Should I file Pennsylvania in my return if I earned no income while living there? I moved to WV in May. Also, how am I getting all of my WV state tax returned?

Forum|Forum|1 year ago
February 3, 2025
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I may not have made enough to be eligible for state taxes, but I can't find definite information on any amount you have to make.

BillM223

In general, you pay tax to the state you live in and to the state(s) where you work.

So, if you lived in Pennsylvania for even 4 months, you owe tax (potentially) to that state.

You earned no income in PA - so, no W-2, not 1099-R while you were a resident? Did you receive any form on which there was withholding for the state of Pennsylvania?

Every resident, part-year resident or nonresident individual must file a Pennsylvania Income Tax Return (PA-40) when he or she realizes income generating $1 or more in tax, even if no tax is due (e.g., when an employee receives compensation where tax is withheld).

If no, then you shouldn't have to file a PA state return.

However, I would think that TurboTax would tell you this. Is TurboTax making you file a state return, even after you enter your movements into your Personal Information?

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patrickhull44Author

Yes, TurboTax still had me filing for PA, it just said they would determine if I needed to pay or something like that. It ends up being $0, just wanted to make sure I was doing it right.

On my WV part it told me to set my residency status as "Full-Year" even though I'm Part-Year, I don't know if that's just a technical requirement, or?

Thank you for your response, it was very helpful and well written.

BillM223

No, if you entered the dates correctly, both states should have you filing a part-year resident return.

Go back to your personal info, indicate that at the end of 2024, you lived in WV, but that you also lived in another state during the year. TurboTax will open some new boxes, into which you will enter Pennsylvania as the other state, and enter the date you moved.

Make sure you do this for both spouses (if that applies).

Now, when you get to those state interviews, they should both say part-year resident at the beginning of each interview.

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