filing state taxes from abroad

[kramerlib]

Hi, I've been traveling in India for the past few years and have made enough to need to file in 2019. Have filed the federal return with no problems online with turbo tax but it won't let me file the state taxes. I assume I'd be a non resident (of Ohio) since I've been out of the country for the whole year, but in the dropdown that would let me select a different state there's simply a "non applicable" blank and then the dropdown for "alternate country" is impossible to fill. If I can efile somehow that would be best, but if not can someone point me out how to print then mail? 

If this is the wrong place to ask this question I apologize; I couldn't figure out how to ask a question in the other forums!

Thank you-

[SusanY1]

If you are filing because you have sources of income from Ohio (such as a rental income) and you still have ties to Ohio such as voter registration or a driver's license, file your return as a resident and list the county and school district where you last resided. 

If you do not still have these ties, file as a nonresident and select any item from the drop-down box except for one of these states: I*ndiana, Kentucky, West Virginia, Michigan or Pennsylvania.   Aside from these states, the selection will not affect your return (and is just a TurboTax interview question.)

If you do not have any income from sources within Ohio, Ohio does not require you to file to report income earned outside of the United States.  However, if it is the first year that you have resided outside of Ohio it is recommended to file this return (by mail) with the state: Ohio Statement of Nonresidency.  You have until October 15, 2020 to file the statement of nonresidency.

Ohio, unlike some forms, doesn't have a separate form for nonresident tax but simply adds a credit schedule to the tax return for nonresidents who are claiming credits for taxes paid to other states.   In your case, this won't apply which is why the selection of a state will not affect the return (as long as you do not select one of the above-listed states with which Ohio has reciprocity.)

[kramerlib]

Thanks for your reply! 

Just to be clear I've understood: if I do have a voter registration, or a bank account, or a driver's license (even an expired one?) registered in Ohio, there won't be any kind of penalty for filing as a resident even if I haven't been back to the state for the entire tax year? 

Otherwise I'd like to fill out the form you suggest, but unfortunately the link attached doesn't work. Is it because I'm accessing it from overseas?

I don't plan on living in India permanently and do plan to return to Ohio, but yes, this is the first year I'll have filed taxes from outside of Ohio. 

If you can clarify these things I'd be so appreciative!