[andyshub]

Hi,

I have some questions pertaining to Federal/State filing for 2008 tax return:

My Background:
Self:
a. I worked and lived in MA from Jan to March
b. Each week from April to August, I travelled to work & lived in GA (4 days), worked from home in MA (1 day).
c. Each week in December, I travelled to work on weekdays in NY & lived in CT (apartmment share).
Spouse:
Worked/lived in MA whole year

My Questions:
1. Expenses in GA were reimbursed by employer.
How can I take tax deduction for rent/use of my Home Office for 1 day each week?
How does it affect my Federal & State returns?

2. Work Expenses in NY / Living expenses in CT were not reimbursed by employer.
What all & how can I claim tax deduction for expenses (like car/tolls, rent, meals, moving expenses, etc.)?
How does it affect my Federal & State returns?

3. Do I have to file Taxes for CT & would it be part-year resident with no income or non-resident?

4. Will I have to file NY State Tax as non-resident as my source of income is NY & I didn't live there?

5. I have MA, GA, NY, CT states for 2008 while my spouse just lived in MA in 2008.
Should I file married filing separately for State Returns?

When checked with H&R Block, they mentioned of taking Std Deduction over Itemized Deduction as it gives more benefit.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated..

Thanks.

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

1) you would have to claim it on Form 2106 and then Schedule A as an itemized deduction.

2) Need more details before I can answer.

3) Yes.

4) According to your posting, you worked in NY in December, so you fle as a part-year resident for NY.

5) You cannot file separately; all of those tstaes require you file jointly if you filed jointly on your federal return.