In 2005 I lived and worked for 6 months in California, then lived and
worked for 6 months in Arkansas.  Which state(s) do I need to file or pay
state income tax in?

Under most circumstances, you will have to file as a part-year
resident in both California and Arkansas.  Special rules apply if your
"domicile" is considered to be unchanged.  This is the case if you are
a student or in the military.  In such situations, your driver's
license, voter registration, and permanent financial records often
don't change.


Fortunately, each state will usually only tax that portion of income
which occured there.  I looked up mover's information for both
California and Arkansas.  These sites have more specific information
about the forms you will have to file.


*** In California, you will have to file a ?504 NR?.  Your exact tax
situation determines whether you can use the short or the long form.

google search: california income tax
Franchise Tax Board Home http://www.ftb.ca.gov/
I lived in California part of the year.  Do I have to file a return?
http://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/faq/ivr/209.html
Which form should I file? 
http://www.ftb.ca.gov/forms/05_forms/05_540chart.html


*** In Arkansas, you will have to file an ?AS1000NR?.  Page 11 of the
instructions, item 3, contains this rule.

google search: arkansas income tax
Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration
http://www.arkansas.gov/dfa/income_tax/tax_individual.html
Instructions for Long Form (AR1000) and Non-Resident or Part-Year
Resident form (AR1000NR) (pdf ? see Page 11 item 3)
http://www.arkansas.gov/dfa/income_tax/documents/AR1000_Instr_2005.pdf
Moving to Arkansas?
http://www.arkansas.gov/dfa/income_tax/tax_general_moving.html
On page 9 of this PDF, we read, ?To arrive at the percentage of the
total tax owed to the State of Arkansas, you must divide the income
earned in Arkansas by your total income. The Arkansas tax liability is
based on the pro-rata share of the total in-come.?

thanks!