How to Become a Florida Resident Do Business the Right Way To officially become a Florida resident, you must move to Florida, sever as many ties as possible with the state you are leaving, and demonstrate your intention to make Florida your permanent home. Becoming a Florida Resident. Moving to Florida. Proving Your Florida Residency.
The most common steps toward establishing your Florida residency include the following: File a Florida Declaration of Domicile in the office of the circuit court in your county Update your will and estate plan to reflect your new Florida residency Open one or more bank accounts in Florida Get a Florida drivers license Register to vote in Florida elections Register and insure your vehicles in Florida File your federal income taxes with the IRS and the final individual income tax return in your former state using your Florida address Apply for the Florida homestead exemption if you own a home in Florida Relocate your most personal possessions to your home in Florida Making these connections to Florida goes hand in hand with severing the same ties with your former state.
File the FL Declaration of Domicile. Choosing Florida Mail Forwarding. And don't forget to call your auto insurance carrier and have your vehicles covered in the Sunshine State. Engaging in the normal activities of life in Florida will also help show that you're a real Florida resident.
For example, shop in Florida as much as you can — especially if you're making a large purchase, like a car or boat. And make sure you keep those receipts in case a tax auditor from your northern state starts asking questions.
If you're into fishing, get a fishing license in Florida. If you're an avid reader, get a library card in Florida. Sign up for rewards cards for grocery stores and other retailers in Florida, too.
These may seem like little things, but they can add up in your favor if you need to prove your residency status. Where you're registered to vote says a lot about the place you see as your permanent home. So, to be seen as a real Florida resident, make sure you register to vote and actually vote in Florida.
You can register to vote in Florida by completing a paper application and delivering it in person or by mail to the Division of Elections, any supervisor of an elections' office, an office that issues driver's licenses, or a voter registration agency e.
You can also register online at registertovoteflorida. You'll need a Florida driver's license or ID card and the last four digits of your Social Security number to complete the online registration. Yeah, we told you in the introduction that you can't just say "I'm a Florida resident" to change your residency for state tax purposes. And that's true — you can't just declare that you're a Florida resident. But even if you do all the other things we're recommending, you'll never convince a tax auditor from up north that you're a Florida resident if you don't present yourself as a Florida resident to the rest of the world.
So, if you meet someone new, tell them you're from Florida. If you're filling out a form that asks for your address, use your Florida address. And update your Facebook page so that your Florida city or town is listed as your current home. Auditors will look for any indication that you don't really think of Florida as your primary and permanent home — don't give them any ammunition.
Tell the State of Florida that you're a resident, too. File a "Declaration of Domicile" with the clerk of circuit court in the Florida county where you live. There isn't a standard, state-wide form that you can use. Instead, each county will have its own version — as an example, click here for the Broward County form. Let's face it…it doesn't really look like you intend to make Florida your permanent home if you own a giant house up north but only rent a tiny apartment in Florida.
That's why New York, for example, considers the size of each home a snowbird owns or rents to be an important factor in determining residency. So, if possible, get a Florida home that's at least roughly the same size as your northern home — although it's better if your home in Florida is larger. If your summer home is in New York, at least the state will consider home size in the context of the geographic area in which each residence is located.
For example, while a 3, square foot apartment in Manhattan may seem cramped when compared to a sprawling homestead in Florida, New York tax auditors may nevertheless see the two homes as relatively equal because the apartment is spacious by New York City standards. If you have school-aged children, enroll them in a Florida school. Because the quality of the local schools is usually an important factor for parents deciding where to live.
And it doesn't matter if the schools are public or private. So, for example, if your children attend a boarding school up north and rarely visit your Florida residence, a tax auditor from your warm-weather state could point to this as evidence that you don't truly consider Florida to be your primary and permanent home.
Tax auditors know that most people keep prized personal possessions in their primary home. So, bring your most treasured items down to Florida for safekeeping to show that you consider the state to be your primary and permanent home. This includes all things that are near and dear to your heart, including photo albums, wedding dresses, family heirlooms, stamp or coin collections, works of art, rare books, and any other item that has sentimental value.
Pets fall into this category, too. So, make sure you bring Fido down to Florida with you! Things You'll Need. Related Articles. Article Summary. Part 1. Get a Florida driver's license.
The sooner you get a Florida driver's license or State ID the better. If you already have a license from another state, you will not have to take the written or driving tests to get a Florida license. To get your license: Bring your out-of-state license to your local Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles county tax collector.
Take an identify document with you too, such as the original or certified copy of your birth certificate. Provide proof of your Social Security number. This could be your Social Security card, a W-2 or pay stub. Offer two documents that prove your Florida address. A mortgage deed, Florida car registration or recent utility bills are the most commonly accepted, but anything with your new address should suffice.
Register your out-of-state car. You have 10 days after establishing Florida residency status to complete this task. Submit proof of your policy to the county tax collector.
Show the original title to the county tax collector. Bring the car you want to register to your county tax collector's office, so they can check out the VIN. Pay the fees. You will also have to pay the typical registration fees, which vary depending the age, type, and weight of your vehicle.
Register to vote. It is convenient to do this while getting your Florida driver's license — often at the DMV county tax collector they will attach a voter registration form along with your new address forms. However, you can also register with the Supervisor of Elections. You must wait until the voter registration books open, as they close 30 days prior to an election and reopen after an election. This is a simple form that takes about 5 minutes to fill out.
After you hand it in, your work is done. It's as simple as that! You can also register online at registertovoteflorida. Part 2. If you live in two different states, file a Declaration of Domicile. Your signature on this document, once approved, confirms that you now reside in Florida, and that the state is your permanent residence.
This is done through the clerk of the circuit court. To get this declaration approved, you need two things: physical presence in Florida and intent. The former is pretty self-explanatory. Having this means that all your taxes now go to the state of Florida and nowhere else starting with the next full calendar year, of course. Because Florida has no income, death, or estate tax, this may be a wise move.
File for a homestead exemption. Should you have to declare bankruptcy, having a homestead exemption can let you breathe a sigh of relief. You can file this once you have a Declaration of Domicile to your name. It also affects your taxes for the better. Apply for the Florida Homestead Exemption. If you own a home, apply for the Florida Homestead exemption. Disabled veterans may be entitled to a property tax exemption that matches their percentage of disability. Florida law will not be used to determine who your beneficiaries are if you die.
In Florida, Probate can be very expensive. The attorney and P. Your current document may not provide for homestead protections and may not actually do what they say. It is best to meet with a Florida estate planning attorney to review and update documents to take advantage of the benefits you will be afforded as a Florida Resident. New York and other states try to establish a connection to their state to not lose tax revenue.
They will look at the number of dates in that state, toll records to determine when you are in the state, credit card charges to see what local services you are using. Review your interactions with the previous state and determine how to cost ties as much as possible. Working with someone who has dealt with these issues can help you determine techniques to use.
The good news is that Florida will be happy to have you if you declare yourself to be a state resident. The bad news is that you'll have to take specific steps to terminate your "resident status" with the state you're leaving if it collects a state income tax or a state estate tax.
It's more likely that your Florida domicile will be respected if you're able to accomplish most of the items on this checklist. Florida Residency can help provide additional Asset Protection and benefits. Contact a Florida Estate Planning attorney to setup up a paid Florida Domicile consultation to discuss your specific needs and objectives.
This handbook includes important information on duties and responsibilities that are involved in Florida Estate Administration and Probate. Get your complimentary copy. Please do not include any confidential or sensitive information in a contact form, text message, or voicemail. The contact form sends information by non-encrypted email, which is not secure. Submitting a contact form, sending a text message, making a phone call, or leaving a voicemail does not create an attorney-client relationship.
Goldman Home. Practice Areas. Estate Planning.
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