Filing tax returns in 2 states, different W2's.

I lived and worked in California from January to July 2003.
Then switched employers and moved to Iowa in August. So my
first W2 shows the earnings, federal/California taxes paid,
in California. The second W2 shows the earnings,
federal/Iowa taxes paid in Iowa.

(In the past I've only lived/worked in California and used
the online e-file service.)

Where do I file my tax returns now? Can I still use the
online e-file?

Thanks very much.

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<> wrote

> I lived and worked in California from January to July 2003.
> Then switched employers and moved to Iowa in August. So my
> first W2 shows the earnings, federal/California taxes paid,
> in California. The second W2 shows the earnings,
> federal/Iowa taxes paid in Iowa.
>
> (In the past I've only lived/worked in California and used
> the online e-file service.)
>
> Where do I file my tax returns now? Can I still use the
> online e-file?

File your federal return to Kansas City (the filing center
for Iowa residents) and a part year California return and
part year Iowa return to the address for those returns. And
yes, you should be able to e-file part year returns.

--
Snowmen fall from heaven unassembled.
-------------
Paul A. Thomas, CPA
taxman at negia.net

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wrote:

> Where do I file my tax returns now? Can I still use the
> online e-file?

Is your question which IRS service center? I doubt it since
you are talking efile, but...<grin>

If your question is which agencies to file with, then that
answer is easy--you will need to file a federal return
covering the entire year, and part year resident returns for
both California and Iowa.

Can you use online efiling? The question would be--whose
online efile? Almost certainly you can file the federal
return online--nothing really complicated that situation.
But the states are another story.

First, you will need to determine if both California and
Iowa will accept part year resident returns electronically.
I haven't had to look into that issue for those states,
so I don't know the answer there.

Second, even if they do, you then have to find a consumer
site that will handle a return like that. Considering that
part year resident returns are more complex beasts, quite a
few consumer sites likely "punt" on them entirely.

I would suggest this--get the *paper* part year resident
forms for each state and work through those. That way you
will get at least some comfort level for the information you
will need *if* you find a source to efile the state returns
(you'll need the same data either way). Again, this is a
different beast from a standard return, and you need to be
sure you handle allocating income and deductions between the
two states as each one requires it.

Alternatively, you could pay for professional assistance
this year to handle your returns if you find the multiple
state issue too involved.

--
Ed Zollars, CPA
Phoenix, Arizona

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wrote:

> I lived and worked in California from January to July 2003.
> Then switched employers and moved to Iowa in August. So my
> first W2 shows the earnings, federal/California taxes paid,
> in California. The second W2 shows the earnings,
> federal/Iowa taxes paid in Iowa.
>
> (In the past I've only lived/worked in California and used
> the online e-file service.)
>
> Where do I file my tax returns now? Can I still use the
> online e-file?

I'll respond for CA. CA allows e-filing for both
nonresidents and part year residents. You can find
information on CA e-filing
at: http://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/efile/index.html
Frequently asked questions are at:
http://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/efile/faq.html

--
Alan
http://taxtopics.net

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writes:

> I lived and worked in California from January to July 2003.
> Then switched employers and moved to Iowa in August. So my
> first W2 shows the earnings, federal/California taxes paid,
> in California. The second W2 shows the earnings,
> federal/Iowa taxes paid in Iowa.
>
> (In the past I've only lived/worked in California and used
> the online e-file service.)
>
> Where do I file my tax returns now?

You'll file your Federal return for the year and part-year
returns in CA and IA. Check the states' instructions to see
if you can e-file.

Phil Marti
Topeka, KS

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It looks like you'll need to fine returns in both California
and Iowa. In Iowa you'll fill out additional forms to get
credit for the part of the year you weren't a resident and
for the state tax paid to California. There are forms and
instructions to help you at the bottom of this page:

http://www.state.ia.us/tax/1040%20Ex...31040Home.html

I'm sure someone else here can help you with California. I
am not sure about the e-filing.

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wrote:

> I lived and worked in California from January to July 2003.
> Then switched employers and moved to Iowa in August. So my
> first W2 shows the earnings, federal/California taxes paid,
> in California. The second W2 shows the earnings,
> federal/Iowa taxes paid in Iowa.
>
> (In the past I've only lived/worked in California and used
> the online e-file service.)
>
> Where do I file my tax returns now? Can I still use the
> online e-file?

You will file part-year resident returns in both California
and Iowa. I don't know whether the online e-file service
provided by the FTB is available for 540NR returns (the
nonresident/part year resident form), but I doubt it.

If you have no significant income other than your wages, and
you made a clean break when you moved (i.e., didn't leave
any property or other sources of income in California), your
returns should be pretty simple. All of your CA earnings
will be CA income (540NR Schedule CA, Col. E) and all of our
Iowa earnings will be IA income. Interest, dividends, etc.
should be prorated on the basis of time; such income has its
source at the place where you resided when you received it
or it became available to you, not at the location of the
bank, issuer, etc. If you sold stock, exercised options,
sold real property, were an owner of a flowthrough business
entity like a partnership, LLC or S corporation, or had
other complications, you should probably get professional
help with your returns this year.

Katie in San Diego

The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only and
does not constitute legal or professional advice.

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wrote:

> I lived and worked in California from January to July 2003.
> Then switched employers and moved to Iowa in August. So my
> first W2 shows the earnings, federal/California taxes paid,
> in California. The second W2 shows the earnings,
> federal/Iowa taxes paid in Iowa.
>
> (In the past I've only lived/worked in California and used
> the online e-file service.)
>
> Where do I file my tax returns now? Can I still use the
> online e-file?

If, as I've read, CA requires you to E-file your state
return as a "piggy-back" on the Federal E-file, and if
IA has the same requirement, then he couldn't E-file
both states.

Just noting that, between the 6 replies so far, noone
has answered the question as stated or as implied.

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Arthur L. Rubin wrote:
> wrote:

>> I lived and worked in California from January to July 2003.
>> Then switched employers and moved to Iowa in August. So my
>> first W2 shows the earnings, federal/California taxes paid,
>> in California. The second W2 shows the earnings,
>> federal/Iowa taxes paid in Iowa.
>>
>> (In the past I've only lived/worked in California and used
>> the online e-file service.)
>>
>> Where do I file my tax returns now? Can I still use the
>> online e-file?

> If, as I've read, CA requires you to E-file your state
> return as a "piggy-back" on the Federal E-file, and if
> IA has the same requirement, then he couldn't E-file
> both states.
>
> Just noting that, between the 6 replies so far, noone
> has answered the question as stated or as implied.

As far as I can tell, only Hawaii, Oklahoma & Oregon
absolutely require a federal piggy-back. The rest allow for
state only e-filing. In some cases, the state only filing
may be Web based only (Iowa is an example). Relative to
free e-filing, I have to assume that the e-filing options
are limited when it comes to the states.

--
Alan
http://taxtopics.net

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"A.G. Kalman" wrote:
> Arthur L. Rubin wrote:

>> If, as I've read, CA requires you to E-file your state
>> return as a "piggy-back" on the Federal E-file, and if
>> IA has the same requirement, then he couldn't E-file
>> both states.

.....

> As far as I can tell, only Hawaii, Oklahoma & Oregon
> absolutely require a federal piggy-back.

.....

I acknowledge uncertainty in the case of California.

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