Construction Worker working out of State

[Gringacho]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? GA

I am a resident of the state of Georgia and took a new job with a company based in Tennessee (no state income tax) in June 2008. I am in the construction management business and relocate every 1-2 years. I have been working 100% of my time since June 2008 in their office in TN and only paying federal income taxes out of my bi-weekly pay check since June.

We were scheduled to relocate from the TN office to a jobsite and establish residency in a new state, yet things fell through with the economy and I have stayed in TN working and receiving reimbursement for 100% expenses for temporary living. This is not a montly per diem, it is an expense check I receive for my weekly housing and food expenses.

We also don't own a home in Georgia, my wife and I are simply using my parents address there to register cars and receive mail until we relocate from Knoxville to a 1-2 year construction job.

Question: Will I have to write a check in April to pay 6 months taxes to the state of Georgia (June - Dec 2008) since I have been living and working in Knoxville, TN? Or is there a way to avoid the state income tax since I have been working and "temporarily" living in a state where there are no taxes?

 

[LdiJ]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? GA

I am a resident of the state of Georgia and took a new job with a company based in Tennessee (no state income tax) in June 2008. I am in the construction management business and relocate every 1-2 years. I have been working 100% of my time since June 2008 in their office in TN and only paying federal income taxes out of my bi-weekly pay check since June.

We were scheduled to relocate from the TN office to a jobsite and establish residency in a new state, yet things fell through with the economy and I have stayed in TN working and receiving reimbursement for 100% expenses for temporary living. This is not a montly per diem, it is an expense check I receive for my weekly housing and food expenses.

We also don't own a home in Georgia, my wife and I are simply using my parents address there to register cars and receive mail until we relocate from Knoxville to a 1-2 year construction job.

Question: Will I have to write a check in April to pay 6 months taxes to the state of Georgia (June - Dec 2008) since I have been living and working in Knoxville, TN? Or is there a way to avoid the state income tax since I have been working and "temporarily" living in a state where there are no taxes?

Georgia may very well have the right to claim that you are still a resident of GA and a non-resident of TN for tax purposes. Your car registration and mail going to GA could make the claim that the TN job is only a temporary absense from home.

In addition, the expenses that you are receiving would be taxable income if you were a resident of TN, but non taxable if the TN job is temporary. Therefore you have a "catch-22".