How do I get a return for working out of my state instead of paying that state?

The only thing you can do is make sure all of your information is correct. If you physically were present, working in the state of Michigan, then you would have taxable income for the time you worked there and would owe taxes on the income you earned while working there.

It is possible that your employer did not withhold enough taxes for the time you worked there.

Since you are a nonresident, be sure you are filing a nonresident form.  Also, be sure to answer ALL of the questions in the state interview and pay attention to how your income is allocated.  You want to be sure that only the income you earned in MI is being taxed by MI.  

You want to file your MI non resident return first, then when you are working on your state return, for most states, you can take a credit for the taxes paid to the nonresident state.  

If you are in a MI reciprocal state, then when you file your return, you would need to say you had $0 income in the adjustments to income section for the state and enter your full refund.  This will allow you to get all of your MI withholdings back as you would not have any liability to MI.  All of your income would then need to be reported on your home state return.

@KZRLZB28 (Edited 2/15/24 @ 5:37AM PST)