[touristth]

Hi,

I lived in 1 state (State A) and lost my job. In Sept, 2009, I packed my furniture and most of my possessions in storage and drove to state B to live temporarily while looking for work. I never intended to settle in state B and didn't register my car or register to vote or get a license here, cause I was waiting to see where in the world I would find a job. But I did work part time in state B, and collected unemployment from State A.

I am filing in state B as a non-resident. But does that mean I have to file in state A as a full yr resident? Or can I file as a part-yr resident, because I didn't live there either?

In other words, do you have to be considered a resident of one state all the time? Even if you are in limbo?

[MukatA]

If you lived in state B, you are part year resident of state B. If you commuted from state A to state B, you are nonresident of state B.

If your moving away from state A is temporary or transitory, you are full year resident of state A. Your U.S. Tax Return: Working or Living in Two or More states

[ebaines]

You have a choice:

1. You could say you were part-year resident of State A up until September, then part year resident of State B from Sep - Dec, or

2. You could say you were a full year residemnt of State A, and a non-resident wage earner in State B.

Either way, at all times you must be a resident of one state or another. There is no state called "limbo" - at least not for tax purposes!

I would go with option 1 if State B's taxes are lower than State A's.