Need to verify I'm filing correctly as a part time resident of state - confused about the forms!

Thanks for this explanation, but I'm still confused about something. I worked remotely for my California company for about 3 weeks after I physically moved to Texas before starting my new job. Would that income still be considered California income since the employer was based there? Or is it Texas income because I was physically in Texas when doing the work?

Remote work can be tricky for state taxation. Generally, income is taxed based on where you physically performed the work, not where your employer is located. So if you were physically in Texas while working remotely for the California company, that income would typically be considered Texas income (and thus not subject to California tax since you were no longer a California resident). However, some states have special rules for remote workers, and California is notably aggressive about claiming tax jurisdiction. To be absolutely certain, you should document your physical presence (moving date, when you started living in Texas, etc.) and consider consulting with a tax professional familiar with California's specific rules on this issue.

Does it actually tell you which forms to file for each state? I moved from New York to Florida mid-year and I'm completely lost with all these different partial year resident forms.

I'm skeptical about these tax services. How is this different from just using TurboTax or H&R Block that already have state filing options?

Yes, it specifically identifies the exact forms you need for each state. It'll tell you that for New York you need the IT-203 form for part-year residents and guide you through which schedules apply to your situation. The difference from regular tax software is that it specializes in complex situations like state-to-state moves. Regular tax software asks generic questions, but taxr.ai actually analyzes your specific documents to identify issues. For example, it caught that my former employer had incorrectly allocated some income to the wrong state on my W-2, which TurboTax wouldn't have flagged. It's more like having a tax expert review your specific situation rather than just filling in forms.

How does this actually work? Do they just call the FTB for you? Seems weird that someone else would wait on hold instead of me.

This sounds like a complete scam. Why would I trust some random service to "connect" me to a government agency I can call myself? Probably just selling your information.

They use a system that dials and monitors the hold queue for you, then calls you when they reach a representative. It's basically like having someone else wait on hold instead of you having to listen to that terrible hold music for hours. This isn't some random connection service - they're connecting you directly to the actual California FTB phone line, just doing the waiting part for you. I was skeptical too until I tried it. What convinced me was that when they called back, I was actually speaking with a real FTB employee who could access my tax records and answer my specific questions. Your information isn't being sold - they're just providing a time-saving service for government phone systems that are notoriously hard to get through.

This is super helpful advice, thank you! I have most of these documents but didn't think to keep everything organized for tax purposes. Do you know how many years California can go back to audit someone who moved out of state? I'm worried they might come after me years later.

Generally, California has 4 years from the date you filed your return to audit you. However, if they suspect you substantially underreported income, they can go back 6 years. If they suspect fraud, there's no time limit at all. The most important thing is being able to prove the specific date you ended your California residency. They'll look for contradictory evidence - like if you kept a California driver's license, maintained your primary physician there, or kept significant banking relationships in the state. Make sure everything aligns with your claimed residency change date, and keep those records for at least 6 years.

I used FreeTaxUSA for my move from Michigan to Tennessee last year and it handled the part-year residency return just fine. Their interface for state returns isn't as polished as TurboTax, but it walks you through all the necessary questions about residency dates and income allocation. Saved me like $70 compared to TurboTax and got the same refund amount.