Moving to Vermont: 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: No longer than 60 days after moving to Vermont (or before the out-of-state license expires, if sooner)

You have no longer than 60 days after moving to Vermont, or until your out-of-state license expires if that is sooner. The out-of-state license must be surrendered when the Vermont license is issued. An eye exam is required if your out-of-state license is valid or expired less than three years.

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

Applies if you own a vehicle

Deadline: No longer than 60 days after moving (or before the out-of-state registration expires); inspection within 15 days of registering

Register no longer than 60 days after moving to Vermont, or before the out-of-state registration expires, whichever comes first. After registering you have 15 days to get the vehicle inspected at a Vermont-licensed inspection station.

Keep as proof: Vermont registration and inspection record

Applies if you are a registered voter

Deadline: Any day up to and including Election Day

As soon as you move to Vermont you can vote here if it is your primary residence. Eligible people may register any day up to and including Election Day. You register in the town where you live.

Keep as proof: Voter registration confirmation

You qualify as a Vermont resident for the part of the year you are domiciled in Vermont, or maintain a permanent home in Vermont and are present more than 183 days. A part-year resident is someone who meets the definition for part of the year, which often means someone who moved in or out.

Keep as proof: Lease or deed, Vermont license, voter registration

Applies if you own a home

Deadline: April 15 each year (final date October 15, with a late penalty)

Owners who own and occupy a homestead as their domicile on April 1 must file a Homestead Declaration each year. Due April 15; accepted through October 15 with a penalty of up to 3% or 8% depending on the rates. After October 15 the property is classified nonhomestead and taxed at the higher rate.

Keep as proof: Filed Homestead Declaration (Form HS-122)

Deadline: April 15 following the tax year

Part-year residents compute income for both the resident and nonresident portions of the year. If total income from both calculations is more than $100 you must file. The income-adjustment schedule is IN-113. File by April 15.

Keep as proof: Filed IN-111 and move-in date records

Vermont also counts you as a resident if you maintain a permanent home here and are present more than 183 days of the year, even if you are domiciled elsewhere.

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 keep your old home

You are a Vermont resident while domiciled here, or while you maintain a permanent home here and are present more than 183 days. Moving your domicile out ends the first test; keeping a home and a high day count can trigger the second.

Keep as proof: New-state license, voter registration and lease or deed

Applies if you are a registered voter

Vermont treats residency for voting as intent and action. A voter with more than one home must decide which is the principal dwelling place. People living out of state temporarily may keep voting in Vermont only if they still consider Vermont their primary residence.

Keep as proof: Registration in your new state

Deadline: April 15 following the tax year

Compute the resident and nonresident portions of income. If the total from both is more than $100 you must file.

Keep as proof: Filed IN-111 and departure-date records

Applies if you own a home, keep your old home

Deadline: No filing window; rescind by September 1 to be reflected in that year's bill; no refund after October 15

Homestead status depends on owning and occupying the home as your domicile on April 1. If the home stops qualifying (you moved out, converted it to nonhomestead, or leased it for more than 182 days), withdraw the declaration on Form HS-122W. There is no filing window, but by statute a rescission filed by September 1 is reflected in that year's final Education Fund payment, and after October 15 you get no refund from the corrected classification.

Keep as proof: Filed HS-122W or town confirmation

Vermont counts you as a resident if you are domiciled there, or maintain a permanent home there and are present more than 183 days.