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US taxes and residency

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yolatengo
  4/2/2020 12:59 EST

Forgive me if this has been asked. There's too many tax threads for me to go through to try to find an answer.

What address do people use who do not maintain a US address for various official items? This applies not only for taxes, but also voting and a drivers license.

However, I do have a private mail box in the US in California. I have never lived there, it just happened to be convenient for various reasons. If I use the CA address on my tax return, do I have to pay state tax in CA?

Andresen
  4/2/2020 13:08 EST

I would think only if you reside in CA.

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Elexpatriado
  4/2/2020 13:22 EST

Man are you a lost cause...

WhoaNellie
  4/2/2020 14:27 EST

Use this address, it always works for me:

1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20500

mattinnorfolk
  4/2/2020 14:48 EST

https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertwood/2019/10/22/now-california-can-assess-taxes-no-matter-where-you-livereally/#4117433c3e7f

Elexpatriado
  4/2/2020 16:24 EST

Get a PO address in the state with zero stae taxes- i.e Texas.

There ..problem solved

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FrozenPonds
  4/2/2020 16:43 EST

@Whoa....hahahaha

Jimbeam7
  4/2/2020 16:59 EST

Using a California address is asking for trouble, they are the most aggressive state in finding excuses to tax non residents. Best to use a state with no state tax.

saiid20
  4/2/2020 17:17 EST

ok..hopefully in order..
If your Calif. mailing address is what you put on your tax return..you have to file state return too (I also have mailing add. in US but use my Colombian address for income tax return)...no state problems...
You can vote in US elections with a Colombian address.. Forgot the website..but just google it..Some states, such as mine, make it very very hard to vote though...all states are different. You are considered a potential voter in the last state you actuallt voted in
Drivers licence? dont know about all states, but believe you need to maintain a residential address in the state to get a licence. a mail box address wont cut it.

ponymalta2
  4/2/2020 19:21 EST

No, the mailing address you use has nothing to do with where you pay your taxes. However California is very aggressive and tries to find ways to claim you need to pay taxes, and Forbes article very correct- dealing with California Franchise Tax Board ( except maybe for the EPA|) the toughest federal agency to deal with. So California is not a recommended place to get mail.

The other thing to consider is the last state one lived in can have a bearing whether one has to file a state return after becoming resident overseas- states have different rules, some require a tax filing if you have lived in a state before expatriating, some don't.

homeenergyexpert
  4/28/2020 05:49 EST

Yes as far as l know. Get a Las Vegas one as no State tax. I live there now.

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dbarnwell
  5/10/2020 19:41 EST

Permit me to ask for advice.
I am a US citizen but did not receive my Trump check.
My SS is paid into a US bank.
I have always filed Fed tax, but in last few years have been filing as a nonresident.
Could that be the problem?
Thanks.

BlueSeas
  5/10/2020 20:57 EST

Yes it would appear so. Quote:

"Under the Cares Act, U.S. citizens, permanent residents and qualifying resident aliens are eligible for stimulus payments if their adjusted gross income falls under the limits. A person who is a nonresident alien in 2020 is not eligible for a payment, the IRS said."

See:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2020/05/06/irs-says-1200-stimulus-payments-sent-dead-people-have-be-returned/

BlueSeas
  5/10/2020 21:01 EST

Wait,,,spoke too soon. If you are a citizen, even if not resident, not sure my previous post is correct.

Electricista
  5/10/2020 22:21 EST

BlueSeas: "Could that be the problem?"

Not a problem as you are US citizen. You will eventually get it as a credit when you file your 2020 tax return. Unlike non-resident aliens, you are still on the hook for US taxes

Electricista
  5/10/2020 23:46 EST

I made a mistake above.

Dbarnwell: “Could that be the problem?”

Not a problem as you are US citizen. You will eventually get it as a credit when you file your 2020 tax return. Unlike non-resident aliens, you are still on the hook for US taxes

ponymalta2
  5/11/2020 03:52 EST

dbarnwell


the IRS website Get My Payment seems to be working- you can check there as starting point, and if it permits enter your US bank info,

the non resident exception is for foreigners

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