Client has a driver's license in CT but is residing in PA while attending graduate school. Where should he file state tax return and what is his status in PA (resident, non-resident)?
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Driver's license does not establish domicile or statutory residence. It is only one of the facts that would be considered in a whole list of factors that would be weighed in to make the determination for domicile.
Having said that, your client would, prima facie, be deemed a statutory resident of PA by virtue of physical presence, regardless of his domicile, according to the statutory definition under 61 Pa. Code §101.1 and on the basis the exception for full-time students should no longer apply to him.
Resident individual - An individual
- who is domiciled in this Commonwealth unless he maintains no permanent place of abode in this Commonwealth and does maintain a permanent place of abode elsewhere and spends in the aggregate not more than 30 days of the taxable year in this Commonwealth;
- who is not domiciled in this Commonwealth but maintains a permanant place of abode in this Commonwealth and spends in the aggregate more than 183 days of the taxable year in this Commonwealth. An individual may be a resident of this Commonwealth and taxable as a resident even though he would not be deemed a resident for other purposes.
It is possible that, at the same time, he is a domicile of CT. Or he may have terminated domicile in CT previously when he relocated to China or with his move to PA. You will need to review his facts and circumstances to make that determination.
Married? Single? Dependent of someone?
Living in a dorm? Graduate housing? House or apt?
Will he return to CT?
PA has a fact sheet/bulletin on residency of a student - or did a few years ago. Check their website.
Married filing separately.
Living in an apartment.
Yes, he will return to CT.
Currently, I cannot access the PA website due to some restrictions so I really appreciate the feedback I can get here.
Thank you.
Did he have any income? Where?
Yes. He had income in China from Jan to Mar 2019.
OK. Is he a US citizen/green card holder, a foreign national on employment visa, or a foreign national on F/J/Q visa?
He is a US citizen and was working in China but decided to go back to the US in March of 2019 and is currently a graduate student in PA but his driver's license is still registered in CT. Should he file a state tax return as a PA resident?
Driver's license does not establish domicile or statutory residence. It is only one of the facts that would be considered in a whole list of factors that would be weighed in to make the determination for domicile.
Having said that, your client would, prima facie, be deemed a statutory resident of PA by virtue of physical presence, regardless of his domicile, according to the statutory definition under 61 Pa. Code §101.1 and on the basis the exception for full-time students should no longer apply to him.
Resident individual - An individual
- who is domiciled in this Commonwealth unless he maintains no permanent place of abode in this Commonwealth and does maintain a permanent place of abode elsewhere and spends in the aggregate not more than 30 days of the taxable year in this Commonwealth;
- who is not domiciled in this Commonwealth but maintains a permanant place of abode in this Commonwealth and spends in the aggregate more than 183 days of the taxable year in this Commonwealth. An individual may be a resident of this Commonwealth and taxable as a resident even though he would not be deemed a resident for other purposes.
It is possible that, at the same time, he is a domicile of CT. Or he may have terminated domicile in CT previously when he relocated to China or with his move to PA. You will need to review his facts and circumstances to make that determination.
I appreciate the information provided.
Thank you very much.
NP, @LL2!
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