Do I need to file in CA?

[neha1]

I moved to CA late 2020 for school, and had no earnings after moving. TurboTax calculates that I owe $0 in taxes to CA. However, it also says I need to file in CA. Do I really need to and pay the $50 filing fee?

[Critter-3]

No you do not need to file CA if you had zero income in CA. 

[neha1]

Thanks. I realized I may owe taxes after all, depending on whether I am classified as a resident or a part-year resident of California. 

I lived in California as a student, relocated to another state for 6 months due to COVID (during which time I earned income), before returning to California at the end of the year to continue as a student. Am I a resident? Do I need to pay taxes on the income I earned while I was out of state (non-California source)?