Forum Discussion

Don2466's avatar
Don2466
Explorer
Nov 03, 2018

Tennessee residency

Been doing some research for full timing, looking at Tennessee as place to change our residency from Michigan, no income tax, no pension tax, don't tax social security, and insurance/vehicle registration cheaper. God whats not to like coming from the state that leads the nation in highest #1 insurance, and our registration is based on the msrp of the vehicle.
Anyways, anyone familiar with residency requirements and is there any full time mail forwarding services there we can use as our home address?
  • tenn your choice,talk to a att and a cpa in the area your looking at . att might cost couple bucks, cpa free.
  • stallsmi wrote:
    I copied this from a website...something to be aware of: The Tennessee income tax does not apply to salaries and wages, but most income from stocks, bonds and notes receivable is taxable at a flat rate of 6%. The first $1,250 in taxable income received by a single filer is exempt. The first $2,500 in taxable income received by a joint filer is exempt.

    That's the Hall income tax and it has been repealed and is currently being phased out. The rate is 3% this year, and will be gone by 2021.
  • Why try to re-invent the wheel? Florida, Texas, and South Dakota are the states most full timers claim as their residency. There are companies in all three states that cater to full timer and can assist with mail and forwarding, insurance, vehicle registration, driver's licenses, and voting registration. I think you need to do more research.
  • “You won't find the services and amenities ANYWHERE that you have in Michigan, but you will find, as you know, very little in the way of taxes, also.”

    California has high taxes AND no services or amenities.
  • I copied this from a website...something to be aware of: The Tennessee income tax does not apply to salaries and wages, but most income from stocks, bonds and notes receivable is taxable at a flat rate of 6%. The first $1,250 in taxable income received by a single filer is exempt. The first $2,500 in taxable income received by a joint filer is exempt.
  • What you should do (if financially possible) is buy a small tract of land in a rural area. Most counties in TN have ZERO zoning in areas that are outside of city limits. Do some very minor improvements, like a driveway, get it mowed 3-4 times a year, and go for it. Putting in a driveway and improvements will get you a physical street address.

    Most UPS stores offer "suite" addresses as well, along with forwarding services. In your shoes I would find a list of stores online and actually CALL to make sure they offer that service.

    Get your driver's license moved and register to vote using the physical address of your property. You will break even very quickly in Tennessee's low tax environment.

    Driver's licenses may be renewed ONLINE in Tennessee, for an extended amount of time like 15 years. They are good for 5 years.

    Property is cheapest in west Tennesse. (flat, but nice people.) Look in Gibson, Crockett, Haywood, Fayette, Hardeman, McNairy. Madison county is where Jackson is and it would be more expensive. The tier of counties along the southern border as far east as Marion county are very rural, also more hilly and prettier. Along the northern border, all the counties between Sumner and Sullivan are extremely rural, more rugged country, very very pretty. The next tier south of those is also very rural.

    You won't find the services and amenities ANYWHERE that you have in Michigan, but you will find, as you know, very little in the way of taxes, also.

    You will also find it an absolutely beautiful state, especially in the spring and fall.
  • FL and TX seem to be the top two. Never heard of anyone using TN as a full timers home base.