Welcome to the Sunshine State!
Establish Florida Residency Quickly and Enjoy Income Tax Free Florida Living
What brings you to Florida? The amazing weather? The booming economy? The low tax rates? The lack of income taxes? If you are new to Florida – welcome to living in paradise. Florida is truly a great state to live in, build a business in, and raise a family in. Of course, there are challenges, but beautiful year-round weather and a great business climate are hard to beat! But for the tax benefits, you need to document that you have become a Florida resident. As a Boutique Florida CPA Firm in South Florida (Greater Miami) area, I help our new neighbors establish their Florida residency, securing their new income-tax-free domicile. We even offer an all-inclusive concierge service for busy business owners, where we take care of all the paperwork, appointments, and setup for you; you have to sign and show up.
Florida Residency
Financial Benefits
Generally people looking for help to quickly establish Florida Residency are looking for some of the unique benefits of Florida.
- Zero State Income Tax
- Some of the Best Asset Protection Rules
- Property Tax Reductions for Residents
- In State Tuition for our High Quality Public Universities
- No State Inheritance Tax
So whether you are moving your businesses here, retiring in Florida, or simply splitting your time between your home state and Florida, we’ll help you comply with the rules and benefit from all the great things Florida has to offer.
Remote Working?
Working Between States as a Florida Resident
During the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020, many people started working remotely and learned that they didn’t need to live in their high tax state to run their affairs. In addition to our retirees and late career tax refugees, Florida added people fleeing COVID-19 lockdowns to our source of residences. Florida Schools were open for in person education for the entire 2020-2021 school year, though some major metropolitan areas did some hybrid and distance learning in the first quarter. All businesses were permitted to reopen in the summer, and many small business owners relocated to various communities in Florida for the ability to run their business.
Whether you need to travel back to your prior state, or plan to simply work on a laptop by the pool, we can help you review the rules of domicile to make sure that your former state can’t keep taxing you as a resident. States are desperate for revenue right now, and they are going to be super aggressive about fighting domicile changes, so make sure you get the details right, and we can help.
Fleeing High Taxes?
East Coast or West Coast, We can help
If you are moving to Florida, particularly from high tax states, you need to move quickly to establish your residency. Every month of delay is potentially one more month that your prior state will attempt to attach itself to your income. Many high earning individuals may maintain homes in both locations, or business interests, and working to minimize being subjected to the income tax of your prior state is important.
We work with former residents of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, California, Washington D.C., and other high tax jurisdictions to establish themselves as Florida residents.
Split your Time?
Partial Year Residents
The state where you spend the majority of your time is your tax domicile. If you spend less than half your time in multiple states, you have a more complicated issue. However, if you can establish that you spend 183 days/year in Florida, you can make Florida your domicile and other states places you visit. If you will split your time between Florida and your former home, be prepared to document your stays. The courts will side with your former state if you live in two states can’t prove that you live in Florida. With our Starter/Compliance Package, we can manage your books and document your stays, establishing your residency in Florida. We can also address your accounting and finance needs for any business interests you have in other states.
Track Your Travel
Document Travel to Protect Domicile
Once you establish your domicile in Florida, you may have to travel extensively to your former home to tend to your business interests. We can help you document your travel and plan your trips to maximize your tax deductions. We will develop the appropriate tracking logs for you to simply forward your travel information in, and we can log it for you. By documenting your business travel, we can help you maximize your tax deductions and minimize the possibility of having your domicile challenged.
Can I do It Myself?
Absolutely, let’s talk about your options.
Yes, absolutely. People move to Florida and become Florida residents all the time without a complicated domicile issue. If you are a typical middle-class family renting or buying a modest home and collecting a W-2, you’d wonder what the fuss is about. However, if you still own property in your former state, potentially have a business or rental income from that state, and need to travel back and forth on business, it’s another issue. Your former state’s revenue department may fight your status, so the faster you document everything, the quicker you can say goodbye to state income taxes.
So if your monthly state income tax bill is substantial, let’s get the process ready to go while planning your move. We’ll get as much paperwork prepared for you before you move down, and we’ll give you itemized instructions (or screen share to walk you through the process) if you have to do it for legal reasons. You should focus on moving your family and establishing yourself in your new community- we’ll help keep the old state revenue department off your back.
Isn’t It Easy to Establish Residency?
Yes, as long as you are legally in the United States, you may establish residency in any state without trouble. The income-tax-free State of Florida won’t fight you on your residency; the concern is your former state.
If you are moving to Florida, particularly from high tax states, you need to move quickly to establish your residency. Every month of delay is potentially one more month that your prior state will attempt to attach itself to your income. Additionally, many high-earning individuals may maintain homes in both locations or business interests, and working to minimize being subjected to the income tax of your prior state is important.
We work with former residents of Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, California, Washington D.C., and other high tax jurisdictions to establish themselves as Florida residents.
Your move probably involves a lot of decisions, a mixture of financial, emotional, and logistical. Establishing residency is based upon demonstrating your living in your new state, and the faster you move to register for schools, homesteads, insurance, voting, car registration, etc., the sooner you’ll successfully establish your residency. Our systems may be a little different than you are used to, and failure to comply might result in you being taxed in your old state by an extra year.
We offer this service primarily as a courtesy to our new clients moving into Florida. So when we get on a Zoom Call, we can review with you whether you need us to do the groundwork first, or if you’re going to move down and start establishing residency.
We’ll help you quickly move your financial affairs to Florida, so you can focus on the important things like golfing, beaches, and hurricane preparations.
Do you think you’re ready to move to Florida? Check out this FREE checklist to make sure you have everything you need before you begin your moving process: Florida Registration Checklist
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Moving Domicile to Florida FAQs
What does “domicile” mean and how is it different from residency?
Domicile is your true, permanent home—the state you intend to return to and remain in. You can have many residences, but only one domicile. Establishing Florida domicile is what unlocks no state income tax.
How do I establish Florida domicile quickly?
Update your driver license and vehicle registration, register to vote, file for Florida homestead if you own a home, move banking and mailing address, update legal docs (will, trust, LLC), join local organizations, and keep contemporaneous records. We provide a checklist and concierge setup.
Do I need to spend 183 days in Florida to be a resident?
There’s no single national rule, but the “183-day” guideline helps prove Florida domicile and defeat claims from your former state. If you split time, track days carefully with logs and supporting records.
What documents help prove Florida residency to other states?
Florida driver license, voter registration, vehicle/title, homestead exemption, professional licenses, updated insurance, bank and brokerage statements with FL address, school and medical records, club/church memberships, and travel logs.
Will my old state still tax me after I move to Florida?
Potentially, especially high-tax states using “statutory residency” or domicile tests. We prepare part-year and nonresident returns, document day counts, and defend your Florida status to reduce double taxation.
How soon should I change my driver license, voter registration, and vehicle title?
As soon as you arrive. Early changes show intent and help you claim homestead and other Florida benefits. We can schedule appointments and prepare forms.
What is the Florida homestead exemption and why does it matter?
It’s a property tax benefit for your primary residence that also supports your domicile claim. Apply after you own and occupy the home. We guide documentation and deadlines.
I work remotely for an out-of-state employer—will that income be taxed by my old state?
Generally, W-2 wages are taxed by your resident state (Florida has no income tax). Some states have “convenience of the employer” rules; we review your facts and adjust with payroll and HR to avoid surprise withholding.
What if I keep a home or business in my former state?
You can, but you must separate personal domicile from business or rental “source” income. We file necessary nonresident or entity returns and document your Florida ties to protect residency.
How do I track days and travel to protect my Florida domicile?
Use a day-count app plus backup (flight receipts, tolls, utility bills, calendar entries). We set up simple logs and store evidence in your client portal.
Do retirees and snowbirds need the same steps as business owners?
Yes—driver license, voter registration, homestead, healthcare and banking moves all matter. Owners may also need to update entity addresses, payroll, sales/use tax, and registered agents.
What taxes will I still pay in Florida?
Florida has no state income tax, but you’ll still owe federal income tax, sales/use tax on purchases, property tax if you own a home, and local fees. Certain businesses may owe state taxes or fees—we register and file for you.
How do part-year and first-year filings work when I move?
You typically file a part-year resident return in your former state and a nonresident or no return in Florida depending on income type. We align move dates, withholdings, and estimated taxes.
Can you help me avoid residency audits from NY, NJ, CA, or MA?
Yes. We provide a domicile file, day counts, affidavits, and coordinated responses. Our approach focuses on intent, presence, and objective ties to Florida.
What is included in your concierge domicile service?
White-glove scheduling and form prep for license, voter, vehicle, homestead; utility/bank moves; entity and payroll updates; day-count setup; and a residency evidence packet you can produce if challenged.
How long does it take to establish Florida domicile?
You can complete critical steps within days to weeks. The strength of your case improves over time as ties deepen. We map a timeline and handle the paperwork.
What if I’m not ready to move full-time yet?
You can still plan now. We outline actions to take before the move, then help you document 183+ days and maintain proof while you transition.
How do we get started with moving domicile to Florida?
Schedule a consult, share your current state ties and timeline, and we’ll deliver a step-by-step plan, checklist, and fixed-fee option or concierge package to complete filings fast.
