When have I officially become a taxable resident of my new state?

You become a taxable resident of your new state, like Florida, when you establish a domicile there.

Where you are domiciled is a complex question; it’s not as straightforward as which state your driver’s license says.

Several factors are used to determine your domicile, including where your new driver’s license or state ID is from, where you’re registered to vote (or actually voted), your address used for various financial documents, whether you have filed a Declaration of Domicile, where your vehicles are registered, where your doctor is located, where your kids go to school (if you have children), whether you’ve joined any local clubs, and so on.

Suppose you can show that you’ve ended significant ties to your previous state and don’t plan to return as a resident while, at the same time, having set up a new home base for yourself where you are creating new significant ties. In that case, you likely won’t be considered a tax resident of your old state anymore.

We recommend completing all these steps after leaving your old state as soon as possible.

These combined actions signal to both your old and new states your intent to change your permanent legal residence, establishing when you become a taxable resident of the new state and when you cease being one in the old state.