Help with how picking a state works

2gypsies wrote:
It sounds like you want Arizona as your domicile state. You might want to start a new post with that heading and how to do it and hopefully someone doing it will be able to help. I would guess it's very possible but Arizona is not noted for being a good choice - money-wise - for full-timers.

Not a good choice? State taxes are not the only expenses for retirees. See 10 Most Tax-Friendly States for Retirees

We just switched domicile from WI to AZ and it was pretty easy. Since AZ state tax allows for many, many deductions, we won't be paying much. The biggest expense is probably the annual VLT (Vehicle License Tax). We paid about $500 for a 2001 motorhome, 2009 Honda CRV, and a 1993 Jeep. The VLT goes down about 16% a year unless of course you buy another vehicle.

2gypsies wrote:

You would also need an address and a mail forwarding service to get that address. I'm not aware of mail forwarding in Arizona so you'd have to check that out.

It took about 10 minutes to find a local mail forwarding service Googling "mail forwarding" in my area.

We had a mail service in WI too. Some people would have you believe that there are only a limited number of mail forwarding services (Escapees + the national services). Not true.

2gypsies wrote:

The three popular states mentioned are very familiar with dealing with full-timers.

Mmmmm . . . ask those who have chosen Texas as a domicile about the vehicle registration process.

And if you're under 65, South Dakota does not seem like the best state to purchase individual health insurance.

There are more cost-effective domicile options besides the "Big Three".

BTW, there are 7, not three, states that have no state income tax:
- Alaska
- Florida
- Nevada
- South Dakota
- Texas
- Washington
- Wyoming