I interned in CA until Dec 2018, got the offer for Seattle in Dec, signed in January. Yet they taxed my bonus? Should I file a CA return, I think this is a mistake
Yes you need to file for both states. If you use TurboTax it should handle it for you. Or an accountant will know what to do.
Cool, thanks
When was the bonus actually paid out to you?
Jan 2019
You pay where you earned it. If you got a stock grant in ca look forward to 3 more years of filing ca taxes as well :)
I was in a similar boat. Taxed for CA for MSFT signing bonus cause I didn’t have a WA address. I got the right refund when I filed my taxes. Wasn’t that straightforward, and had to visit H&R block 3 times to get it done.
What was the issue? Can’t I just file for CA, they’ll see it was a mistake, then refund?
If you are no longer a resident of CA when you received the bonus, you can file a CA tax return claiming nonresident and get your refund. It depends on when you actually moved and which date your bonus landed.
Welcome to Adulthood.
:(