Generally if you work in California, whether you’re a resident or not, you have to pay income taxes on the wages you earn for those services. That’s due to the “source rule”: California taxes all income with a source in California regardless of the taxpayer’s residency. And for purposes of taxing employees, the source of income from services is the location where the services are performed. This is true even if you are a nonresident, even if the contract with the employer is made out-of-state, and even if the wages are paid outside of California.
