Moving to North Dakota: 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 own a vehicle

Deadline: Immediately on becoming a resident or starting work in North Dakota (no grace period stated)

NDDOT's manual says North Dakota law requires a vehicle to be registered immediately when the owner becomes a resident or becomes gainfully employed in the state. You can get a ND title and registration or, if your other-state registration is still current and you will only be here briefly, buy a temporary permit. A nonresident who stays 90 consecutive days is treated as a resident for temporary-registration purposes.

Keep as proof: North Dakota title and registration card

Deadline: Lived in the precinct at least 30 days before an election

To vote you must be a resident who has lived in your precinct at least 30 days before the election and show ID with your current North Dakota residential street address and date of birth. Living at a new address for 30 days and verifying it as the address on your ID changes your voting residence. A voter may have only one residence.

Keep as proof: ID showing your North Dakota street address (updated license or ID)

Applies if you drive

Deadline: Within 60 days of becoming a North Dakota resident (30 days for a CDL)

You may keep using your non-commercial out-of-state license for 60 days after you become a North Dakota resident (30 days for a commercial license). Book an appointment at a ND Driver License site; you need identity and legal presence documents plus proof of your North Dakota residential address, and PO boxes are not accepted. NDDOT treats anyone other than a nonresident student, tourist or nonresident military member who has lived in ND for 90 consecutive days as a resident for licensing.

Keep as proof: Copy of the new license and the address documents you used

Applies if you own a home

Deadline: Apply online January 1 to April 1 each year

Homeowners can apply online each year for a property-tax credit of up to $1,600 on a home they own and live in as their primary residence; there is no age or income limit and one credit per household. Seniors and permanently disabled owners can also apply for the Homestead Property Tax Credit, due April 1 of the assessment year.

Keep as proof: Application confirmation from the Tax Commissioner

Deadline: With your North Dakota return for the year you moved

If you lived in North Dakota for only part of the year you are a part-year resident. You must file a North Dakota return if you are required to file a federal return or have North Dakota-source income. Part-year filers attach Schedule ND-1NR.

Keep as proof: Copy of the filed return with your move date

Deadline: Ongoing, all year

North Dakota treats you as a resident if you live in the state full time, or if you maintain a home here and spend more than seven months (210 days) of the tax year in North Dakota. Keep a dated log so you can show where you were.

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

Applies if you are a registered voter

In North Dakota an individual keeps a residence in the state until another has been gained, and living at a new address for 30 days and verifying it changes voting residence. Register and vote in your new state and stop voting in North Dakota.

Keep as proof: Voter registration confirmation from the new state

Deadline: With your North Dakota return for the year you left

If you moved out of North Dakota during the year and set up a permanent home elsewhere you are a part-year resident. File a North Dakota return (with Schedule ND-1NR) if you are required to file a federal return or still have North Dakota-source income.

Keep as proof: Copy of the filed return

Applies if you own a home, keep your old home

Deadline: Applications are due each April 1

The Primary Residence Credit is for a home you own and reside in as your primary residence, applied for each year by April 1. Once the home is no longer your primary residence, do not apply for it.

Keep as proof: Copy of your last approved application

Applies if you keep your old home

Deadline: Each tax year (more than 210 days with a North Dakota home)

A person who does not live in North Dakota full time is still a North Dakota resident if they maintain a home here and spend more than seven months (210 days) of the tax year in the state. The rule does not apply to individuals who moved into or out of North Dakota during the year and established a permanent home elsewhere.

Keep as proof: Day log showing days in North Dakota