Can I lose my state residency while job hunting out-of-state with no permanent address?

This is actually a common concern for people in transition periods! The good news is that you can't be "stateless" for tax purposes - everyone has to have a tax home somewhere. Your current state's 183-day rule is about physical presence, but residency is more complex than just counting days. Legal residency (or "domicile") is based on your permanent home where you intend to return. Temporary absences, even lengthy ones, don't automatically change your domicile if you plan to return to your home state. While in the AirBnB, you'd likely be considered a non-resident of that state who is temporarily present. You'd still maintain your domicile in your home state as long as you consider it your permanent home base (keeping your driver's license, voter registration, bank accounts there, etc.) and intend to return. You may need to file taxes in both states if you earn income in the temporary state, but you wouldn't lose your home state residency unless you take steps to permanently relocate (getting a permanent address, changing driver's license, etc.).

I went through something similar when I was doing extended travel for work! I found this amazing service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that really helped clarify my residency situation. I was bouncing between states for about 9 months and was totally confused about where I should be filing. Their system analyzed my specific situation - how long I was in each place, where my permanent address was, where my bank accounts were, etc. - and gave me a clear breakdown of my tax residency status. They even provided documentation I could use if I ever got questioned about it! Definitely worth checking out if you're concerned about your state residency status.

I actually used taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and it was super helpful! I was in a similar situation - working remotely while staying in different states for extended periods. I was worried about double taxation and potentially losing my home state residency. The service was straightforward and their tax pros really knew their stuff about multi-state residency issues. They helped me document my "domicile intent" properly and gave me specific advice about which state forms I needed to file. They even explained how to handle income earned while physically present in different states. Best part was they provided me with documentation that clearly explained my tax situation in case I ever get audited. Definitely made me feel more confident about my unusual living situation!

If you're struggling with residency questions, you might also need to contact your state's tax department directly. I tried calling my state tax office for MONTHS with no luck - always on hold forever or disconnected. Then I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and it changed everything. They have this system that basically waits on hold with the tax office for you and calls you when a real person picks up. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. I was skeptical at first but it actually worked! Got through to my state tax department in about 45 minutes instead of the 3+ hours I was spending on hold myself. The tax rep I spoke with gave me the official state position on my residency status which was super helpful for planning my move and understanding exactly what would and wouldn't trigger a change in residency.

Ok I have to admit I was totally wrong about Claimyr. After seeing it mentioned, I decided to try it as a last resort since I had been trying to reach my state tax office for weeks with no luck. It actually worked exactly as described! I got a text when they started the call, then about 55 minutes later (during which I was just going about my day), I got a call connecting me directly to a state tax representative. The connection was clear and there was no awkward "transfer" feeling - the rep was already on the line when I picked up. I was able to get clear answers about my specific residency situation regarding temporary out-of-state work assignments. The tax rep confirmed that maintaining my voter registration, driver's license and permanent address in my home state would be sufficient to maintain residency even during a 9-month absence. Definitely worth the service fee to get this clarification directly from the state tax authority!

Just a heads up - my cousin went through something similar and ended up with a nasty surprise at tax time. He stayed in various AirBnBs in California for about 8 months while working remotely for his New York company. California claimed he owed them income tax for the full year even though he maintained his NY apartment and all his legal documents! He had to hire a tax attorney to fight it and proved he wasn't a CA resident, but it was a huge headache. Make sure you keep DETAILED records of exactly which days you're in which state. Save AirBnB receipts, flight info, anything that proves your physical location throughout the year.

one thing nobody mentioned - a lot depends on which states r involved!! some states r SUPER aggressive about claiming residents (looking at u California and New York) while others barely care. where r u now and where u thinking of going?? that makes a huuuge difference in how careful u need 2 be!!

You're smart to think about this ahead of time! One important thing to add - even if you maintain residency in your home state, you'll still need to be aware of the temporary state's rules for non-residents earning income there. Some states have "convenience of employer" rules where they'll tax remote work income even if you're just temporarily present. Also, consider setting up a paper trail that shows your intent to return home. Keep paying bills at your parents' address (even if it's just a small utility or subscription), maintain memberships in local organizations, keep your car registered in your home state, etc. The more ties you maintain, the stronger your case for keeping your original state residency. And definitely keep that detailed calendar someone mentioned - not just for tax purposes, but because if you do need to file as a part-year resident anywhere, you'll need to know exactly how much income was earned in each state during your time there.