Which box in W2 determines the state for tax I owe to?

[jackkgan]

I lived in my parent's place in CA until Nov 1, 2023, and moved to a rented apartment in New York since then. I had not changed the CA mailing address for my 1st employer until I left them end of February, hence they had my CA address. I am filing my taxes as New York resident as I stayed there throughout 2024.

This employer's W2 has the following, hence my question whether Box 15=CA means that I owe taxes to CA and not NY or which box of W2 matters for the state.

• Box c: Employer's address is Washington DC.
• Box e: My CA mailing address  (parent's address until 1st Nov 2023  )
• Box 15: CA
• Box 14: Other: CASDI 136

I entered both NY and CA Turbo Tax returns but answered the question in my CA return that all the income I had earned was outside CA state. Just making sure that is ok as I worried that box 15 shows CA.

I checked the Turbo Tax generated pdf. which shows as below:

Box 15a (NY State)=NY, box 16a=0, box 17a =0

Box 15b (Other State)=CA, 16b: Income from the 1st employer, 17b=State income tax withheld by 1st employer

[MaryK4]

In general, you pay state income tax to the state where you performed the work if you were not a resident of that state and you pay state income tax on all income earned in your resident state (if they tax income).

[jackkgan]

Thanks MaryK4

I would appreciate your clarification on which state (NY or CA or Washington DC) would be considered as "state where you performed the work" that you wrote, for my situation.

Also, more info: Below were my answers to TurboTax questions

Turbo Tax screen : Did you earn all of your income in California?

• Yes , I earned all $x in California
• No, I earned all or some of the $x in a different state  (I chose this)

How much of the $x from Federal Form(s) W-2 did you earn in California?

• $0 (I entered 0)

Turbo Tax generated California Non-resident or Part-Year Resident Income  Tax Return 540NR

• Box 12: < Income from this employer>
• Box 81:< California Income Tax withheld >

[MaryK4]

@jackkgan You would have New York wages.  It looks like your entries are correct.  You can delete the California return by clicking the trash can next to it on the list of state returns.  TurboTax most likely added it there because you had the CA mailing address,