Remote work, based in US but was traveling all last year.

[EcoAuds]

Hello! I work for a center in CO, but due to COVID all of our work is now done online.  Because of this, I was traveling overseas all last year and did not really live in the US during 2021.  I worked for them for half of the year last year as an hourly employee.  All of the work I do is for the US.  I was living in Colorado in 2020 prior to travel, but no longer reside at the address I was living at as I was renting.  I am still registered as a Colorado resident, but was not in Colorado last year as I was traveling.  I believe I will have to file Colorado taxes as that is where I am earning my income (is that correct?), but do I use my old address? My work address? Or is there something else I should be doing?  I am not sure what to do, and just want to make sure I'm doing everything right! 

[RobertB4444]

You can qualify for a foreign earned income exclusion if you were not in the US in 2021 even though your employer is based in Colorado.  Go through the foreign earned income exclusion interview in TurboTax.

However, TurboTax will not work with a foreign address.  May be best to get a US PO box for purposes of US correspondence.  

[EcoAuds]

Hi Robert,

Thanks for your response.  Where do I go to find that interview? I cannot seem to find it. 

I am staying with my mother in Florida when I have been coming back to the US.  Can I use that address to file or does that create issues as it is in another state? Would I need to get a PO box in Colorado?

[JulieS]

Yes, you can use your mother's address in Florida on your tax return. It won't create any problems because Florida doesn't have a state income tax. 

[EcoAuds]

Fantastic, thank you so much! Does that only apply if I qualify for the foreign income tax exemption or can I still use her address if I end up having to pay Colorado taxes?

[DaveF1006]

You will not need to pay income tax to Colorado if you didn't live there in 2021.  You are not obligated to file a Colorado state return. Do as JulieS suggests and use your mother's address in Florida. 

Please refer to this Turbo Tax link for further information.

@EcoAuds