California
Leaving California? You may still have to pay taxes
Californians who move out may still face tax
People who left California may still have to pay California taxes.
LOS ANGELES – Ditching the Golden State for another U.S. state? You’re not alone.
A study conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau revealed tens of thousands of Californians sought life elsewhere. Some reasons why people are leaving California include: high cost of living, lack of job opportunities, increasing tax burdens, and regulations.
Overall, 75,423 Californians left in 2023. Many residents are moving to other parts of the country for better opportunities, cheaper homes, and different laws.
But before you pack your bags and set your sights on a new beginning, don’t forget there are measures you need to take – otherwise, you’ll still have to pay those notorious California taxes.
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California has nine state income tax rates, ranging from 1% to 12.3%. Your tax rate and tax bracket depend on your taxable income and filing status.
California’s Franchise Tax Board has the ability to conduct residency audits and is responsible for monitoring the fine line between residents and non-residents. The FTB has the right to investigate how and when you left.
When it comes to California state taxes, there are three residency statuses: resident, part-year resident and nonresident. The FTB determines what portion of your income the state will tax. According to state law, you are presumed to be a California resident if you are in California for more than nine months.
SUGGESTED: Here’s how many people moved out of California in 2023
The IRS has the ability to audit 3 or 6 years, but in California – that time frame expands to essentially, forever.
California uses several factors to determine your residency, like the amount of time you spent in the Golden State versus outside. Other factors the FTB considers include:
- The location of the taxpayer’s spouse and children;
- The location of the taxpayer’s principal residence;
- Where the taxpayer was issued a driver’s license;
- Where the taxpayer’s vehicles are registered;
- Where the taxpayer maintains professional licenses;
- Where the taxpayer is registered to vote;
- The locations of banks where the taxpayer maintains accounts;
- The locations of the taxpayer’s doctors, dentists, accountants and attorneys;
- The locations of church, temple or mosque, professional associations, and social and country clubs of which the taxpayer is a member;
- The locations of the taxpayer’s real property and investments;
- The permanence of the taxpayer’s work assignments in California; and
- The location of the taxpayer’s social ties. FTB Pub. 1031, Guidelines for Determining Resident Status (2010).
But the biggest factor of all, it seems, is your physical presence. Again, California presumes you are a resident if you spend more than 9 months in the state.
If you spend 6 months or less, you may qualify as a “seasonal visitor,” but that’s only if you don’t work while you are in the state, and meet other criteria.
SUGGESTED: People leaving California moving here in record numbers, data shows
Even part-year residents are still taxed. You pay tax on “all worldwide income received while you are a California resident” and “income from California sources while you were a nonresident,” according to the FTB.
In order to avoid paying taxes, you must prove you have left California – but that means more than just buying a home in another state. You must prove you have completely severed your ties to the Golden State and that you have permanent connections to another state.
And even if you do that, you may still owe taxes based on other factors – for example, if your spouse still lives in California, expect to pay up as community property rules in California treat half your income as half of your spouse’s.
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If you’re a California resident but looking to chuck that and settle elsewhere, proceed with care and remember to take precautions. For example – getting a new state driver’s license and surrendering your old California one, moving and registering your car in your new state, and registering to vote in your new state while canceling your old California voter registration. You can learn more on the FTB’s website.
A study conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau indicates the top 5 states former Californians moved to were Texas, Arizona, Florida, Washington and Nevada. Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming all do not impose state income taxes.
Parts of three states face potentially unhealthy levels of air pollution early Wednesday, a live map from AirNow shows.
The map shows multiple pockets of fine particle (PM2.5) pollution in the “unhealthy” category. In Arizona, the pocket is centered around Payson, while another area is located along the border between California and Oregon, encompassing parts of Red Rock Valley, Butte Valley, Tule Lake National Wildlife Refuge, Langell Valley, Spring Lake Valley, and areas around Klamath Falls.
At these air-quality levels, the Environmental Protection Agency advises that sensitive groups avoid long or intense outdoor activities and consider moving or rescheduling them indoors. The EPA also recommends the remainder of the population to reduce long or intense activities, and to take more breaks during outdoor activities.
Why It Matters
Officials and experts say that deteriorating air quality heightens health risks for vulnerable populations, such as older adults, children and individuals with respiratory illnesses.
What To Know
AirNow—an air quality data resource—is a partnership between the EPA, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and other agencies.
The Air Quality Index measures air pollution on a scale from 0 to 301 and above:
- 0—50 (Green): Good—Air quality is satisfactory, and air pollution poses little or no risk.
- 51—100 (Yellow): Moderate—Air quality is acceptable. However, there may be a risk for some people, particularly those who are unusually sensitive to air pollution.
- 101—150 (Orange): Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups—Members of sensitive groups may experience health effects. The general public is less likely to be affected.
- 151—200 (Red): Unhealthy—Some members of the general public may experience health effects; members of sensitive groups may experience more serious health effects.
- 201—300 (Purple): Very Unhealthy—Health alert. The risk of health effects is increased for everyone.
- 301 and higher (Maroon): Hazardous—Health warning of emergency conditions. Everyone is more likely to be affected.
What People Are Saying
The EPA says on its website: “The size of particles is directly linked to their potential for causing health problems. Small particles less than 10 micrometers in diameter pose the greatest problems, because they can get deep into your lungs, and some may even get into your bloodstream.
“Exposure to such particles can affect both your lungs and your heart. Numerous scientific studies have linked particle pollution exposure to a variety of problems, including:
- premature death in people with heart or lung disease
- nonfatal heart attacks
- irregular heartbeat
- aggravated asthma
- decreased lung function
- increased respiratory symptoms, such as irritation of the airways, coughing or difficulty breathing.
“People with heart or lung diseases, children, older adults, minority populations, and low socioeconomic status populations are the most likely to be affected by particle pollution exposure, either because they are more sensitive or may have higher exposures.”
What Happens Next
AirNow’s map is regularly updated.
Update, 11/12/2025, 5:01 a.m. ET: This article was updated with additional information.
California traveled to Louisville, Ky., in search of a statement win against the No. 14 Louisville Cardinals (7-2, 4-2 ACC), and the Golden Bears (6-4, 3-3 ACC) pulled out all the stops Saturday evening to earn the upset, 29-26, in overtime.
On the first play of the game, California quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele threw a lateral to his slot receiver, Jacob de Jesus, who then connected with Trond Grizzell on a deep 27-yard pass. While the Golden Bears would not score on the drive, their fast and aggressive play early on silenced much of the 51,381 in attendance.
California out-gained Louisville in total yards and offensive plays throughout the entire game. The Golden Bears never once trailed the nationally ranked Cardinals by more than one score, despite entering the game as three-score underdogs, according to many sportsbooks’ odds.
Sagapolutele earned the game-winning touchdown in overtime with a nail-biting throw on fourth down. California’s first-year signal-caller found his favorite target of the evening, de Jesus, who brought in the three-yard reception to close out the game.
De Jesus had a game-high 157 receiving yards and hauled in 16 of 23 passes in which he was targeted. His 16 receptions tie Geoff McArthur’s school record for receptions by a receiver in a single game.
In his post-game press conference, Louisville head coach Jeff Brohm praised de Jesus, calling him California’s “best player.”
“… Even at the end, to allow their best player to be one-on-one for an easy throw in the corner… you know, we need to coach better; we need to play better,” Coach Brohm said.
Sagapolutele completed 30 out of 47 passes attempted and racked up 323 passing yards—both career highs. In addition to the game-decider, the quarterback threw his first touchdown of the game in the first quarter, a 20-yard bomb to tight end Landon Morris.
The last time California beat a nationally ranked, top-25 team was on Dec. 5, 2020, when the Golden Bears upset the No. 20 Oregon Ducks, 21-17, for their first win in the 2020 college football season.
With the win, California is now eligible for a post-season bowl bid.
CALIFORNIA (AZFamily) — The mother of a missing California girl has been arrested on charges unrelated to her daughter’s disappearance, but the child still has yet to be found.
FBI Los Angeles announced that 40-year-old Ashlee Buzzard was taken into custody on Friday. However, the whereabouts of her daughter, 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard, remain unknown.
Melodee and Ashlee reportedly went on a road trip as far as Nebraska in a rental white Chevrolet Malibu last month, detectives say. Federal authorities say Melodee and her mother may have passed through Interstate 15 in Littlefield, Arizona while on the drive.
Detectives say Ashlee was arrested for a recent incident where she allegedly prevented a victim from leaving against their will. Authorities say this crime is not connected to the ongoing search for Melodee.
“Although this arrest occurred during the course of the missing person investigation, it is not directly related to Melodee’s disappearance. Sheriff’s detectives remain fully focused on locating Melodee and confirming her safety,” FBI Los Angeles said in a statement.
Ashlee was booked for a felony charge of false imprisonment. She is being held at a jail in Santa Maria, California, with bail set at $100,000.
Melodee was photographed at a rental car agency on Oct. 7, wearing a wig and a hoodie.
The young girl has brown eyes and brown, curly hair that may be straightened or covered with a dark wig. She is between four and four-and-a-half feet tall, weighing between 60 and 100 pounds.
Anyone with information about Melodee is asked to contact detectives at (805) 681-4150 or submit an anonymous tip at (805) 681-4171.
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