full timer, where to call home

[Norm4015]

All of the replies have given very good information. But I want to correct one item that keeps getting mentioned - that a fulltimer must have their RV / vehicles inspected once a year if you use Texas as your domicile. The fact (law) is that RVs and vehicles have to be inspected only when you go to Texas. So if you spend several years out of Texas you do not have to get the inspections done until you go actually to Texas.

[w6pea]

Thank you for the informative posts.
I have been looking to find a place to retire to SD sounds about best. So in a year or two I will make a final decision.

[okmunky]

Another SD mail forwarder/vehicle reg, etc. is myhomeaddress.com

[allynne]

Why only 3 mos?

Al Sawyer
'05 MADP

[ralper]

My insurance agent is in Sioux Falls, SD and they reccommended to have my address in Emery, SD because where you garage your vehicle determines the premium. Emery is a small low traffic low crime berg. It helps to keep the premiums down. I set up my new address a few months ahead of needing it so all the address changes would be completed when needed.

My Home Address, Inc.
411 N. 6th St.
Emery, SD 57332

[smack2020]

ralper,
I checked My Home Address web site and it looks like a good company. It looks like I can set this all up without going to SD. I will be doing my domicile change in the winter (dec 2014) and I dont like the cold weather. I want to have it completly ready to go for jan 1, 2015, I am guessing it will be easier to make a clean break on my California state taxes.

[WheelingIt]

Originally Posted by smack2020

ralper,
I checked My Home Address web site and it looks like a good company. It looks like I can set this all up without going to SD. I will be doing my domicile change in the winter (dec 2014) and I dont like the cold weather. I want to have it completly ready to go for jan 1, 2015, I am guessing it will be easier to make a clean break on my California state taxes.

Keep in mind that you WILL need to go to SD to get your drivers licence. You can get plates, address etc. without going to SD using any of the good mail forwarding services there. But, you'll need to get the drivers licence to complete your domicile change. I believe the law states that you need to get the licence within 90 days of establishing residency.

Also, CA will be very specific on the break. Make sure you don't have anything that can keep you "in residency" in CA once you decide to make your move. e.g. house, salary (paycheck), bank account addresses, brokerage accounts, drivers licence etc. If you get any salary or income from CA (from jobs or rental income or anything else) you'll still need to report it & complete CA taxes even if you declare "residency" in SD.

[Route 66]

I have been completely satisfied with My Home Address.

[smack2020]

Thanks for the info wheelingit. If I can't sell ca house I might have to rent it out. I am sure I will lose money every month on it, but I would hate to have to file in ca and sd. I hope I have all this figured out by the time I go FT. Maybe I will get lucky and the housing market will come back, wishful thinking.

[HaRVie]

How does voting work. Do you register when you get the driver's license and apply for absentee ballots? What about state/local elections?

[WheelingIt]

Originally Posted by smack2020

Thanks for the info wheelingit. If I can't sell ca house I might have to rent it out. I am sure I will lose money every month on it, but I would hate to have to file in ca and sd. I hope I have all this figured out by the time I go FT. Maybe I will get lucky and the housing market will come back, wishful thinking.

Unfortunately f you rent, CA says you have to double-file. Went through this many years ago when we left CA the first time. If you get rental income it's considered "CA source income" and you need to file a CA tax form even if you're "officially" a non-resident (you file the NR version of the tax form). CA is very particular about wanting its' money and taxes all money made from CA sources regardless of whether you're a resident or not.

Here's the link:
http://www.ftb.ca.gov/individuals/wsc/withholding.shtml

Sorry....breaking CA residency is not easy...

Hope your home sells!

[Barbaraok]

Originally Posted by HaRVie

How does voting work. Do you register when you get the driver's license and apply for absentee ballots? What about state/local elections?

Yes, that is what we do. Since we are Escapees, we use Livingston as our address and Escapees has a special address for sending absentee ballots. We vote in those elections where we believe we have an interest, for those offices, initiatives, etc., that are important to us - - those that are not, we don't vote in.

Barb

[ralper]

I bailed out of New York State's high taxes .