How do taxes work if you work remotely in a different state?
A worker may have tax obligations in any state where they reside and possibly the state where their employer's worksite is located. A permanent remote worker will file their personal income taxes in their state of residence, whether they are a W-2 employee or a 1099-NEC independent contractor.
Where do I pay state taxes if I live in a different state than my employer? As a remote worker, you must pay tax on all your income to the state you live in (if your state has personal income tax). This is true no matter where your employer is located.
If both states collect income taxes and don't have a reciprocity agreement, you'll have to pay taxes on your earnings in both states: First, file a nonresident return for the state where you work. You'll need information from this return to properly file your return in your home state.
The best states for remote workers are states with no state income tax. With no state income tax obligations, remote workers don't have to worry about being caught in a complex web of tax rules. These states are Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming.
If you receive a Federal W-2 form from your employer then it doesn't matter if you work from home 100% of the time, 50% of the time or not at all – you can't deduct work expenses to reduce your taxable income.
When Would I Be Double Taxed? Five states tax people where their employer's office is located, even if they work remotely and never set foot in the state. This is called the “convenience of the employer” rule, and Connecticut, Delaware, Nebraska, New York, and Pennsylvania have it, though they differ on the details.
If you're a regular employee working from home, you can't deduct any of your related expenses on your tax return. In the past, you could claim an itemized deduction for unreimbursed business expenses, including expenses for the business use of part of your home if they exceeded 2% of your adjusted gross income.
Your physical presence in a state plays an important role in determining your residency status. Usually, spending over half a year, or more than 183 days, in a particular state will render you a statutory resident and could make you liable for taxes in that state.
The “convenience of the employer” rule is a tax law that applies to remote workers who work for an out-of-state employer. Under this rule, if an employee lives in one state but works remotely for an employer based in another state, they are only subject to taxes in the state where they live.
Form W-2 - Multiple Forms W-2 with Information from Multiple States. If an employer issues two separate Forms W-2 Wage and Tax Statement and both contain state information from different states, but only one contains federal information, you are able to combine this information when entering it in the TaxAct® program.
What states are not eligible for remote work?
At least ten states—California, Colorado, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island and Washington—have implemented restrictions that essentially limit out-of-state companies' ability to hire their residents for remote work.
New Jersey was named the best state for working from home thanks to its cheap internet costs and high access to broadband internet. Utah ranked second in part because it has the largest homes in the country, preventing remote workers from feeling confined.
If you're a resident of... | and you work in... |
---|---|
California, Indiana, Oregon, or Virginia | Arizona |
Anywhere other than District of Columbia | District of Columbia |
Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, or Wisconsin | Illinois |
Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, or Wisconsin | Indiana |
Are there downsides to the home office deduction? The major drawback isn't specific to the deduction itself -- but rather the dreaded self-employment tax. If you work for yourself or own your own small business, you'll be taxed at a rate of 15.3% on the first $142,800 of your combined wages, tips and net earnings.
The IRS offers a simplified option to calculate your home office write-off called the “safe harbor method,” which allows a standard 5-dollar-per-square-foot deduction of your dedicated workspace. This is calculated by multiplying the square footage of the home used exclusively for the office area only, by 5 dollars.
- Alimony payments.
- Business use of your car.
- Business use of your home.
- Money you put in an IRA.
- Money you put in health savings accounts.
- Penalties on early withdrawals from savings.
- Student loan interest.
- Teacher expenses.
Those states are Connecticut, Delaware, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania. If your employer is based in one of these states, but you work out of the state remotely for your convenience, then you might be subject to double taxation in the state you live in and the one where your employer is based.
You may be able to claim part-year residence, which will allow you to divide your income between the two states instead of paying taxes twice. Note that each state has its own rules for determining residency and how you should indicate your status on the tax forms.
Key Takeaways. Double taxation refers to income tax being paid twice on the same source of income. This can occur when income is taxed at both the corporate level and the personal level, as in the case of stock dividends. Double taxation also refers to the same income being taxed by two different countries.
Employees may only take the home office deduction if they maintain the home office for the convenience of their employer. An employee's home office is deemed to be for an employer's convenience only if it is: a condition of employment. necessary for the employer's business to properly function, or.
Can I write off my car payment?
If you bought this vehicle using a car loan, you won't be able to write off your car payment. However, you can write off a portion of the interest on your car loan. That's right — your loan interest counts as a car-related business expense, just like gas and car repairs.
Rent is the amount of money you pay for the use of property that is not your own. Deducting rent on taxes is not permitted by the IRS. However, if you use the property for your trade or business, you may be able to deduct a portion of the rent from your taxes.
Your state of residence is determined by: Where you're registered to vote (or could be legally registered) Where you lived for most of the year. Where your mail is delivered.
Allocating earned income is easy if you stopped working for an employer in one state and started working elsewhere after you moved. All you need to do is look at your W-2 or 1099-MISC. Allocate the income from your former job to your former state and your income from the new job to your new state.
As of 2023, nine states — Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming — do not levy a state income tax. New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration. Frequently Asked Questions - Interest & Dividend Tax.