The first step is to determine your resident state. If Washington is normally the state in which you reside, then you will have to file a nonresident return for California. To do that, in the My Info section on the left-hand side of your screen, click Edit next to your name and make sure Washington is listed as your resident state. Under Other state income, click Edit and enter California. Whatever your resident state is has the right to tax all your income, even income earned while you did not live there. A nonresident state generally only has the right to tax income you earned within their state.
As you go through the California return, it will ask the number of days you spent in California. After you continue through several more screens, TurboTax asks Did you earn all of your income in California? Answer No and only enter the portion you earned while you were staying with your parents in California. Do not enter the amount for the 2 1/2 months you were in Washington, as that is not taxable by California if it is not your resident state.
If your residence is normally California, then all the income is taxable by California, even the portion earned while you were staying with a friend in Washington. In this case, you would want California listed as your resident state and you can leave the Other state income section blank. TurboTax will then correctly suggest to file a resident California return.
