IL to NY first last December, started work in NY when I moved, then moved to NJ in Feb of this year. Will this impact my tax in terms of which state tax I pay? That is, will I need to pay for NY tax for Dec-Feb, and pay for NJ tax for Mar-current?

7. If I switch my driver's license from IL to NJ now, is this going to be in effect retroactively? Meaning, will I need to pay IL tax for Dec-when I get the NJ license?

8. I have always lived in a sublet without any real apartment contract since I moved from IL to NY then NJ. I pay my rent to the actual tenant of the apartment I live in every month by check, so I have that proof, but I have no utility bills with my name on it. In this case, if I need to prove that I have lived in NY then NJ for all these times with IL driver's license, what do I need to do?


Please help.

Thanks.

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

Redundant question; most questions are already answered.

Call the NJ DMV to ask what proof of residency you need to apply for a NJ driver's license.

[Fr_Chuck]

Actually your drivers license could be considered void since you are required to change within a short period after moving ( unless you are military) so while not a tax answer, if you were to say, have an accident and they find out you had lived there for so long, they can actually ticket for that also.

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

What Father Chuck says is true as well.

[ebaines]

Most of your questions were already answered here: https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/taxes/...ay-611580.html. But you did tack on a few more:

6. I moved from IL to NY first last December, started work in NY when I moved, then moved to NJ in Feb of this year. Will this impact my tax in terms of which state tax I pay? That is, will I need to pay for NY tax for Dec-Feb, and pay for NJ tax for Mar-current?

OK, now it's getting a bit complicated. Since you moved in December 2010 from IL to NY that means that for 2010 you were a part year resident of IL (from January a to your move date) and also a part-year resident of NY (from the move date to Dec 31). Did you file part-year resident returns for both IL and NY for 2010? Then for 2011 you are considered a part-year resident of NY (from Jan- Feb) and a part-year resident of NJ (from Mar - Dec). So for 2010 you file part-year resident returns for both NY and NJ, plus a non-resident return for NY to cover your NY-source income from Mar - Dec. As AtatantaTaxExpert already poonted out - even though you must file with NJ chances are that you won't actually owe NJ any tax (unless you have other sources of income besides your NY-based job).

7. If I switch my driver's license from IL to NJ now, is this going to be in effect retroactively? Meaning, will I need to pay IL tax for Dec-when I get the NJ license?

No. As already mentioned, your license is not proof of residency.

8. I have always lived in a sublet without any real apartment contract since I moved from IL to NY then NJ. I pay my rent to the actual tenant of the apartment I live in every month by check, so I have that proof, but I have no utility bills with my name on it. In this case, if I need to prove that I have lived in NY then NJ for all these times with IL driver's license, what do I need to do?

The most important thing is that the W2 that your employer issues at the end of the year shows your current NJ address - so make sure that your NY employer is actually using that address for you. Second, when you file your taxes be sure to use your NJ address. Keep receipts that show things like moving expenses (airline tickets, UHaul van, etc). Keep other items that show NJ residency - bank statements, credit card bills, car lease statements, etc.

On a slightly different topic - if you are not on a lease be aware that your roommate and/or the landlord can throw you out with very short notice.