An accountant writes on tax documents while using a calculator, focused on preparing for financial filing.
California does not let go of its taxpayers easily. If you recently moved to Nevada or split your time between states, the California Franchise Tax Board (FTB) may already be watching. Residency audits are one of the most aggressive tools the FTB uses to recapture income tax from people who left California, and they are becoming more common as high earners relocate to Nevada to take advantage of its zero state income tax.
This guide walks you through how these audits work, what triggers them, and what you need to do right now to protect your Nevada domicile.
California audits former residents to determine whether they truly changed their domicile or still owe California income tax on earnings.
California taxes its residents on their worldwide income. Under California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 17014, a resident is any individual who is in California for other than a temporary or transitory purpose, or who is domiciled in California but is outside the state for a temporary or transitory purpose. That definition gives the FTB broad authority to argue that someone who “moved” to Nevada still qualifies as a California resident.
Nevada has no state income tax. That difference can mean tens of thousands of dollars annually for a high-income earner. The FTB knows this, which is why former Californians living in Las Vegas are frequent audit targets.
Common audit triggers include selling a California business, filing a part-year return, receiving a 1099 with a California address, or maintaining California property.
The FTB uses a variety of data sources to flag potential audits, including:
The FTB’s audit manual instructs auditors to look for the location of your closest contacts, which the state calls your “closest connections.” This is a fact-intensive inquiry, and it rarely goes well for people who were unprepared when they left California.
The FTB evaluates domicile by examining where you spend time, keep property, maintain relationships, and conduct your most important activities.
Domicile is your permanent home, the place you intend to return to whenever you are away. You can only have one domicile at a time. The FTB Publication 1031 outlines the factors auditors use to determine domicile, including:
Changing your driver’s license to Nevada and registering to vote here is a good start. But the FTB will look well beyond that.
Spending fewer than 546 days in California over two years creates a presumption of nonresidence, but it does not guarantee you will win an audit.
California does not provide a general “546-day rule” presumption of nonresidency. Instead, California law provides a limited safe harbor for certain individuals temporarily absent from the state under an employment-related contract lasting at least 546 days. To qualify, the individual must be outside California under the terms of that qualifying contract, spend limited time in California during the period, and maintain a non-California domicile. Residency is otherwise determined under California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 17014 based on domicile and “temporary or transitory purpose,” not a day-count presumption.
This rule trips people up because they assume the day count alone is enough. Auditors can still rebut the presumption with evidence that your closest connections remained in California. Day counts matter, but they are not the whole story.
Strong documentation includes travel records, Nevada banking activity, lease or purchase agreements, and evidence of community ties in Nevada.
If the FTB audits you, you will need to produce records that prove your Nevada residency is real and substantial. Start building this file now:
The FTB can go back several years, so your documentation should match the tax years at issue. Courts have held that self-serving statements alone are not sufficient. You need paper trails.
The FTB will typically open a residency audit with a letter requesting information about your living situation and travel patterns during the years under review. Do not respond without legal guidance. Anything you submit becomes part of the record and can be used against you.
The audit process can take months and may include a formal hearing before the Office of Tax Appeals if the FTB’s initial determination goes against you. California’s Office of Tax Appeals (OTA) handles appeals from Franchise Tax Board determinations and operates as an independent quasi-judicial agency established under California Government Code Section 15674.
Our firm works with Nevada residents and businesses facing California tax disputes, residency challenges, and multistate planning issues. If you received an FTB audit notice or want to build a stronger domicile record before one arrives, we can help you assess your exposure and put the right documentation in place.
Call us at 702-330-3441 or contact us to schedule a consultation with our team.
Last updated: July 2026
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