Live in CA and sold a home in WI. The home is excluded from cap gains tax, so do I even need to file in WI?

It depends.  If you meet the rules to qualify for the home sale exclusion you may not have to file.  The key may be your residency status and my advice would be to contact the Wisconsin Department of Revenue to be sure you qualify because you changed your state of residency: Phone: (608) 266-2486

Chances are if you met the qualifications when you sold the residence you may still be able to exclude it after the move.

If you meet the ownership and use tests, the sale of your home qualifies for exclusion of $250,000 gain ($500,000 if married filing a joint return). This exclusion applies if during the 5-year period ending on the date of the sale, you:

• Owned the home for at least 2 years (the ownership test), and
• Lived in the home as your main home for at least 2 years (the use test).

If you owned and lived in the property as your main home for less than 2 years, you may still be able to claim an exclusion in some cases. The maximum amount you can exclude will be reduced. If you are required to report a gain, it is reported on federal Form 8949, Sales and Other Dispositions of Capital Assets, Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses, and Wisconsin Schedule WD, Capital Gains and Losses.