Moving to West Virginia: 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: Within 30 days after taking up residence in West Virginia

Every owner must apply to the DMV for registration and title within 30 days after taking up residence. For a vehicle titled in your name with no lienholder, submit the out-of-state title with a WV title application (DMV-1-TR), an odometer disclosure and insurance information from a company licensed to sell insurance in WV. With a lienholder, you need the lienholder's letter instead of the title.

Keep as proof: WV title and registration

Applies if you drive

Deadline: Within 30 days after taking up residence in West Virginia

State law says every driver must apply to the DMV for a West Virginia license within thirty days after taking up residence. With a valid, non-expired out-of-state license you transfer it, surrender the old one, pass a vision screening and complete a brief alcohol awareness course. If the out-of-state license has expired, you take the vision, written and road skills tests. If you don't have the license, or it expired more than 36 months ago, you also need a certified driving record dated within 30 days of applying.

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

Citizens with a driver's license or other DMV-issued ID can register to vote online through the Secretary of State's online voter registration system.

Keep as proof: Voter registration confirmation

Deadline: With your WV return for the year you moved

A part-year resident changes residence from another state to West Virginia during the year. Check the part-year box and complete Schedule A. Part-year residents cannot claim a credit for taxes paid to another state unless that state's income is included in WV taxable income on Schedule A.

Keep as proof: Filed IT-140 and Schedule A

A resident is someone who spends more than 30 days in West Virginia intending it to be their permanent residence, or who maintains a physical presence in West Virginia for more than 183 days of the year even if also a resident of another state.

Keep as proof: Day log and dated move records

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

Under W. Va. Code 11-21-7 you are a resident if you are domiciled in West Virginia, unless you keep no permanent place of abode in the state, keep one elsewhere, and spend no more than 30 days of the year in West Virginia. You are also a resident if you are not domiciled there but keep a permanent place of abode in West Virginia and spend more than 183 days of the year in the state.

Keep as proof: Day log for the year and records showing your permanent home in the new state

Deadline: With your WV return for the year you left

A part-year resident is someone who changes residence from West Virginia to another state during the year. Check the nonresident/part-year box, enter your dates and complete Schedule A.

Keep as proof: Filed IT-140 and Schedule A

A full-year nonresident is a West Virginia resident who spends less than 30 days of the year in the state and maintains a permanent place of residence outside it. A resident of another state who spends more than 183 days in WV is treated as a resident.