Full-Timer state resident status

[namwob]

What process do full timers use to maintain their residence in a home state? Is it necessary to spend a certain amount of time in home state? How about collecting (or forwarding) mail... vehicle registrations and insurance... paying bills (on-line?)...

[Jim Stewart]

When we did full time, we chose Texas. We used a Texas mail forwarding service, Got Texas Driver's Licenses, registered the motor home and registered to vote in Texas. All of the above established us as Texas Residents.

[namwob]

Thanks for the info... So the mail forwarding service sends your mail as you request it? When you file Fed tax do you use the post service as residence address? Are there any special riders needed for vehicle insurance?

[Jim Stewart]

Quote:

Originally Posted by namwob Thanks for the info... So the mail forwarding service sends your mail as you request it? When you file Fed tax do you use the post service as residence address? Are there any special riders needed for vehicle insurance?

Yes, the mail forwarding service will forward your mail. They will also sort and only send first class mail so you save postage. They charge an initial set-up fee, you select the type of forward service you want (all or just first class) and then they replenish your postage as needed to a credit card. You just call and tell them where to send it. We would have it forwarded to a park if they allowed it or to the closest Post Office to hold it for you. The mail service you select will have all the particulars. We joined and used Escapees (Texas), you can find them on line.

When filing your taxes, you list your residence as your mailing address. You use the same address to register your vehicles and on your Drivers License. If you full-time, you should use an insurance carrier for the MH/5th Wheel they specifically has fulltimers insurance and let them know you are a fulltimer.

[AFChap]

Kevin ... we also use Escapees for our mail service and for residence address. Some mail forwarding address cannot be used as a residence address, but Escapees won a court case several years ago that established that for Escapees members. They have several levels of mail service. We normally email or call with forwarding instructions when our forwarding location changes. It works great! Our vehicles are registered there in Polk County TX, and we are registered to vote there and normally vote by absentee ballot. We pay most bills online ...many banks have that option. If you go to the Escapees website, you will want to look for a link to the document "How to Become a Texan." It will provide lots of good information on how you establish and maintain residency. The information is focused on Texas, but much of it could be applied doing the same in other states too.

[namwob]

AFChap... Wow, The "How to Become a Real TEXAN" booklet is really useful. Seems to cover it all in detail from legal aspects. Here is the link if others want to view: www.escapees.com/edocs/texan.pdf

However the thought of becoming a texan really scares me! (just joking). I am a Washington State resident now and there are some advantages here that I would like to keep. However as you said it is useful information for all states.

Thanks again.

[Jim Stewart]

Remember, Texas has no State Income Tax, another benefit. Believe it or not, when we traveled, we got a little ribbing about being from Texas, never understood it. People would ask if we were really from Texas. We would say no, we just live there sometimes.

When we were visiting Lake Tahoe, we went to the Ponderosa Stage Set where they filmed the TV series and at their store, we purchased an 8 foot set of Longhorn Steer Horns. If we were staying in a park for more than a few days, I would take them out from the underneath storage and mount them on the front of the MH. As people walked by, they no longer commented on Texas!

[CorsairIIAT]

Jim,

In 2003 I was looking at 2 1975 Eldorados. One from Vegas. This is the one I bought. The second one was from Texas. It had 8 ft horns on the grill. It was a nice car. I'm just not into horns.