I had a rental in Texas for 15 years. I lived in Texas for 14 years of the 15 years. I moved to California for a little over a year and then sold the rental property for a profit. I understand that federal recapture is applied for the 15 years at 25% tax rate. That makes sense because I for 15 years I enjoyed the break while the home did not depreciate. I also understand that I must pay capital gain tax on the profit, as well as state income tax on the profit.
What I do not understand is if CA requires that I pay depreciation recapture income tax on all 15 years where 14 of the years I did not even live in CA? I did not enjoy a tax break from CA during that 14 years so why must I pay a recapture to CA for years other than when I lived in CA and benefited from the depreciation on my state taxes. It seems I should owe CA just 1 year.
I am surprised this is not a more common question as I have been unable to find this common scenario discussed.