california tax

[cali123]

I'm a long-time California resident. But in 2024, I spent ~5months outside the US. During those months, I started a new job, working for a big company, which is headquartered in California, but I joined a team based in Massachusetts. I was supposed to eventually move to MA, but after my return to the US (and California), I continued working remotely for a few more months, and then I changed teams and joined a team that was local in CA.

For the 5 months that I was outside the country and was working with a MA-based team, should I be paying tax to California, to Massachusetts, or to neither of them? I was never a MA resident. 

[MaryK4]

You will report and pay your income and taxes to California.  In general, you report and pay tax on all income regardless of where you earned it.

[cali123]

Thanks for the quick answer. Since the company has already withheld MA state tax, should I fill out a MA state tax form and claim that back? or should I add the withheld amount as some sort of a credit on the California tax return forms -- to avoid getting double-taxed?

[MaryK4]

Because you did not work in Massachusetts, you would have to file a nonresident return and report zero income.  You will need a letter from your employer to explain the Massachusetts withholding. @cali123