Why did my NYS tax refund drop when I entered that I moved 3 days before the end of the year?

[mavirek]

While preparing my fed return my refund for NYS/C was showing as well.  When I got to the NYS/C return, it asked me when I moved out of the state.  My answer triggered it to choose a non-resident form, but dropped by refund (even though I did not reduce any income I was paying state/local taxes on).

[mavirek]

My own research found this confusing definition that could apply to me:  

If you either: (A) are domiciled in New York State; OR (B) maintained a permanent place of abode AND spent 184 days or more in New York State, you must file a resident tax return, Form IT-201, regardless of the location where you may have been working or telecommuting from in 2020.

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If I did file as IT-201, then I would probably get my max refund; but by indicating I had bought a home in FL 3 days before the end of the year, TT picked a IT-203 for me to fill out and my refund plummeted approx. $1000.

While I did purchase my new home 12/29 and sought the FL Homestead Exemption, I still had my apartment in NYC throughout 2020.  Am I destined in this situation to be penalized for those 3 days?

[ErnieS0 · Accepted solution]

File as a full-year New York resident unless you actually moved into your Florida home on December 29 and were settled in.

Residency is a complicated issue. There is no single factor that makes you a resident. Buying a home and applying for a homestead exemption does not automatically make you a resident on that date,

In general your residency is your permanent location. If all or most of your belongings were still in New York and you did not finish closing your affairs in the Big Apple, you are a full-year NY resident, especially with only three days left in the year.