Does anyone know if you can do your taxes in any state?

I'll be living in CA for 8 months i'll be here untill August but I really live in TX all my bills, checks etc. get mailed to TX and forward to me in CA so can I do my taxes here in CA? I hate to spend 300 bucks for a ticket just to go back home to do my taxes.


thanks!

I don't really know much about taxes, but can you file taxes online? Sorry! I do not know...

But how do you like California? I think California is wonderful! But I still adore Texas!

Ca is ok but i'd rather live in TX......i was just going to go to someplace like H&R block to to my taxes guess i should just call and ask them but i figured some here might know.

Well, you can't do your taxes in just any state. Since each state has a different income tax rate, and a couple have none at all, that wouldn't really work!

If you spend part of the year in each state and got paid in both, you probably have to pay taxes in both -- a regular state return in Texas and a non-resident return in California (unless, under the state's requirements, you were there long enough to be considered a resident). There's a possibility you could avoid this, for example if you were working for the same company in both states they might have carried you as an employee only on Texas.

Splitting between two states can get complicated, so it might not be a bad idea to go to an accountant this year.

But there's no reason why you have to go to Texas to file taxes there. If your mail is being forwarded you should get the forms mailed to you. If not, just call the state revenue department (whatever it's called in Texas) and have them mail the forms to you. Or, but a copy of TurboTax with the state forms included and do it all right there. And, if you do go to an accountant they should be able to do the forms for any state (for a price).

If the question is, can I file my Texas (and Fed) taxes here in CA, then the answer is yes. They can do that, H&R should be able to do that from any office.

Also, I've used turbotax.com and it has worked out great last few years, though a professional should be able to get you more deductions :D

Does California have income taxes? I was just wondering, because I know Texas does not have an income tax.

I haven't been employed in TX or Ca that's what makes it hard all my income comes from online sponsors. The state of CA dosen't know i'm even living here since i work online i'm staying with family here in Ca they cash my checks for me.

I started going to H&R block in 99 that's when i got started in working online i never had any trouble doing taxes with them.

I don't see why i would have to pay CA and TX taxes since CA dosen't even know i'm here only way anyone would know is by where my checks are cashed :) but the state of CA will know when i go to H&R block.

I just hate to spend 300 bucks for a ticket back home just to do taxes i can't do them online because i have expenses like web hosting to figure in.

only way anyone would know is by where my checks are cashed
.. or if they visit this forum :)

You pay taxes to the state you are a resident. Sounds like you are based in TX. Unless you've surrendered your TX license, and gotten CA residency then you'd pay state taxes to TX. For the Fed it doesn't matter, but you'd list TX as your home as well there.

Ah, well if Texas has no income tax then that's where you want to have residency!

The thing is, there are specific legal requirements for tax residency. Things like whether you've surrendered your drivers license aren't, from a tax law standpoint, relevant. What is relevant is where you work and where you live, and for how many months of the year.

What you can get away with and what the legal requirements are, though, are two different things. In any case, if you want to be sure that you are meeting the legal requirements, you really should check with a tax accountant. That might be H&R Block or it might be someone else; just be sure that they are familiar with the regulations regarding tax residency.