Moving to Connecticut: residency checklist

Your domicile is the place you treat as your permanent home, so the new home has to be the one you really live in. States compare your homes: California's FTB lists the location of your principal residence as a factor, New York's Tax Department reviews the homes you keep and how you use each, and Utah's code compares the living accommodations you have in each state.

Keep as proof: Signed lease or deed, move-in date, and a first utility bill at the new address

File IRS Form 8822 for your home mailing address (the form's instructions say a change generally takes 4 to 6 weeks). USPS says mailers such as banks and government agencies do not forward sensitive mail like driver's licenses, voter registration, credit cards, bank statements or insurance papers, so change your address with each sender directly. Utah's code counts the address you list on mail and tax returns.

Keep as proof: Copy of Form 8822 with proof of mailing, plus address-change confirmations from your bank and insurers

California's FTB lists the state where you are registered to vote as a residency factor, and New York's guidelines look at where you are registered and whether you vote there, including in primary and local elections. The federal National Mail Voter Registration Form can report a change of address and asks for the address where you were registered before; follow your own state's instructions on it, because each state runs registration differently.

Keep as proof: Voter registration confirmation (card or online confirmation page)

Applies if you have children

States look at where your family lives. California's FTB lists the location of your spouse/RDP and children, New York's Tax Department says where minor children attend school can be one of the most important factors, and Utah's code counts where a dependent is enrolled in school.

Keep as proof: School enrollment confirmation and the first report card or school record showing the new address

California's FTB lists where your banks are and where your doctors, dentists, accountants and attorneys are. Not every state weighs these: Minnesota's statute says the Commissioner and courts may not consider where your attorney, CPA or financial adviser is or where you open accounts, and New York's guidelines call the mere location of bank accounts a non-factor. Treat this as supporting evidence, not proof on its own.

Keep as proof: New-patient and account-opening confirmations showing the new address

New York's guidelines list legal documents that name a place as your domicile or primary residence, such as a will, as a factor (a secondary one), and Utah's code counts asserting residency in a document you file with a court or government body. Ask your attorney to review your will, trust and powers of attorney so they match your move.

Keep as proof: Signed copies of the updated documents

iReside logs where you are every day, so you have auditable proof of the day you moved and of the days you spend in your old state. Day counts matter: Minnesota's statute requires adequate records of days spent outside the state, and New York's guidelines treat a diary or calendar as support for where you spent your time. Keep the record for as many years as your old state can still check.

Keep as proof: iReside day report for the year

Applies if you drive

Deadline: Within 90 days of establishing Connecticut residency

Once you establish Connecticut residency you have 90 days to transfer your out-of-state license, in person by appointment. The DMV says your previous state will be notified of the new Connecticut license.

Keep as proof: Copy of the new Connecticut license (front and back)

Applies if you own a vehicle

Deadline: Within 90 days of establishing Connecticut residency

Once you establish residency you have 90 days to transfer the registration, at a DMV hub office or the Enfield branch by appointment. Bring proof of insurance; vehicles older than four model years need an emissions test, and exempt vehicles need a VIN verification. You cannot register with delinquent property taxes, unpaid parking tickets or a suspended registration privilege.

Keep as proof: Connecticut registration and insurance card

Applies if you are a registered voter

Deadline: 18 days before the election (same-day registration is also offered)

The pre-election voter registration cutoff is 18 days before Election Day. Connecticut also offers same-day registration on Election Day for voters who miss the cutoff.

Keep as proof: Voter registration confirmation

Deadline: April 15 following the tax year (calendar-year filers)

If you changed your permanent legal residence by moving into Connecticut during the year you are a part-year resident and file Form CT-1040NR/PY if you meet the filing requirements. Part-year residents cannot elect to be treated as residents. When you change from nonresident to resident, items that accrued before the change (other than Connecticut-source items) are assigned to the period before you became a resident (§12-717(c)).

Keep as proof: Filed CT-1040NR/PY and move-in date records

Connecticut domicile changes only when you move to a new place and definitely intend to make your permanent home there. A move for a limited time does not change it. There is no declaration form, so your license, registration, home and other ties are the record.

Keep as proof: Lease or deed, license, voter registration, move date records

A person who is not domiciled in Connecticut is still a resident if they maintain a permanent place of abode in Connecticut and are in the state for more than 183 days in the tax year. A domiciliary is a resident unless they have no permanent place of abode in Connecticut, have one elsewhere and spend 30 days or fewer in the state.

A home you keep is the first thing a state looks at. New York's guidelines weigh whether you made real efforts to sell it (for example by hiring a real estate firm) and moved your belongings out, and California's FTB lists the location of your principal residence. If you keep the old home, the old state may compare it with your new one, and keep a day log.

Keep as proof: Listing agreement, closing statement, lease termination or new rental lease for the old home

New York's guidelines treat the location of items you hold near and dear (family heirlooms, art, collections, photo albums, pets) as a primary factor, and note that a mover's bill of lading or an insurance statement can document the move. Items left behind in the old state can suggest you have not given it up.

Keep as proof: Mover's bill of lading or inventory, and an insurance policy showing the new address

File a permanent change of address at the Official USPS Change of Address site (identity verification required) or at a Post Office. USPS says to allow at least 7 to 10 business days after approval for it to start, so file before moving day.

Keep as proof: USPS confirmation email

Applies if you are a registered voter

California's FTB lists where you are registered to vote as a residency factor, New York's guidelines look at where you are registered and how you voted, and Utah's code treats voting in the state, without being registered in another state, as establishing domicile there. Register in your new state (the federal form asks for your previous registration address), then stop voting from the old one and ask your old election office how to cancel.

Keep as proof: Confirmation that the old registration was cancelled or moved

California's FTB lists where your social ties are, such as your place of worship, professional associations and clubs, and Utah's code counts membership in a church, club or similar group in the state. Resign, transfer or switch to non-resident status where you can, and join local groups in your new state.

Keep as proof: Resignation or transfer letters and new membership confirmations

Keep iReside running through the move year and after: it logs where you are every day, so you have auditable proof of when you left and of any days you spend back in the old state. Minnesota's statute requires adequate records of days spent outside the state, and New York's guidelines treat a diary or calendar as support for where you spent your time. Keep the record for the years your old state can still check.

Keep as proof: iReside day report for the year

Connecticut domicile changes only when you move somewhere new and definitely intend to make your permanent home there. A move for a limited time does not change domicile.

Keep as proof: New-state license, voter registration, lease or deed, dated move records

Applies if you own a vehicle

If you move out of state you cancel your Connecticut registration through the DMV (online or by mail), and the DMV's page says that until you do, the vehicle remains subject to property tax in the town of record. The page says plates can be discarded at your discretion. Keep the cancellation receipt.

Keep as proof: Plate cancellation receipt

Deadline: April 15 following the tax year (calendar-year filers)

A person who changed their permanent legal residence by moving out of Connecticut during the year is a part-year resident and files Form CT-1040NR/PY. Connecticut adjusted gross income of a part-year resident changing from resident to nonresident is increased or decreased by items accrued under the special accrual rule in section 12-717(c). You do not have to accrue those items if you file a bond or other security acceptable to the commissioner and report them in later years as if you had not moved (§12-717(c)(4)).

Keep as proof: Filed CT-1040NR/PY and departure date records

If you are no longer domiciled in Connecticut but keep a permanent place of abode here, you are a resident for the year if you are in the state more than 183 days.