Compare the best state residency tracking apps for 2026, including pricing, features, and state-by-state 183-day rules. Learn which app helps you avoid triggering statutory residency.
If you split time between states, work remotely, or own property in multiple locations, tracking your days is no longer optional. State tax authorities have ramped up residency audits in recent years, and they have the tools to prove where you were. The question is: do you?
A good residency tracking app runs quietly in the background, logging your location so you have contemporaneous records if you're ever questioned. In this guide, we'll break down the state-by-state residency rules, compare the best tracking apps available, and help you pick the right tool for your situation.
Why Tracking State Residency Matters in 2026
The rise of remote work has created a new reality: millions of Americans now work from states other than where their employer is based. According to the National Taxpayers Union Foundation, remote and mobile workers face an increasingly complex web of state tax obligations that can trigger unexpected liabilities.
High-tax states are paying attention. Between 2010 and 2017, New York conducted approximately 3,000 residency audits per year, collecting around $1 billion total. More than half of those audited lost their cases, with the average assessment reaching $144,270 per taxpayer. More recently, the pace has accelerated: from 2022 to 2023, auditors collected over $3 billion from residency-related audits.
Why the aggressive enforcement? In New York, the top 1% of earners pay 46% of the state's income taxes. When high earners move to Florida or Texas, state revenue takes a hit. Tax authorities have a strong incentive to prove you're still a resident, even after you've moved.
What auditors look for:
- Cell phone records showing which towers your phone pinged
- Credit card statements with location and timestamps
- EZ-Pass and toll booth records
- Social media check-ins and posts
- Pet veterinarian records
- Gym membership usage logs
If an auditor has digital evidence that you spent 184 days in their state while you claimed residency elsewhere, you could owe back taxes, penalties, and interest going back years. That's why tracking your days proactively, with an app that creates contemporaneous records, is so valuable.
The 183-Day Rule: State-by-State Breakdown
Many states use a "183-day rule" as a threshold for statutory residency. If you spend 183 days or more in a state and maintain a place of abode there, you may be considered a resident for tax purposes, regardless of where you consider your permanent home.
But the rules aren't uniform. Some states use different day counts, while others don't count days at all.
States with 183-Day Statutory Residency
These states will generally treat you as a statutory resident if you spend 183 days or more there while maintaining a place of abode:
According to the Minnesota Department of Revenue, you must meet two conditions: spend at least 183 days in Minnesota during the year, where any part of a day counts as a full day, and maintain a residence suitable for year-round use with cooking and bathing facilities.
States with Different Day Thresholds
Not every state uses 183 days. According to YourTaxBase, these states have higher thresholds:
| State | Day Threshold | Additional Requirements |
|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 270 days | Must also maintain a home in the state |
| North Dakota | 210 days (7 months) | Permanent place of abode required |
| Oregon | 200 days | Place of abode in the state |
| Hawaii | 200 days | Maintained dwelling in Hawaii |
| Colorado | 6 months | Domicile or home maintained |
States with No Income Tax
These states don't levy a personal income tax, so the 183-day rule doesn't apply for income tax purposes:
Note: New Hampshire taxes interest and dividends only. Tennessee phased out its Hall Tax on investment income in 2021.
States Using Domicile Tests (Not Day Counts)
Some states, most notably California, don't use a specific day-count threshold. Instead, they apply a "facts and circumstances" test to determine residency.
According to California FTB Publication 1031, the state uses a "closest connections" test, looking at where you maintain the strongest ties. Factors include where your vehicles are registered, where you vote, where you have bank accounts, where your professional licenses are issued, and where you maintain your primary residence.
California's Nine-Month Presumption:
If you spend more than nine months in California during a tax year, there's a rebuttable presumption of residency. You can still prove you're not a resident, but the burden is on you.
Other states using domicile-based tests (rather than strict day counts) include Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
Reciprocity Agreements
Some states have agreements that prevent double taxation for workers who live in one state but work in another. Minnesota, for example, has reciprocity agreements with Michigan and North Dakota, meaning residents of those states can spend 183+ days in Minnesota without triggering statutory residency if they maintain domicile in their home state.
Common reciprocity agreements exist between Virginia and D.C., Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and several Midwestern states.
What to Look for in a State Residency Tracking App
Not all tracking apps are created equal. When evaluating your options, consider these key features:
Automatic Background Tracking
The best apps run quietly in the background, using GPS to log your location without requiring manual input. If you have to remember to check in every time you cross a state line, you'll inevitably forget and create gaps in your records.
State and Country Coverage
If you travel internationally or need to track time in Canada, make sure your app supports those jurisdictions. Some apps focus only on US states, while others include international coverage.
Manual Override Capability
GPS isn't perfect. You may need to manually correct a day if your phone placed you in the wrong state, or if you traveled without your device. Look for apps that let you edit entries after the fact.
Export Formats
If you're audited, you'll need to share your records with a tax professional or auditor. Apps that generate PDF reports or CSV exports make this straightforward. Some apps even have advisor portals where your CPA can view your data directly.
Privacy and Data Storage
Location data is sensitive. Some apps store your data on their cloud servers, while others keep everything on your device. If privacy is a priority, look for apps that don't require account creation or upload your location to third-party servers.
Threshold Alerts
The best apps notify you when you're approaching a critical day count, like 180 days in a 183-day state. This gives you time to adjust your travel plans before triggering statutory residency.
Price and Value
Prices range from free (with limitations) to over $100 per year. Consider what you're getting for the price and whether the features match your needs.
Best State Residency Tracking Apps Compared
Here's how the leading residency tracking apps stack up in 2026:
| App | Platforms | Coverage | Key Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Days Monitor App Store | iOS, Web | Any country, US states, Canada provinces | Custom tracking rules for any jurisdiction, background GPS, PDF reports, privacy-first (device storage) |
| TaxBird | iOS, Android | US states, Canada provinces | Threshold alerts, detailed audit reports, free trial |
| TaxDay | iOS, Android, Web | All 50 US states, 150+ countries | Complete state tax rules database, receipt management, NYC tracking, cloud storage |
| Domicile365 | iOS, macOS, Android | US states, countries, Schengen, UK | 15-minute interval tracking, CPA advisor portal, enterprise features, free trial |
| TrackingStates | iOS only | US states | Border crossing accuracy, transit marking, iCloud storage |
| Sarmiza | iOS | US states, countries | Offline mode, photo metadata import, privacy-focused |
App features and availability were accurate at the time of writing but may have changed. Check each app's website or app store listing for current information.
Days Monitor (That's Us)
We built Days Monitor to handle the flexibility that multi-state and international travelers need. You can set custom tracking rules for any country in the world, plus state or province-level tracking for the US and Canada. Whether you need to monitor a 183-day threshold in Minnesota, a 270-day rule in Idaho, or a visa limit in Portugal, you can configure it all in one app. Background GPS logs your location automatically, and you can generate PDF reports for tax professionals or audit defense.
We store your data on your device rather than our servers, so your location history stays private. We also offer free Schengen and Substantial Presence calculators on this site, no account required.
TaxBird
TaxBird offers both iOS and Android apps with threshold alerts that notify you when you're approaching a residency trigger. It supports US states and Canadian provinces, though it lacks international coverage beyond North America.
TaxDay
TaxDay includes a database of all 50 state tax rules. It includes receipt management features and NYC-specific tracking, with a free trial available on iOS.
Domicile365
Domicile365 uses 15-minute interval location tracking and includes a CPA advisor portal that lets your accountant view your data directly. It's geared toward enterprise users and offers specialized tools for NYC Unincorporated Business Tax and San Francisco Gross Receipts analysis.
Why We Built Days Monitor
We designed Days Monitor around the problems we saw people facing with residency tracking. Here's what guided our approach:
Flexibility Over Presets
Tax rules vary wildly. Rather than hardcoding a limited set of jurisdictions, we let you create custom day-count rules for any country, and at the state or province level for the US and Canada. If you need to track a 183-day threshold in New York, a 270-day rule in Idaho, and a 90-day visa limit in Thailand, you can set them all up yourself.
One App for Everything
We track your location worldwide with state-level precision in the US and Canada. If you split time between multiple states and countries, you don't need separate apps for each.
Your Data Stays on Your Device
Location history is sensitive. We made a deliberate choice to store your data on your device, not on our servers. You control it, and there's no central database that could be breached.
Reports That Work for Professionals
When tax season arrives or if you're audited, you can generate PDF reports showing your day counts by state and date range. We designed these to meet the documentation standards that tax professionals and auditors expect.
Free Tools on This Site
Even if you don't use the mobile app, we offer free calculators for Schengen 90/180 tracking and the Substantial Presence Test right here, no signup required.
How to Use a Tracking App for Audit Defense
Having a tracking app is only valuable if you use it correctly. Here's how to maximize its effectiveness for audit defense:
Start Tracking Before You Need It
The IRS and state tax authorities can audit returns from years past. If you install a tracking app today and get audited for last year, you won't have data for that period. Start tracking as early as possible, even if you don't anticipate a residency question.
Keep Your Phone With You
Your app can only track what your phone sees. If you leave your phone at home while traveling to another state, that trip won't be logged. Make a habit of keeping your device with you, especially on cross-state trips.
Review and Correct Regularly
GPS can place you in the wrong state near borders or in areas with poor cell coverage. Check your app's logs periodically and make manual corrections while the trips are still fresh in your memory.
Export and Back Up Your Data
Generate annual reports and save them to a secure location. If you switch phones or lose your device, you don't want to lose years of tracking data.
Combine With Other Records
App data is one piece of the puzzle. Auditors may also look at credit card statements, toll records, and flight records. Keep these documents organized so you can corroborate your app data if questioned.
What makes documentation "contemporaneous":
Tax authorities place high value on records created at the time of the event, not reconstructed later. A tracking app that logs your location automatically each day creates contemporaneous records that carry more weight than a calendar you filled in from memory months later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do partial days count toward the 183-day threshold?
In most states that use the 183-day rule, any part of a day counts as a full day. According to Minnesota's Department of Revenue, even a few hours in the state counts as one day. New York is particularly strict: if you're physically present for any portion of a day, it counts, with only a narrow exception for airport transit where you're only in the state to board a departing flight.
What if I forget my phone or it runs out of battery?
Most tracking apps allow manual entry for days when automatic tracking wasn't possible. Make a habit of logging these days as soon as you can while the details are fresh. If you're frequently without your phone, consider keeping a paper backup log that you can reconcile with the app later.
Can I track retroactively for previous years?
You can manually enter past travel data, but it won't have the same evidentiary weight as contemporaneous records. If you're reconstructing travel history, gather supporting documents like flight records, credit card statements, and calendar entries to corroborate your entries.
Do airport layovers count as days in a state?
This varies by state. New York specifically excludes days when you're only in the state to board a flight, train, or bus departing for somewhere else. However, if you stop for a meal or conduct any other business, the day counts. Other states may not have such explicit exceptions, so it's best to document layovers carefully.
What about working remotely from another state?
Remote work can create tax obligations in both your state of residence and the state where your employer is based. Some states, like New York, apply a "convenience of the employer" rule that can tax income earned while working remotely if your employer is in New York and your remote work is for your convenience rather than a business necessity. Tracking your days is especially important for remote workers who may have exposure in multiple states.
How accurate does the tracking need to be?
The more precise your records, the better. While tax authorities understand that tracking isn't perfect, consistent, detailed logs show good faith effort. If your app shows you spent 175 days in a state and an auditor's analysis of your cell phone records shows 185 days, those ten extra days could trigger statutory residency. When in doubt, err on the side of more tracking, not less.
Get Started Tracking Your Days
Whether you're a remote worker splitting time between states, a snowbird with homes in two locations, or a digital nomad traveling frequently, tracking your state residency days is essential protection against unexpected tax bills and audits.
We built Days Monitor to make this straightforward. Once installed, it runs in the background and builds your documentation automatically, so you have contemporaneous records without changing your daily routine.
For a quick check on your current situation, try our free Substantial Presence Test calculator, no signup required.
Tax residency rules vary by state and change frequently. The information in this article is for educational purposes and should not be considered tax or legal advice. Consult with a qualified tax professional familiar with multi-state taxation for guidance on your specific situation.
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