CA nonresident and remote work

[OREGON123]

I live in Oregon and received a single 1099-NEC from a CA company for whom I did some consulting. Per the in-program instructions, I entered my home state info first. However Oregon can't be completed until CA is finished. I'm not sure if there is a glitch running right now in INTUIT, but the program doesn't return to where I left off my CA return, but starts over at the beginning of the CA tax return after I tried to return to the Oregon section to retrieve information I needed. (It seems like it should have populated the needed information instead of forcing me to find it in the Oregon tax return.)  I am 98% done inputting the CA information.  But CA is asking me what the Oregon tax is, and Oregon needs the CA tax. Neither has been calculated yet.  So there are a few issues going on simultaneously and I am flummoxed. 

[CatinaT1]

Did you do any physical work in California or did you do the work for the CA remotely from Oregon? If you did not physically work in California, you do not need to file a California return.

[Opus 17]

---

@CatinaT1 wrote:

Did you do any physical work in California or did you do the work for the CA remotely from Oregon? If you did not physically work in California, you do not need to file a California return.

---

Sorry, but CA considers that if you are self-employed, your income is California-source if you have clients in California even if you never actually work in California (different from most other states).

As to getting the program to work correctly,  you may need to contact customer support.  Usually, the advice for turbotax is to prepare the non-resident state first and the resident state last.  I don't know if that would make a difference.  potentially you could clear both states and start over with CA first.  but you may need to call support who can do a screen share and find out why the program is stuck. 

[TomD8]

@OREGON123 --

"Oregon can't be completed until CA is finished." 

"...Oregon needs the CA tax"

Are you sure you completed your OR return before you started your non-resident CA return?   Because of the reverse-credit situation, you must complete the OR return first.

[OREGON123]

I attempted to file Oregon first, but it got to a screen which directed me to finish my CA return before I could proceed any further on my Oregon return. On the CA return it's asking what the amount is that OR is taxing.  Is it asking me the amount I earned in CA or asking me the total of all my 1099-NEC wages/income, most of which is NOT from CA?? 

[TomD8]

"I attempted to file Oregon first, but it got to a screen which directed me to finish my CA return"

I don't have the OR state module on my computer, so I can't duplicate your situation.  But that sentence implies that you had started your CA return before your OR return.  You must complete the OR return before you start the CA return in order for the "other state credit" to be properly calculated and applied.

The "other state credit" applies only to the portion of your income that was taxed by both OR and CA.  The credit will be granted on your non-resident CA return.  The program can "know" the credit amount only if you complete the OR return first.

[OREGON123]

Thanks TomD8, I think I am just going to go in and delete both OR and CA and start over, as suggested in previous comments; then make sure I finish OR before starting a CA return.  

[OREGON123]

Well, I am really in a pickle now. I deleted the nonresident CA return and finished (or THOUGHT I finished) the OR return. I did the auto-review and TurboTax said it looked fine. But importantly, though it gave me a refund amount like I had completed it, there was no breakdown of actual taxes paid, (as I'd seen for the Federal return). Instructions gave the next step as adding a CA return. I thought, "Oh great! This is what I was expecting." However, I'm deep in the CA return and I'm in the section talking about CA giving me credit, but it wants the Oregon tax amount. I don't have one because it's not showing up anywhere. When I navigated back to the screen showing "Status of State Returns", it shows I did reviews of both returns, but it isn't showing them completed. And more concerning is the note I saw (which I swear wasn't there when I initiated the CA return)  -which states "Important:  Complete your nonresident return(s) first."  I copied the paragraph below just so you'd know I wasn't seeing things.  Since this is the opposite of your advice and previous comments I'd read as well, I am REALLY confused.  Any clarifications would be greatly appreciated.  Many thanks.

Status of your state returns

Important: Complete your nonresident return(s) first.

Finish adding any states where you earned money. When you're done, we’ll review your federal and state returns together.

StateType of ReturnStatus  

Oregon	Resident	Reviewed	Edit
California	Nonresident	Reviewed	Edit

Add another State

[TomD8]

@OREGON123 --

Sounds like you are doing everything right.  Unfortunately I don't have the Oregon software on my computer so I can't simulate your situation.  I'm going to pass your problem on to the Moderators.  Hopefully one of them will be able to help.

[Opus 17]

---

@TomD8 wrote:

@OREGON123 --

Sounds like you are doing everything right.  Unfortunately I don't have the Oregon software on my computer so I can't simulate your situation.  I'm going to pass your problem on to the Moderators.  Hopefully one of them will be able to help.

---

@OREGON123 

You may need to call customer support.  They can do a screen share and look at your return behind the scenes.

Or, you could consider purchasing Turbotax as a download or CD to install on your own computer.  That gives you direct access to the forms and you can look up your answers directly on the form.  If you have already paid for TT online, you would still have to call support about a refund, but you may not have paid yet since you generally only need to pay when you are ready to file.  You can also download your data file from TT online to open in the desktop program rather than having to start the whole return from scratch.