I don't own a company but did one-time gig for a friend based in CA. Do I owe CA state taxes this year?

Yes, you must file a California nonresident tax return. See the information from the CA Franchise Board for nonresidents.

Generally, you must file an income tax return if you’re a resident, part-year resident, or nonresident and:

• Are required to file a federal return
• Receive income from a source in California
• Have income above a certain amount

Your resident state will provide a credit as indicated below. Review all the details before you prepare your state returns.

State Returns - Your resident state requires you to include all worldwide income. Assume both states require income tax returns to be filed: 

1. Report the income on each state return that is from the nonresident state
2. Report it on your resident state and receive credit for taxes paid to another state.

Credit for taxes paid to another state is allowed by a resident state when the same income is being taxed to another state.  Your resident state does not want you to pay tax twice on the same income. The credit that is allowed will be the lesser of:

1. the tax liability actually charged by the nonresident state, OR
2. the tax liability that would have been charged by your resident state

In most cases complete your nonresident state first.