TL;DR
- ✅ Federal W-4: update your address, nothing else changes just because you moved
- ✅ State withholding: give your employer your new state's own form
- ✅ Living in one state and working in another: look for a reciprocity exemption
- ✅ In the year you move, expect part-year returns in both states
What changes and what does not
Federal W-4 (unchanged)
Federal income tax withholding uses your filing status, dependents and adjustments. None depend on your state. Update your address in Step 1 the next time you submit one.
State withholding form (new)
Most states with an income tax have their own form, such as the IL-W-4, MO W-4 or CT-W4. Your employer needs the form for the state they will withhold for.
Your address (HR and payroll)
Tell HR so your W-2 reaches you and payroll applies the right state, and local, tax.
Local taxes (varies)
Some cities and counties tax wages, for example in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Indiana and Missouri. Moving to or from one changes your local withholding.
Find your state's form and withholding — free
Pick your state to see its form, rates and an estimate of state plus federal withholding.
Open the W-4 Calculator →Living in one state and working in another
Your employer generally withholds for the state where you do the work, and your home state may also tax the income. To avoid paying one state while owing another, many neighboring states have reciprocity agreements, for example Kentucky with Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin. In those cases you file an exemption form with your employer so only your home state withholds. Check the pages for your state and the state you work in.
⚠️ Remote work
If you work from home in a different state from your employer, rules vary. Most states tax where you physically work, but a few apply a convenience-of-the-employer rule that can tax you based on your employer's location. Ask payroll which state they withhold for, and check that you are not being withheld for two states at once.
The year you move
You usually file a part-year resident return for each state, reporting income earned while living there. Keep your move date and your last pay stub from each state. If you also changed jobs or got married around the same time, review your federal W-4 too; see the new job W-4 guide and updating your W-4 after marriage. The federal W-4 basics are in the complete W-4 guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a new W-4 when I move to another state?
Not for federal withholding, which does not depend on your state. You should update your address in Step 1 and give your employer your new state's withholding form, because state withholding is set on that form, not the federal W-4.
Which state does my employer withhold for?
Generally the state where you physically work, and sometimes the state where you live. Some neighboring states have reciprocity agreements that let you pay only your home state. A few states tax remote workers based on where the employer is.
What if I move to a state with no income tax?
If you also work there, your employer stops withholding state income tax once they have your new address. Federal withholding is unchanged. States with no wage income tax include Texas, Florida, Washington, Tennessee, Nevada, Wyoming, South Dakota, Alaska and New Hampshire.
Will I file two state returns for the year I move?
Usually yes. Each state taxes the income you earned while a resident, and sometimes income from work done there, so you file a part-year resident return in each. Keep your move date and the pay you earned in each state.
I live in one state and work in another. Which form do I use?
Check both states. Many states offer a nonresident or reciprocity exemption form so the work state does not withhold, and your home state taxes you instead. Our state pages list the forms and the reciprocal states.
Key terms in this article
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