[mgj]

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?

[mgj]

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?

[MukatA]

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

[mgj]

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!

[mgj]

I mean a part-year resident for Pennsylvania

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

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.