Multiple W2s for different states - how to handle on tax return?

Yes, this is actually pretty common for people who move between states during a tax year! For your federal return, you'll combine the income from both W2s - nothing special there since it's all your total income for the year regardless of which state it came from. For state returns, you'll need to file a part-year resident return for California, reporting the income you earned while living there. Since Texas doesn't have state income tax, you won't need to file a Texas state return at all, which is one less thing to worry about. When your tax software asks about part-year residency, it's trying to determine which portion of your income should be allocated to each state. You'll need to know the exact dates you were a resident of each state. The software should walk you through allocating your income based on those dates.

I went through something similar last year with multiple W2s for different states and it was driving me crazy trying to figure out which income went where. I found this service called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that really helped me sort it all out. I uploaded my W2s from both states and it analyzed exactly how to allocate everything correctly for state residency purposes. The tool flagged that I was allocating too much income to my high-tax state and showed me how to properly document my move date to minimize my state tax burden. It even helped identify which deductions I could take on each state return. Saved me a bunch of money!

Just wanted to follow up - I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and it was seriously helpful! I had a similar situation with W2s from Michigan and Florida plus some contractor work. The analysis it provided showed me exactly how to allocate everything between states and what dates to use for my residency change. My tax refund ended up being almost $700 more than what I initially calculated before using it. The guidance was super clear about exactly which boxes on each form needed to be adjusted. Definitely would recommend for anyone dealing with multiple state filings!

If you need to contact the IRS to sort out any issues with your multi-state return (like if you get a notice about mismatched W2 information), I recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I had to call the IRS about my multi-state return last year and was getting nowhere with hold times of 2+ hours. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes instead of waiting on hold all day. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. They basically navigate the IRS phone tree for you and call you when they've got an agent on the line. Saved me from having to take a day off work just to sit on hold.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting my skeptical comment, I was still struggling with getting answers about my multi-state tax situation, so I reluctantly gave it a try. It actually worked exactly as described. I got connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I had previously wasted three separate afternoons trying to get through. The agent was able to confirm how I should be reporting my W2s from different states and cleared up my confusion about part-year residency. Saved me from potentially filing incorrectly and dealing with amendments later. Sometimes it's worth admitting when you're wrong!

One thing to keep in mind with multiple state W2s: check if your employer correctly allocated your state unemployment insurance and other state-specific payroll taxes after you moved. I had an issue where my company kept withholding for my old state for 2 months after I moved, and I had to get that corrected.

Don't you also need to worry about "statutory residency" in some states? I think some states consider you a full-year resident if you're there for more than 183 days even if you moved.