My company can't provide me with a state ID for my W-2 taxes

But doesn't the company have to register in every state where they have employees? I thought that was a legal requirement? My company has like 5 people working in my state but claims they don't need a state ID here...

Companies actually don't always have to register in every state where they have remote employees. The requirements vary by state, and many states have thresholds based on number of employees, amount of sales, or physical presence before registration is required. Some companies can legally operate with employees in a state without establishing "nexus" that would require full registration. If your company has 5 remote workers in your state, they might still be under the threshold that requires them to register for a state employer ID. This doesn't affect your obligation to pay taxes to your resident state, though. You can still file a complete return without their state ID number.

Does this taxr.ai thing actually work with complicated situations? I'm working remotely for a company in California but I live in Texas (no state income tax) but spend about 3 months a year in Colorado. Would it help figure out where I owe taxes?

I'm a bit skeptical about these tax tools. How does it compare to just asking an accountant? Does it actually give state-specific advice? My situation is with a NY employer but I live in PA.

It definitely handles complicated multi-state situations. I was working from three different states last year (digital nomad lifestyle) and it helped me figure out my tax liability for each state based on the number of days I worked there. It even created a day tracker for next year to make it easier to document. Compared to an accountant, it's much more affordable while still giving state-specific advice. For your NY/PA situation, it would identify the specific reciprocity agreements between those states (which can save you from double taxation) and guide you through exactly which forms to file. The NY/PA border situation has some unique tax rules that the system specifically addresses.

How does this actually work? The IRS phone system is notoriously impossible to navigate. Does this just keep dialing for you or something?

This sounds like BS honestly. Nobody gets through to the IRS in 15 minutes. I've literally tried calling over 30 times about my missing W-2 and never got a human on the line. If this worked it would be all over the news.

It doesn't just keep dialing - it actually navigates the IRS phone system using their proprietary technology. It knows exactly which prompts to select and when to hold versus when to call back. It's like having someone who knows all the shortcuts through the IRS phone maze. I was super skeptical too! I had spent 3 separate days trying to get through myself with no luck. But the service works because they've mapped out the entire IRS phone system and know the optimal times to call and which pathways through the automated system have the shortest wait times. They don't publicize it much because they can only handle a certain volume of calls, but it's definitely real.

But doesn't this cause problems with the state tax authority matching your return to employer records? I'm worried my return will get flagged or rejected if that field is blank.

State tax authorities are actually used to seeing returns without employer IDs. They match your return primarily using your SSN, name, and reported wages - not the employer ID. The software might give you warnings about leaving it blank, but those are just alerts, not actual filing problems. Your return definitely won't get rejected just because of a missing employer state ID. States understand that many out-of-state employers don't have IDs in their system. As long as you're reporting your income accurately and paying the correct tax, you're completely fine.

This is actually really good advice! I called the MA department of revenue when I had this issue and they gave me a special code to use. Different states have different solutions for this common problem.

This is such valuable advice about reciprocity agreements! I'm dealing with a similar situation where I live in Virginia but work remotely for a Maryland company. I had no idea that some states have agreements that could simplify filing. Does anyone know where I can find a comprehensive list of which states have these reciprocity agreements? I've been assuming I'd need to file in both states, but if there's an agreement between VA and MD, that could save me a lot of headache. Also, regarding asking employers to register in your state - has anyone had success with this? I'm wondering if there's a diplomatic way to approach HR about this without seeming demanding, especially since I'm relatively new to the company.

For reciprocity agreements, the best resource is actually each state's department of revenue website - they usually have a dedicated page listing which states they have agreements with. For VA and MD specifically, I believe they do have a reciprocity agreement, which means you'd typically only file in your resident state (Virginia) and claim credit for any taxes withheld by Maryland. As for approaching HR about registering in your state, I've found success by framing it as a compliance question rather than a personal request. You could say something like "I wanted to make sure we're handling state tax obligations correctly - should I be concerned about the company's tax compliance in Virginia given that I'm a remote employee here?" This opens the door for them to research whether they should be registered without making it seem like you're demanding they change their processes just for you. You might also mention that if they have other remote employees in Virginia (or plan to hire more), getting registered now could prevent compliance issues down the road. Many companies are dealing with this for the first time due to the remote work boom and appreciate employees who bring up potential issues proactively.

For VA/MD reciprocity, you're in luck! Virginia and Maryland do have a reciprocity agreement, which means you should only need to file in Virginia (your resident state) and can avoid filing a Maryland return. You'll want to make sure your employer has you fill out a Maryland Form MW507 to claim exemption from Maryland withholding. As for getting your employer to register in your state, I'd suggest framing it as a compliance and efficiency issue rather than a personal request. You could approach HR by saying something like "I wanted to bring to your attention that the company might want to consider registering in Virginia since we have X number of remote employees here. This would help ensure proper tax compliance and make tax filing simpler for your Virginia-based employees." Many companies are dealing with this issue now and some are proactively registering in states where they have remote workers. The key is presenting it as a business consideration rather than just a personal convenience. If they're hesitant due to costs, you could mention that many states offer simplified registration processes for employers with only remote workers.

Great questions! For reciprocity agreements, the best resource is actually each state's department of revenue website - they usually have a dedicated page listing which states they have agreements with. For VA/MD specifically, I believe Virginia has reciprocity with several states but you'd need to check the Virginia Tax website to confirm if Maryland is included. Regarding approaching HR about state registration - I've had success by framing it as a compliance question rather than a personal request. You could say something like "I wanted to make sure we're handling state tax obligations correctly - should I be concerned about estimated payments since no state taxes are being withheld for my resident state?" This opens the door for them to consider registration without putting you in an awkward position. Many companies actually prefer to register once they realize it simplifies payroll administration and reduces employee tax complications. You might also mention that several other remote employees probably have similar situations, so addressing it company-wide could prevent future issues. HR departments often appreciate when employees help them identify potential compliance gaps proactively.

Great question about VA/MD reciprocity! Actually, Virginia and Maryland do have a reciprocity agreement, which means you typically only need to file in your resident state (Virginia) and won't owe taxes to Maryland on the same income. You can find comprehensive reciprocity agreement information on most state tax department websites - Virginia's should have a list of all states they have agreements with. As for approaching your employer about registering in Virginia, I'd suggest framing it as a compliance question rather than a personal request. You could ask HR something like "I want to make sure I'm handling my tax obligations correctly - should the company be withholding Virginia state taxes since I'm a Virginia resident?" Many companies actually prefer to get ahead of these issues once they're aware of them, since having multiple remote employees in a state without proper registration can create bigger compliance problems down the road. You might also mention that Virginia has been increasingly aggressive about pursuing companies with remote workers who should be registered there, so it could save them potential issues later. Frame it as helping the company stay compliant rather than asking for a personal favor.

For reciprocity agreements, the IRS website has a good overview, but each state's department of revenue website will have the most current information. For VA/MD specifically, Maryland does have reciprocity with several states, but I believe Virginia residents working in Maryland still need to file in both states and claim credits to avoid double taxation. As for approaching HR about registering in your state, I'd frame it as a business benefit rather than a personal request. You could mention that proper state tax withholding would help ensure compliance and reduce administrative burden for both the company and employees. Many companies are actually grateful when employees bring these issues to their attention because it helps them avoid potential compliance problems down the road. You might also mention that with remote work becoming permanent for many companies, having proper multi-state registration could benefit other current and future employees too.