Tax Implications of Making RV Our Primary Residence

[BOBNBONNIE]

We are almost ready to sell our house and become full-timers later this year. Will our RV become a "primary residence"? We do not have a loan, so no interest tax deduction. Are there other tax advantages or disadvantages? Thanks in advance!

[palehorse89]

No property tax now.........
Free to Roam.....have fun and travel safe!

[wildtoad]

Don’t know about where you will have the RV registered but here in SC we have a personal property tax on all vehicles. There may be a different rate if the RV is your primary residence. It may also be different depending on what type of RV you have. Motorhome or TT/5er.

[Finance]

With few restrictions, you can declare your domicile in any state you wish. Suggest you search and read about the tax implications. Florida and Texas are popular.

[BOBNBONNIE]

We are in WA. Plan to return to this state at end of year. We have an older class A diesel pusher. Our MH is registered in WA through next April 2019. The good news is that we own nothing except insurance, registration and the expenses we incur along the way. We're going to leave at the end of June and return late Nov. for our first cross-country trip. This will be our out of state test for whether or not we want to do this full time. Since we are selling our home, we don't expect to have many tax deductions. Maybe sales tax, medical and donations. Most likely we will fall under the standard deduction cap of $24K. If we do, then it will be a great time saver.

[BOBNBONNIE]

We will have to make a choice on new state or staying with WA if we decide to full-time. Not sure what will be best for us. I've heard that SD is relatively inexpensive.

[Mr_D]

Might want to check residency requirements for WA state with an attorney. I had planned on doing the same but found you had to have a physical address to register vehicles and get a drivers license here. But I'm still trying to see howcI can do it legally.

[BOBNBONNIE]

No personal property tax where we currently live in rural King County, WA. Not sure what the change to PO BOX would do. Might be able to find a private mail box outside of the high population centers of Seattle, Bellevue, Tacoma & Spokane. King, Pierce & Spokane counties.

[BillJinOR]

With the new bigger std deduction you luck out for the most part. No more state and local real estate tax so no deduction but I'd gladly give up the deduction for not having the Tax or interest bill. We sold our home last year and had 1/2 year of interest etc to deduct for the last time this tax filing. WE (and you) now have little to deduct so the much increased std deduction will save use a bunch next year according to or tax prep person. In fact she advised we most probably wont need her with my wife cutting back her consulting business.
Of course if someone does have a loan they can deduct the interest and the rest, if its over 24,000 std ded.
We would have used our son in Spokane's address to avoid Oregon income tax but The one time Tax on the Motorhome since we are from Oregon and have paid no tax on it would have been greater than 4 1/2 years of income tax in Oregon.

[BOBNBONNIE]

Yikes! That would be a problem because we don't want to have a fixed residence until we decide whether or not we want to be full-timers. May need to by something cheap in a mobile home park just to have a physical address?

[BOBNBONNIE]

BillJinOR, We have a similar but older MH (1999 Beaver Patriot Monticello). Our planned expense is a new partial paint job for the deteriorating clear coat. Other than that we would like to make some upgrade to the interior. But we've only put 4,000 miles on the motor since we got it with 25K three years ago. I have mixed feelings about adding another 11k or 12k in five months. Looking forward to the trip but know the fuel cost will be high.

[BillJinOR]

You just need a address you don't need to own it or rent it Your Drivers license needs to be somewhere .. don't know if the wa state will accept a PO box but if they will that's good enough. You have to have a "fixed" address for your mail bank Licences etc .. It doesn't require you to live there. just move it again when you decide to have a Fixed home again. perhaps a friend or Family member?
Most people choose TX FL or SD but WA is fine with no income tax since you are already a established resident

[Mr_D]

It's a mess but WA does recognize "snow birds" for voting, which is used to get your drivers license. What I can't find is the legal requirements for the registered voting address. Can it be a PMB or PO box or not?
You're mailing address can be different than your registered address but nothing about being a PMB or PO Box.

[masdixdragon]

What about mortgage interest deductions (as a primary residence)? Is that still possible now or no?