Washington State Residency

[proxima]

I am looking to make the move to Washington State later this year in my RV, and I am curious how I should set up residency there since I do not have a "Domicile." I've always loved the area and I want to stick around for a while.

What will be a good way to set up residency in Washington? Also anyone know of a mail forwarding service there?

[gotsmart]

I came from NH to Olympia (Thurston county) in 2010. In 2011 I rented a mailbox in Aberdeen (Grays Harbor county), bought a motorhome, did the address change that I posted in this thread, and went FT. BTW my vehicle insurance increased a whopping $3 when I went from Thurston to Grays Harbor.

[amdriven2liv]

I'm glad this topic came up. All I have read on FT rv living in Washington is hard to do, due to needing a physical address for licensing.

We called a place and it sounds like it is doable. We currently live in Washington and were thinking about changing to another state, like South Dakota, but will now stay Washingtonians.

[proxima]

Thanks Tony, I've been there once before, but only for a day for training back when I worked for the airlines, and that one day, I have never seen so much beauty in the surrounding area of SEA. I have been yearning to return to Washington since the day I left. Tax and school is not the main reason I want to go up there, it is just the shear beauty. I've been in Florida my whole life, and it seems most of my friends that visits Washington, usually don't return. I will have to adjust from having 3-5" of rain per hour to 3-5" per few days.

I am lucky enough to find a job that allows me to travel, and I get to see the country. I will be spending the majority of the year in Utah, but I won't let that stop me for taking long weekends up there.

[tonymull]

You're getting responses from pre-I695. WA car tabs frequently ran over $500 for a newer model back then, now they are less than $50. Every state collects taxes in one way or another, and you'll find that the tax load equates with how much service you get from state government in one way or another. Don't let taxes decide where you live. As far as scenery take a look north of Seattle. Can't be beat! You can cheat on that I-5 rule, just stay west of the mountains..and pay attention to winter flood zones.

That's not to say that, depending on your lifestyle, you cannot find a 'sweetspot' for taxes in one state or another. If you don't own real estate then a state that garners most of it's tax dollars from property taxes is good for you, for example. But for the average citizen of each state it's all pretty even if you look at it in depth. Low tax states offer less in return.

[proxima]

Again, thanks for all of the replies! I have been reading on registration for the vehicles, and so far it is not too much different from Florida.

I am still doing my research, but I might end up setting up my residency in Olympia for now or until I start school.

[Cummins12V98]

ol' yeller wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Be prepared to bend over when you license/register your vehicles!!!

HUH? to register my 2008 Aspect last year was just under $100. And I live in King County where the taxes are higher than the rest of the state. License fees here are very reasonable compared to many other places plus there is no personal property tax like in other places.

YOU already live there!!! I am fully aware of the Washington Tax system living there the first 57 years of my life.

The OP is considering MOVING to WA.

[ol__yeller]

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Be prepared to bend over when you license/register your vehicles!!!

HUH? to register my 2008 Aspect last year was just under $100. And I live in King County where the taxes are higher than the rest of the state. License fees here are very reasonable compared to many other places plus there is no personal property tax like in other places.

[Cummins12V98]

Be prepared to bend over when you license/register your vehicles!!!

[jorbill2or]

When I called some months ago I was told I'd need to pay tax on my current motor home ( I paid no tax as I live in Oregon ) I bought it well over a year ago. My plan way to " move in " with my son outside Spokane . It was 8 % of purchase or the current value which they would determine , and other fees ) ... On a 140000, coach that's not small Change !
Did I get wrong information? , I wouldn't be surprised, but the conversation sure made me run

[gotsmart]

So proxima, what can you do... other than ignoring those in this thread who would try to dissuade you from becoming a WA resident?

If you plan to live in an RV from October to May in an RV in WA then your want to live west of I-5 (as a general rule). I-5 is treated like the winter rain/snow divider - rain west of I-5, snow east of I-5. Wintering in an RV on the rainy side of WA is very doable. I'm a resident of Aberdeen, WA but I'm in Sequim (the least wet part of WA in the winter).

Having said that, how about getting a library card at Timberland Regional Library. TRL has 27 libraries, 2 cooperative library centers and 4 library kiosks in Grays Harbor, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, and Thurston counties in Southwest Washington State. linky

1) call a UPS store or parcel store that is located in a WA county of your choice and use a credit card to rent a private mailbox. Have them email or fax to you the 2 signature forms. One form authorizes then to receive mail on your behalf from the USPS. The other form gives them signature authorization to sign for mail/packages that require your signature. Then send the forms back to the store.

2) have a couple of bills sent to your new private mailbox.

3) sign up online for a library card.

4) Visit WA and go to a DOL location. I'm not sure if a (3rd party) Licensing Agency store will do. Get a drivers license with the mailbox address. The DOL can also register you to vote. Just ask. You may choose to register your vehicle(s) at this time. linky I think you can have them mail the WA license plates to you out of state (double check that). You'll have to obtain WA vehicle insurance as well.

You're in. Another interesting residency link from the WA Dept of Revenue.

Then one year after the issue date on your drivers license you will qualify for in-state tuition.

[path1]

You didn't say anything about school in your initial posting...

Unless less it has changed and it probably has since daughter went thru it...even though she had drivers lic and car registered and registered to vote. When she went to register for school they said she was not a "resident for school purposes" and told her to pay out of state tuition. Until she completed a year in state. (She just postponed school for awhile) This was many years ago and might of been changed by now? I think they look at drivers lic and date of issue???

Student Residency
To qualify as a resident student, state law requires that a student establish a bona fide domicile in the state of Washington for a period of one year

But not sure if its just the place that web page is for or all the state.

http://www.wsac.wa.gov/student-residency

And here is more

http://dor.wa.gov/Content/ContactUs/con_residdef.aspx

My best guess is the state wants you to pay some tax before giving you "resident" school rate.

More things to check out.

Good luck

[proxima]

Thanks for all of the post, a lot of information. I need to set up a "bona fide domicile" for school purposes. I am currently based in Florida, and I should finish school there, but I got accepted into a certain program at one of their schools and I want to take this opportunity.

I will be in Utah until November and I do not know if I want to take a weekend to go up to Washington to set up residency or wait until November and outright spend winter up there. Everything is still in a planning stage for me though.

[Tom_Barb]

I believe he said that he's setting up residency, a mail box is all you need. our post offices all have boxes to rent.

[n7bsn]

Marine By Choice wrote:

n7bsn wrote:

Simply not true (post I-695)

Washingtons taxes are based on being a resident living in the state. If you don't actually "live" in Washington... you don't pay gas-tax, sales-tax or (real) property tax.

....

How do you not pay the gas tax if not a resident? Gas tax is included in the price at the pump and is not deducted for any reason. At least I have never seen that happen.

Sales tax is not charged if you live in, and have ID showing non-WA residency, (driver's license) a bordering state. But you have to show non-WA ID and, many times, sign a form.

I'm guessing you missed the part about actually "living" in Washington. If you are someplace else you aren't paying Washington gas or sales tax.