We have been fulltime now for 8 1/2 years.Time to wind down to part time.We bought a modular home in a park here in Mesa AZ. I am wondering if we should now claim AZ as "home state" or keep using SD as we have been. We are both retired and have no intention of working again.Does anyone have any knowledge of the tax ramifications of "moving" to AZ?I will be doing more research,but am wondering if anyone with first hand experience could chime in with the good, bad, and/or ugly information to help make the decision.

AZ Residency InfoRegistration-Compliance Violators

remember that AZ has an income tax, their license plates costs are higher and consider the insurances.just start googling.

edbehnke wrote:remember that AZ has an income tax, their license plates costs are higher and consider the insurances.We switched from WI to AZ residents last year because we bought a park model & taxes.AZ has income tax but it's low. However, AZ VLT (Vehicle License Tax) can take a bite, especially if you have newer vehicles (the newer the vehicle, the higher the tax).If you are under 65, though, and need to buy health insurance, AZ is a better deal than SD.

If you're in Arizona seven months or more in one calendar year, you are an Arizona resident. So that would include your fall/winter months and your spring months if you aren't staying the summer.

If your intent is to reside in AZ, and it sounds as though it is, then you're an AZ resident subject to its laws, including taxes, title and registration, etc. You were probably okay with SD as long as you were full-timing, but not now.

Changing "Home" State | Good Sam Community

19 Replies

Roadpilot
Explorer
Jan 02, 2015
Executive wrote:
phillyg wrote:
If your intent is to reside in AZ, and it sounds as though it is, then you're an AZ resident subject to its laws, including taxes, title and registration, etc. You were probably okay with SD as long as you were full-timing, but not now.

I agree...we own property in Arizona that we stay in during the 3 winter months. The rest of the time we are on the road....Dennis

The above is pretty accurate from a legal perspective. Good answers.
Executive45
Explorer III
Jan 02, 2015
phillyg wrote:
If your intent is to reside in AZ, and it sounds as though it is, then you're an AZ resident subject to its laws, including taxes, title and registration, etc. You were probably okay with SD as long as you were full-timing, but not now.

I agree...we own property in Arizona that we stay in during the 3 winter months. The rest of the time we are on the road....Dennis
BarbaraOK
Explorer
Jan 02, 2015
phillyg wrote:
If your intent is to reside in AZ, and it sounds as though it is, then you're an AZ resident subject to its laws, including taxes, title and registration, etc. You were probably okay with SD as long as you were full-timing, but not now.

Buying a place to spend some winter months does not in any way indicate that it is the buyers intent to reside in AZ. You can own property in every state in the union and spend time at each one and that doesn't make you a resident of that state.

Barb
BarbaraOK
Explorer
Jan 02, 2015
We just purchased a PM in a park here in Mesa. We did not become residents as we will only spend the winter here and then continue our traveling during the other months of the year. You can own houses in each state of the country if you want.

"You remain in Arizona for a total of seven (7) months or more during any calendar year, regardless of your permanent residence."

That is the time frame you need to remember.

Barb
phillyg
Explorer II
Jan 02, 2015
If your intent is to reside in AZ, and it sounds as though it is, then you're an AZ resident subject to its laws, including taxes, title and registration, etc. You were probably okay with SD as long as you were full-timing, but not now.
2gypsies1
Explorer III
Jan 02, 2015
If you're in Arizona seven months or more in one calendar year, you are an Arizona resident. So that would include your fall/winter months and your spring months if you aren't staying the summer.
TechWriter
Explorer
Jan 02, 2015
edbehnke wrote:
remember that AZ has an income tax, their license plates costs are higher and consider the insurances.

We switched from WI to AZ residents last year because we bought a park model & taxes.

AZ has income tax but it's low. However, AZ VLT (Vehicle License Tax) can take a bite, especially if you have newer vehicles (the newer the vehicle, the higher the tax).

If you are under 65, though, and need to buy health insurance, AZ is a better deal than SD.
edbehnke
Explorer
Jan 02, 2015
remember that AZ has an income tax, their license plates costs are higher and consider the insurances.

just start googling.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jan 02, 2015
AZ Residency Info

Registration-Compliance Violators

Forum Discussion

Changing "Home" State

19 Replies

About Full Time RVers

Related Content

"My pet is home alone" tags

Florida State Park Reservation window changes

Made in China "tiny home" (aka travel trailer)

Wall St. Journal article Oct. 12th. "Home on the Road"

State Parks