Moved multiple states, where to file?

[soblah]

Hello, 

Thank you in advance for your expert reply. 

I started the year living in CT, receiving unemployment from CA (used to live there before covid).  Almost 2/3's of my income from the year is from that. Then I got a job in PA and temporarily lived there from Sept-Nov, at which point I kept the same job but moved to DE. The state I lived in the longest was CT, so is that where I do my state return? Also, do I have to file in CA since I received unemployment from there, even though I didn't live there this tax year? What about PA and DE, do I need to file in those states too? Obvs trying to save as much $$ as possible. 

I greatly appreciate your help!

Best,

Jenn 

[ErnieS0]

File a return in all states where you earned income (assuming you are required to file. You may have made too little in some states to file a return).

If you are using TurboTax online, you can start each state for free. If you owe no tax or are not getting a refund, you don't have to file that state. Delete that state.

If the cost of TurboTax for that state is more than your refund, you can decide not to file. You'll lose your refund. Delete that state if you want.

It's unclear whether you had a permanent home state or just moved around a lot.

If you had a home state, you would file a resident return for your home state and nonresident returns for the other states, except California.

Unemployment is not taxed in CA so you don't have to file there, but unemployment is taxable in CT, the state you were living in when you were paid the benefits so the CA unemployment goes on the CT return.

If you did not have a home state, file part-year returns for all the states except California and report any income you earned while living in those states.

[soblah]

Thank you ErnieS0. Glad I don't have to file in CA. 

What does it mean to have a home state? It was my home while I was there until I moved...Just trying to figure out if if should file as a resident, partial resident, or non-resident in the other 3 states. 

[ErnieS0]

A home state is where you had a permanent resident. If you were temporarily working in those other states, but had a permanent home in California, then you would be a California resident.

From my reading, you look to be a part-year resident in every state.