Forum Discussion

thervitguy's avatar
thervitguy
Explorer
Sep 13, 2021

Domiciling in California

Hi there,

I have been a life time resident of the State of California. I have been full-timing for over 10 years and only leave the state on short trips. I want to change my life style so that I can more readily travel the entire country. I have no desire to change my residency in that I am proud to be a resident of California and though I fully realize that has financial implications (higher personal Income tax and vehicle registration) I'm willing to accept that. Also, my employer, (I wont be retiring for 5 years at least) requires that I stay a "Resident" of the state. Also, I really like my medical plan, and my doctor, so I would like to retain my residency in the same area.

Sooo, if you have negative opinions about the state, please save your time and mine and keep those to your self. If however, you however have set yourself up with a domicile in the state of California, I'd like to know how you did it. The RV park that I currently live, will not serve as a mailing address. So, I have to use a PO box. However, I can't seem to set up an alternate mail location (iPostal for instance) where my mail can go to and I see it scanned, unless I have a drivers license and secondary ID that show my address on them (for notary purposes). The documents presented must have a physical address and may not be a PO box. So, my current vehicle registration and Voter registration show a PO box and are not acceptable. The state does not go to the expense of sending a new drivers license card, if your address changes until you renew it.

If you have come up against this problem, I would welcome your insight. If you have not, don't worry about it, hopefully I will hear from someone at some point who has.

Thank you all for your time.

Safe Travels

Respectfully,

Eric Anderson
  • NamMedevac_70's avatar
    NamMedevac_70
    Explorer II
    Sep 13, 2021
    I have successfully for many years used in Texas and Nevada a UPS store mailing box address that gives a street number, suite number followed by box number and zip code. This has been accepted by 4 major banks and insurance companies in both states. For a few years in Texas while traveling I paid a one month rent to a former neighbor friend and DMV accepted that resident address for my DL renewal and plates. Nevada does now require a resident address but sends all mail and notifications to my UPS store address. There are always at least temporary workarounds such as friends and family members, etc.

    Although 100% disabled veteran non resident of California the state has been very generous to me with a 5 year fishing license for only $8.50 and a 50% veterans discount State Park pass good for long time and they know I am a Nevada resident.
  • jorbill2or's avatar
    jorbill2or
    Explorer II
    Sep 13, 2021
    Yes I think using a relative or close friend as the address but setting up a mailing address at a mailing service box would work very well. Your family member would get no mail other than a very occasional piece but it will meet the legal definition. While not California , but in Oregon I sold my Portland area home and changed my address to my sister in laws and “moved my drivers license ins credit cards etc all to her address but with a different mail center mailing address with no issues. Because I was a in state transfer I provided no info or bills from my “new” domicile , just filled out a change of address form.
  • cptqueeg's avatar
    cptqueeg
    Explorer II
    Sep 13, 2021
    Use the street address of the US Post Office where your po Box is located and add the Box number in the second line of the address. That should make your address suitable for iPostal and others. We do this primarily for packages which even if sent via fedex or ups most are actually delivered to the post office.

    Eric Anderson
    10923 Progress Ct(address of the US Post Office)
    Unit 1234 (your PO Box Number)
    Rancho Cordova, CA 95670
  • valhalla360's avatar
    valhalla360
    Navigator
    Sep 13, 2021
    We ran into this in Michigan. They specifically refused to consider a PO Box with the logic that you can't actually live at the post office..

    Finally put down my parents address at their hint.

    If you have family or a friend, you trust and they are willing, that's a good option for official govt mail. You can always send other things to your PO Box.

    If that's not an option, go in and explain your situation and ask what you are supposed to put down. If they don't come up with a good answer, ask them what they use for homeless or illegal aliens when they need an address.
  • older_fossil's avatar
    older_fossil
    Explorer
    Sep 13, 2021
    We were California residents when we first went full time. Because my wife wasn't yet eligible for Medicare and we wanted to keep her CA based PPO medical plan with national coverage, we kept a CA domicile until Medicare became an option. We used the Escapees Texas mailing service for virtually all of our mail and used our Son's street address for domicile purposes. That meant we filed CA state tax returns and had CA driver licenses and vehicle registrations. After she was able to get on Medicare we moved our domicile to the Escapees service for South Dakota, but kept our primary mailing address in Texas.

    HTH,
    Art
  • D_E_Bishop's avatar
    D_E_Bishop
    Explorer
    Sep 13, 2021
    Eric Anderson
    10923 Progress Ct(address of the US Post Office)
    Unit 1234 (your PO Box Number)
    Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

    I like Eric's idea, the USPS delivers packages sent by UPS, FedEX and others to residences. My Mail Carrier explained the code on the label when delivery services transport packages but don't want to deliver them.

    I'd like to note how this thread is going. The thing of note here is that nobody who has responded, is trying to avoid taxes. That is where most folks get tripped up.
  • valhalla360's avatar
    valhalla360
    Navigator
    Sep 13, 2021
    D.E.Bishop wrote:
    I'd like to note how this thread is going. The thing of note here is that nobody who has responded, is trying to avoid taxes. That is where most folks get tripped up.


    I would update to reflect, there is a difference between:
    - Legitimately avoiding taxes
    - Illegally avoiding taxes.

    There is nothing wrong with changing domicile to avoid taxes. It's when people try to claim a domicile in a lower tax jurisdiction without meeting the requirements, that they get tripped up.

    The OP is correct that if he spends most of his time in California and has no other state he could reasonably claim, he is legitimately domiciled in California, so until his situation changes, he's stuck with California.
  • ferndaleflyer's avatar
    ferndaleflyer
    Explorer III
    Sep 13, 2021
    I have not lived in MD for 15+ years but still claim it as my primary residence. Pay taxes, drivers license, vehicle registration, everything including some mail comes there and renters forward it with their rent. Here in NC I have one vehicle registered and pay property taxes on this place as well as personal property tax on that car. When I am on the road the post office holds my mail here until I let them know where I am and they forward it. This has worked for me for years.
  • cptqueeg's avatar
    cptqueeg
    Explorer II
    Sep 13, 2021
    D.E.Bishop wrote:
    Eric Anderson
    10923 Progress Ct(address of the US Post Office)
    Unit 1234 (your PO Box Number)
    Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

    I like Eric's idea, the USPS delivers packages sent by UPS, FedEX and others to residences. My Mail Carrier explained the code on the label when delivery services transport packages but don't want to deliver them.

    I'd like to note how this thread is going. The thing of note here is that nobody who has responded, is trying to avoid taxes. That is where most folks get tripped up.


    Eric is the OP. I just used his name and location in the example.
  • jorbill2or's avatar
    jorbill2or
    Explorer II
    Sep 13, 2021
    The only Issue with using a mailbox is many banks investment firms DMV's etc Know the primary address as a business and will not accept it. Even if the PO box is listed as an "apartment" unit or whatever. This has been my experience. Some will accept but many won't. My Bank suggested a relative to me. They want a Hard "home" they can find you at or a contact person to reach you for Homeland security rules. Almost all cards, banks, etc let you list a domicile address separate from your "mailing" address

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