How do I file taxes without having a permanent residence in 2025?

This is actually a common situation for traveling consultants and digital nomads! The good news is you can absolutely file taxes without a permanent residence. Here's what you need to know: For your federal return, you'll need to use some address - using your parents' address as your mailing address is fine. The IRS just needs somewhere reliable to send notices if needed. For state taxes, it's more complicated. You'll likely need to file part-year or non-resident returns in states where you worked and earned income. Each state has different thresholds for when you need to file. The key factors are: where you earned income, how many days you spent in each state, and where you have the strongest ties (domicile). Your "tax home" or domicile would typically be where you have the strongest connections - voting registration, driver's license, bank accounts, etc. Based on what you described, your parents' state might be considered your domicile even if you spent minimal time there.

I was in almost the same situation last year! After struggling with conflicting advice from friends and online forums, I found a tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that really helped sort out my multi-state tax situation. I uploaded my various W-2s and 1099s, answered some questions about how much time I spent in each state, and it helped determine my tax home and which state returns I needed to file. What was really helpful was that it analyzed my specific situation regarding domicile factors (like where my driver's license, voter registration, and bank accounts were) and gave me tailored advice about establishing a tax home despite not having a permanent physical address. It also helped identify which travel expenses might be deductible given my situation.

I need to admit I was wrong about being skeptical of taxr.ai. After our discussion here, I decided to try it out since my situation got even more complicated this year (working remotely for a California company while traveling through 5 different states). The analysis it provided was surprisingly thorough. It identified that one state I worked in for only 10 days actually had no minimum threshold for filing, which I would have missed entirely. It also correctly applied the credit for taxes paid to other states so I didn't end up double-paying on the same income. The documentation feature saved me too - it created a detailed record explaining my tax home determination that I can keep with my tax records in case of questions later. Definitely more comprehensive than what I was getting from the regular tax software I used before.

If you're having trouble getting clear answers about your specific situation, you might want to try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was in tax limbo last year with a similar nomadic lifestyle, and I really needed to speak directly with the IRS to confirm how to handle my specific situation. After spending DAYS trying to get through on my own, I found this service that got me connected to an actual IRS representative in less than 15 minutes. I was able to explain my specific circumstances and get official guidance about handling multiple state filings without a permanent address. They also helped clarify which address to use for my federal return when I don't have a permanent residence. There's a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The peace of mind from getting official answers specific to my situation was totally worth it. Plus, they documented exactly who I spoke with at the IRS which gave me something to reference if my return was ever questioned.

I need to publicly eat my words about Claimyr. After dismissing it as BS, I was still desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about my complicated residency situation, so I gave it a shot anyway. I got connected to an IRS representative in about 22 minutes (not quite the 15 advertised, but WAY better than my previous attempts). The agent was able to confirm that I could use a relative's address for receiving correspondence while still filing based on my tax home determination. She also clarified the documentation I should keep to support my position if I'm ever audited. The call saved me from making a mistake on my state residency that would have cost me over $2,000 in unnecessary taxes. Sometimes you need to hear directly from the IRS, especially for unusual living situations that don't fit neatly into tax software questions.

One thing nobody has mentioned is using a mail forwarding service that gives you a physical street address. I use one in South Dakota because they have no state income tax, and many nomads establish domicile there. You get a real street address (not a PO box), can register to vote, get a driver's license, register vehicles, and establish legal residency - all without actually living there. Florida and Texas are popular for this too for the same reason.

Just a warning about the South Dakota/Florida/Texas approach - if you're actually working in other states, you still need to file non-resident tax returns in those states where you earned income. The "no income tax state domicile" mainly helps for avoiding state tax on investment income and similar passive income.

I went through this exact situation two years ago! One thing that really helped me was keeping a detailed travel log throughout the year - dates, locations, and which clients I worked for where. This became crucial when determining which states I needed to file in and how to allocate my income. For your federal return, using your parents' address is totally fine - that's what I did. The IRS just needs a reliable mailing address. For state taxes, you'll likely need to file as a non-resident in states where you earned income, but each state has different thresholds. Some require filing if you earned any income there, others have minimum amounts. One surprise I encountered was that some states consider you a resident if you spend more than 183 days there, even without a permanent address. Since you mentioned working in 7 states, definitely track your days carefully. I ended up owing taxes in 4 different states but got credits that prevented double taxation. Also, don't forget about potential deductions for travel expenses between work locations - this can add up significantly for consultants like us who are constantly moving between clients.

As someone who went through this exact situation, I'd strongly recommend documenting everything now before tax season gets crazy. Create a spreadsheet with every location you worked, dates, income sources, and keep digital copies of all receipts. One thing that really saved me was establishing a clear "tax home" early on. Since you use your parents' address for official documents, that's likely your tax home for IRS purposes. This becomes your reference point for determining what travel expenses are deductible. Don't stress too much about the multi-state aspect - yes, you'll probably need to file non-resident returns in several states, but most tax software can handle this. The key is knowing your income allocation by state. If you have W-2s from different states, that makes it easier since the income sourcing is already documented. Also, keep in mind that as a traveling consultant, many of your expenses (lodging, transportation between clients, meals while away from your tax home) may be deductible. This can significantly reduce your tax burden and often makes up for the complexity of filing in multiple states. Start gathering everything now - waiting until April will only make it more stressful!