How does the IRS know which state you live in?

Asked by: Ms. Maritza Turcotte  |  Last update: December 24, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (11 votes)

For income tax purposes, you're the resident of a state if you meet either of the following conditions: The state is your “domicile,” the place you envision as your home and where you intend to return after any absences. Though domiciled elsewhere, you spent more than half the year in the state.

How does the IRS determine where you live?

Primary Residence Rules

But if you live in more than one home, the IRS determines your primary residence by: Where you spend the most time. Your legal address as listed for tax returns, with the USPS, on your driver's license and on your voter registration card.

How does IRS know your residency?

You are a resident of the United States for tax purposes if you meet either the green card test or the substantial presence test for the calendar year (January 1 – December 31). Certain rules exist for determining your residency starting and ending dates.

Does it matter what state you live in for federal taxes?

Federal income tax rates are based on your income and filing status—not on where you live. Therefore, the same federal tax rates apply to everyone, no matter their state of residence.

Does the IRS check where you live?

The IRS doesn't care what state you live in, or if you pay state taxes. The IRS only cares if pay Federal taxes. They need you to correctly report your income and any possible deductions, so that you pay your fair share.

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18 related questions found

How does IRS know which state you live in?

For income tax purposes, you're the resident of a state if you meet either of the following conditions: The state is your “domicile,” the place you envision as your home and where you intend to return after any absences. Though domiciled elsewhere, you spent more than half the year in the state.

How long can you live in another state without becoming a resident?

Most states will consider you a resident for tax purposes if you spend 183 days or more in that state.

How does the IRS know when you move?

Changes of address through the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) may update your address of record on file with us based on what they retain in their National Change of Address (NCOA) database. However, even when you notify the USPS, not all post offices forward government checks, so you should still notify us.

Am I taxed based on where I live or where I work?

In the US, income is normally taxed where you live. In other words, it's where you're domiciled or where you are a resident. So, for example, if you live and work in the same state, you'll pay tax on income earned in this state. But if you live and work in different states, then you may pay tax in both states.

What is the most tax friendly state to live in?

States with the lowest personal income tax rates
  • Alaska.
  • Florida.
  • Nevada.
  • South Dakota.
  • Tennessee.
  • Texas.
  • Washington.
  • Wyoming.

Can you have residency in two states?

Yes, it is possible to have residency in two states – but there are a few asterisks attached to that “yes.” Residency rules vary from state to state, and what's allowed in one place might not fly in another.

How does the IRS determine your address?

The IRS uses the address from the last federal tax return that you filed.

What triggers a residency audit?

If you've a considerably amount of Real Estate, have a profitable business, or have invested wisely in stocks which you are now ready to sell off, if you move to a low/no-income tax state, and then sell your assets, this will likely trigger an audit.

Are state taxes based on where you live?

If you earn income in one state while living in another, you should expect to file a tax return for the state where you are living (your “resident” state). You may also be required to file a state tax return where your employer is located or any state where you have a source of income.

Do I have to live in my primary residence?

To qualify as a primary residence, you must live there the majority of the year. You are also expected to move in within 60 days of closing the loan and not plan to convert the home into a rental property within 12 months of closing.

What is the IRS last known address rule?

02 A taxpayer's “last known address” is defined in Treas. Reg. § 301.6212-2(a) as the address on the taxpayer's most recently filed and properly processed return, unless the Service has been given clear and concise notification of a different address.

What happens if you live in one state and work in another?

The 6% tax will be owed to the other state and California will allow a credit based on the lower of what was actually paid to that state or what California charges on that state income.

Does where you live matter for taxes?

Your overall tax liability is heavily dependent on where you live. Here's your state-by-state guide to who charges what. Income, estate, property, sales—you name it, there's a tax for it. Except, that is, for those states that forgo such taxes in a bid to lure individuals and businesses.

Can someone in another state do my taxes?

Well, there is good news here; it is possible. In fact, you can LEGALLY work with an accountant in another state to handle both your state and federal tax information. Since federal taxes work the same across the board, it doesn't matter where you live as long as it is in the USA.

How does the IRS prove where you live?

In either case, to show where you lived, you can send documents such as a lease agreement, utility bill, a letter from a clergy member, or a letter from social services.

Does the IRS share information with states?

IRS and state/local agencies share data with each other through a variety of ongoing initiatives. The information includes: Audit results. Federal individual and business return information.

Are you taxed based on where you live or where you work?

Do I Pay State Income Taxes Where I Live Or Work? The easy rule is that you must pay nonresident income taxes for the state in which you work and resident income taxes for the state in which you live, while filing income tax returns for both states. However, this general rule has several exceptions.

How does IRS verify state residency?

Your physical presence in a state plays an important role in determining your residency status. Usually, spending over half a year, or more than 183 days, in a particular state will render you a statutory resident and could make you liable for taxes in that state.

Can I have residency in two states?

Legally, you can have multiple residences in multiple states, but only one domicile. You must be physically in the same state as your domicile for most of the year and able to prove the domicile is your principal residence, “true home” or “place you return to.”

How to determine primary residence for tax purposes?

For tax purposes, a principal residence is the dwelling that a person inhabits most of the time. It does not matter whether it is a house, apartment, trailer, or boat as long as it is where the taxpayer lives for most of the year. A principal residence is also referred to as a primary residence or main residence.