Working in the US but living abroad

[TheOnlyOne1]

Appreciate advise on this situation:

A US citizen lives with family abroad. His work is in the US as part timer for 2 weeks per month and so travels back and forth to home abroad. He gets paid on a W2 for this job, sometimes does extra work as contractor on a 1099. All his income is in the US. No foreign income. He does have a mailing address in the state where he works.

Questions:

Where should he claim residence for purpose of filing
Can he claim the expenses of traveling from and to his job

[Vanessa A]

No, he cannot claim the expenses of traveling from and to his job.  Commuting expenses are not tax deductible for a job under any circumstance. 

He would claim his residence as the place he is staying for the 2 weeks per month.  Depending on the state rules, he will either be a Full Year resident or a Part year resident.  Every state has different rules.  Which state do you live in?

[TheOnlyOne1]

Thank you for the response.

Minnesota is where he works.

[Vanessa A]

If he spent more than 183 days in then he would be a Full Year Resident and will need to file taxes as such.  If his ONLY income is coming from MN, then whether he is Part Year or Full year, it will ALL be reported on the MN return and taxed that way. 

You’re considered a Minnesota resident for tax purposes (even if you have permanent residency in ano...

• You spend at least 183 days in Minnesota during the year (any part of a day counts as a full day)
• You or your spouse rent, own, maintain, or occupy a residence in Minnesota suitable for year-round u...

If both conditions apply for the entire year, you must follow the filing requirements for a full-yea...

If you meet the first condition, but the second condition applies for less than the full year, you a...