My son, a CA resident, made $200 working at college in MA. He also made $7K in CA, and will be filing a CA return. Does he need to file a MA return?

[kshome]

 It's more $ to file MA than he'd get back. 

[Phillip1 · Accepted solution]

No.

If he is a dependent on your return, he is a California resident for tax purposes on a temporary absence in MA for school. As a MA non-resident, you do not have to file if your MA income is under 8,000 dollars.

See the following from http://www.mass.gov/dor/individuals/filing-and-payment-information/guide-to-personal-income-tax/nonr...:

Massachusetts tax law distinguishes between residents and nonresidents. Residents are generally taxed on all of their income, unless otherwise excludible; nonresidents are only taxed on their income derived from sources within Massachusetts. Nonresidents are taxed on their Massachusetts gross income (derived from sources within Massachusetts) if such amount exceeds  either  $8,000 or the prorated personal exemption to which they may be entitled,  whichever is less .