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Hi Bud, I hold a CPA license in WA State though I'm not currently in practice. I have lots of experience doing federal tax returns, and almost none doing state tax returns. Washington State doesn't have a state income tax (yet), and the only office I've worked in that did a lot of state returns had a specific preparer to do them. Things you said in your question make me suspect that your return might be easier to prepare than it sounds. Are you aware that the old rules concerning the sale of a personal residence and the subsequent purchase of a different personal residence using the gain from the sale were thrown out in the Tax Revision of 1997? The once-per-liftime exclusion on gain from the sale of your personal residence was also abolished then. The rules are now much simpler and far more generous. I won't explain the current rules now because you might already be aware of them. However, if you're not, or if you're not completely clear on how it works, let me know and I'll furnish a brief, simple explanation. The other thing that might be easier than it sounds is the income from other states. I don't think that all states require non-residents to file returns on income generated in their state. Of course, you would want to file if state taxes were withheld because there would be no other way to get a refund. Just be sure to check before you assume that out-of-state income will necessarily require returns to be filed with thoses states. As far as the federal return is concerned, only the nature of the income is important, not the geographic source (as long as it's within the U.S.) If your situation is more complicated---the sale of depreciated rental property, for instance, or out-of-state income from a registered tax shelter---then by all means get a competent CPA to help you. All the best, Stan
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