Fifteen Things A ‘Snowbird’ Can Do To Be Taxed As A ‘Florida Resident’

Obviously, if you spend more than half your time in Florida, you won’t reach the 183-day threshold in the state where you spend your summers. If you can’t spend that much time in Florida, then take a vacation, visit family or friends, or otherwise spend time in some other location—anything to avoid spending 183 days or more in your high-tax summer state.

It’s also a good idea to keep a log of where you are each day of the year, just in case the tax agency from your northern state picks you for a residency audit. Keeping receipts from the time you spent in Florida will also help if you’re audited. For instance, if you had dinner at a Florida restaurant, a receipt for the meal will help prove that you were in Florida on that particular day.

2. Obtain A Florida Driver’s License

Getting a Florida driver’s license is a must if you really want to be a Florida resident. In fact, this is something you should do right away, since you’ll need the license to vote, apply for property tax breaks, and do other things in Florida that will help you establish residency in the state.

New residents must apply for a Florida driver’s license in person at any local office offering driver licenses services (click here to find the nearest office). The fee for an initial Florida Class E license is $48. You’ll also need to submit specific documents to obtain a REAL-ID compliant driver’s license (the list of required documents for U.S. citizens can be found on the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ website).

3. Register Your Vehicles In Florida

When you’re getting your driver’s license, make sure you register your car or truck in Florida, too. If you own an RV or boat, register it in Florida as well. This is further evidence that you consider Florida your permanent home.

You’ll have to pay a registration fee. The amount is based on the type and/or weight of the vehicle. A list of the various motor vehicle registration fees can be found on the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ website.

4. Vote In Florida

Where you’re registered to vote says a lot about the place you see as your permanent home. So, to be seen as a 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.g., public assistance office, center for independent living, office serving persons with disabilities, public library, or armed forces recruitment office). You can also register online at registertovoteflorida.gov. 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.

5. Buy Or Rent A Bigger Home In Florida

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 3,000 square foot apartment in Manhattan may pale in comparison to a palatial home in Florida, it nevertheless may still be spacious by New York City standards.

6. Enroll Your Children In Florida Schools

If you have minor children, have them enroll in a Florida school. Why? Because the quality of the local schools is usually an important factor for parents deciding where to live. This is true whether the schools are public or private. So, for example, if your children attend a boarding school up north and rarely visit your Florida residence, this could be evidence that you don’t consider Florida to be your primary and permanent home.

7. Tell People You’re A Florida Resident

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 here, 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 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. (“Domicile” is a legal term that generally means the place that you intend to be your primary and permanent home.) 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.

8. Keep Important Personal Items In Florida

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.

To show that your life is now centered in Florida (i.e., that you’re a real Florida resident), join clubs, take up hobbies, volunteer and meet new people in the state. Tax auditors are going to question your Florida-resident credentials if you’re constantly heading back up north to socialize. You can keep your northern friends, but make new ones in Florida, too. (Invite your Yankee friends down to Florida for a week of winter sun and sand…they’ll love you for it!) If you’re already a member of a national organization like the Lions Club or VFW, change the address on file to your Florida address and attend meetings in Florida.

10. Visit Doctors, Lawyers And CPAs In Florida

It can be hard leaving a family doctor up north that you’ve been seeing for decades and finding a new physician down in Florida. But you need to do just that if you want to convince a tax auditor that you’ve really settled down in Florida. The same goes for the dentists, lawyers, accountants, and other professionals you use in your summer state—you should replace them with new people in Florida. It’s probably OK to see a specialist once in a while outside Florida, but your regular doctor (or other professional) should be in the Sunshine State. If you want to go to the extra mile, start seeing a barber or hair stylist in Florida, too.

11. Do Your Banking In Florida

Even in today’s world where online banking is popular, tax auditors know that most people park their money in a bank near their home. So, if you’re claiming to be a Florida resident, you should move your money to a Florida bank. It can be a national bank—like Bank of America—but there should be a branch close to your Florida home where you can do your banking in person (including renting a safe deposit box). You’ll also want to make sure all bank statements are sent to your Florida address.