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March 22, 2022
Question

Two states on W2 even though I only lived in MA

  • March 22, 2022
  • 2 replies
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I lived in MA for all of 2021 and my employer updated my address during the first or second week of January, but I still have two states (NY, MA) on my W2.

 

Both states have my entire year of wages in box 16, but different amounts of state income tax in box 17.

 

Do I need to file NY taxes even though I didn't live in NY at all this year?

 

I also noticed that when I imported my W2 through TurboTax, it also only pulled in the MA portion; I updated my W2 in TurboTax, and went through the MA filing and was able to claim credits for the taxes paid to NY. Does that mean that I need to file NY taxes as well?

2 replies

March 23, 2022

It depends. Were you working remotely for a New York company? New York taxes nonresidents who work out of state for their own convenience if they as "based" out of the NY office.

 

If that's your situation, you would pay NY tax. If not, you can file for a refund.

 

Either way, you'll have to file a nonresident NY tax return.

 

NY requires employers to report total wages in Box 16, even non-NY income. You'll make the adjustment in the New York section.

  • Go to the New York in TurboTax Online.
  • Continue until you come to New York Income Allocation.
  • Say No to Were all of your wages and/or self-employment income earned in New York State?
  • Edit Your W-2 on Your Form W-2 Summary
  • Choose Allocate by Number or Days or Allocate by Percentage on Allocate Wages to New York (percentage is usually the easier calculation)
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Rick19744
Employee
March 23, 2022

As a result of the pandemic and remote work, states have been adjusting their legislation to make sure they don't lose any tax revenue.

This area is somewhat murky in many states, and will continue to be murky for the next several years.  There is a tax case that will eventually make its way to the Supreme Court, but that is years away.

What is not clear with your particular case is whether you work remote or commute to NY or a combination.

While this may at some point make a difference, NY's current position is that the income should be taxed in NY.  Employers may not always get this right; including payroll companies.

So you should file a nonresident NY return, determine the tax, and then when you complete your MA return you will take a credit for taxes paid in other states for your NY tax liability.  This alleviates the double tax impact; not always $ for $, but minimizes the impact.

*A reminder that posts in a forum such as this do not constitute tax advice.Also keep in mind the date of replies, as tax law changes.