Does temporary lodging qualify as a moving expense for California tax deduction?

Question

Does anyone have a detailed source for what qualifies as a moving expense for California state tax purposes?

I moved to California from outside the US and when I arrived I stayed in temporary lodging (similar to airbnb) for 2 months before moving into a permanent residence. My company reimbursed me for this moving expense but the reimbursement was paid as regular taxable income and I would like to find out if I can get the tax I paid back with my CA tax return.

I cannot tell from the CA Form 3913 instructions whether temporary accomodation at the destination is a qualifying expense.

These two excerpts seem relevant (emphasis mine)

Travel. You can deduct the expenses of traveling (including lodging within certain limitations, but not meals) from your old home to your new home, including car expenses and air fare.

and

Services or reimbursements provided by government. Do not include in income the value of moving and storage services provided by the government because of a permanent change of station. Similarly, do not include in income amounts received as a dislocation allowance, temporary lodging expense, temporary lodging allowance, or move-in housing allowance.

Answer 1

I remember when this was something that was also handled on the Federal forms, but that is no longer the case.

I am also pulling the quotes from the same document: 2022 Instructions for Form FTB 3913 Moving Expense Deduction

Travel. You can deduct the expenses of traveling (including lodging within certain limitations, but not meals) from your old home to your new home, including car expenses and air fare.

Looking at the specific line for Travel expenses:

Line 2

Enter the amount you paid to travel from your old home to your new home. This includes transportation and lodging on the way. Include costs for the day you arrive. The members of your household do not have to travel together or at the same time. But you can only include expenses for one trip per person. Do not include any house hunting expenses.

That means that once you arrive in the destination city the expenses you can claim for travel stop very quickly.

I moved to California from outside the US and when I arrived I stayed in temporary lodging (similar to airbnb) for 2 months before moving into a permanent residence. My company reimbursed me for this moving expense but the reimbursement was paid as regular taxable income and I would like to find out if I can get the tax I paid back with my CA tax return.

That two months in the airbnb is not covered, because at that point you were living in the new city.

Your second quote:

Services or reimbursements provided by government. Do not include in income the value of moving and storage services provided by the government because of a permanent change of station. Similarly, do not include in income amounts received as a dislocation allowance, temporary lodging expense, temporary lodging allowance, or move-in housing allowance

It is from a section related to a military permanent change of station, so unless you that was a military PCS that quote doesn't apply to you. If it was a military PCS, then talk to somebody on your base for assistance.