Moving to St. Louis, MO: 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: As soon as you establish Missouri residency (CDL holders: within 30 days)

The Department of Revenue says that as soon as you establish residency in Missouri you must apply and pay for a Missouri driver license. You may surrender a valid license (or one expired 184 days or less) from another state to waive the skills and written tests. Bring proof of identity, date of lawful status, Social Security number and Missouri residential address. Commercial license holders must transfer within 30 days.

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

Applies if you own a vehicle

Deadline: Within 30 days of becoming a Missouri resident

You have 30 days from the date of becoming a Missouri resident to title your vehicle. Bring the out-of-state title (or lienholder paperwork) and a signed Form 108 if applying by mail; the insurance, inspection and property-tax proofs are the next three items. A Missouri registration cannot be renewed until a Missouri title is issued in your name.

Keep as proof: Missouri title and registration receipt

Deadline: Postmarked by the 4th Wednesday before the election

You must be a Missouri resident. Your voter registration form must be postmarked by the 4th Wednesday before the election.

Keep as proof: Voter registration confirmation

Applies if you own a vehicle

Deadline: April 1 each year (next business day if it falls on a weekend)

City of St. Louis residents declare personal property, including autos, trucks, motorcycles, boats, RVs and trailers, by April 1 each year. Filing late or not filing brings a 10% penalty. New Missouri residents may qualify for a tax waiver known as a Statement of Non-Assessment.

Keep as proof: Filed declaration or Statement of Non-Assessment

Deadline: April 15 following the tax year

A part-year resident can complete either Form MO-NRI (filing as a nonresident) or Form MO-CR (filing as a resident, with the other state's return); you choose one. Both attach to Form MO-1040, and you report income from other states on the MO-1040.

Keep as proof: Filed MO-1040 with MO-NRI or MO-CR

Deadline: April 15 each year for calendar-year filers

The 1% earnings tax is collected from residents of the City of St. Louis regardless of the location of their employer, and from employees working in the city regardless of where they live. It is the taxpayer's responsibility to make sure the obligation is paid, even if the employer did not withhold.

Keep as proof: Filed Form E-1 and W-2s showing city withholding

Deadline: April 15 each year

People who move to or from the city partway through the tax year are only liable for the wages earned while living or working in the city. The percentage is calculated with the non-residency deduction formula on the back of Form E-1. Claims must be supported by a copy of a mortgage deed or lease showing the time you lived in the city.

Keep as proof: Lease or mortgage deed showing your move-in date

A person domiciled in Missouri is a resident unless they maintain no permanent abode in Missouri, maintain one elsewhere, and spend 30 or fewer days in Missouri. A person not domiciled in Missouri is still a resident if they maintain a permanent Missouri abode and spend more than 183 days there. A day log documents either count.

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

A domiciliary of Missouri is a resident unless they (1) maintain no permanent place of abode in Missouri, (2) maintain a permanent place of abode elsewhere, and (3) spend in the aggregate not more than thirty days of the taxable year in Missouri. If you keep a Missouri home, the exception is not available.

Keep as proof: Sale or lease records for the Missouri home, new-home deed or lease, and day log

Deadline: April 15 following the tax year

As a part-year resident you can file as a nonresident with Form MO-NRI (attach a copy of your federal return) or as a resident with Form MO-CR (attach the other state's return). Choose one method; both attach to Form MO-1040.

Keep as proof: Filed MO-1040 with MO-NRI or MO-CR

Deadline: April 15 each year; the city does not allow individual extensions

People who move from the city partway through the year are only liable for the wages earned while living or working in the city. Calculate the share with the non-residency deduction formula on the back of Form E-1 and keep a copy of your mortgage deed or lease to verify the time you lived in the city.

Keep as proof: Old lease or mortgage deed with dates, new lease or deed

A person not domiciled in Missouri who maintains a permanent place of abode in Missouri and spends more than 183 days of the taxable year there is a Missouri resident. Track your Missouri days if you keep a house, condo or apartment there.