Change residency to AZ?

[DWC]

It’s time to pull the trigger and change primary residence from Ca to Az. Any tips from those that have done it? We’re going to keep the So Cal house but plan on spending most of the week/year in Havasu..

 

[traquer]

Same, what do I do besides tell my bank and DMV? Tax returns also I'd imagine, or how else do I tell CA to not tax my ass any longer?

It’s time to pull the trigger and change primary residence from Ca to Az. Any tips from those that have done it? We’re going to keep the So Cal house but plan on spending most of the week/year in Havasu..

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I’ve heard varying reports of the theatrics you must go through to get your AZ license.

 

[Singleton]

Change billing address on everything (even CA home stuff) to AZ. Change DL to AZ. File non- resident CA return in CA for 2022 and AZ resident for 2022. Wait for CA tax board to audit you in 2022, so no playing in grey area on taxes. Make sure you company knows your home address is in AZ.

Do it before you spend a total of 180 days in CA in 22.

 

[DWC]

I’ve heard varying reports of the theatrics you must go through to get your AZ license.

The theatrics and 2nd hand accounts are what I’m hoping to avoid. . Hoping a few that have done it can give advice and must do’s.
Not all of us are getting out completely.

 

[Cdog]

Move everything. Including bank accounts. Ca will chase u down and charge late fees for things like registration on a dirt bike. U need proof to send them from AZ since u have property CA can lien.

 

[Riverbottom]

I’ve heard varying reports of the theatrics you must go through to get your AZ license.

If you have a current Ca. license, they don't even test. Just fill out the form, eye test, and take your picture. Your Az. license is then good until you are 65 yrs. old.

 

[DWC]

Change billing address on everything (even CA home stuff) to AZ. Change DL to AZ. File non- resident CA return in CA for 2022 and AZ resident for 2022. Wait for CA tax board to audit you in 2022, so no playing in grey area on taxes. Make sure you company knows your home address is in AZ.

Do it before you spend a total of 180 days in CA in 22.

Yeah, figure the audit is unavoidable. Ca doesn’t like to lose revenue. I’ve had one experience with them. Really don’t want another.

 

[monkeyswrench]

I've been out for 9.. n i n e...years.
DMV still sends me reg, renewal for a truck.
The truck was totaled 6 years before I moved!
Every June I get the letter. The first 5 times I sent the paperwork showing the total loss. Moved here. Like a damn horror movie, the first June it showed up in the box! Not forwarded, addressed to my current home.

I don't care what you do, they don't let go easily

 

[HNL2LHC]

It’s time to pull the trigger and change primary residence from Ca to Az. Any tips from those that have done it? We’re going to keep the So Cal house but plan on spending most of the week/year in Havasu..

Watching since this is the plan for 2022 as well as moving the business there as well.

 

[Xtrmwakeboarder]

Change everything. Bank accounts, club memberships, DL, Registration, etc. etc.... and do it before you spend 6 months in CA.

 

[satellitemike]

About time, congrats!

 

[HNL2LHC]

I’ve heard varying reports of the theatrics you must go through to get your AZ license.

The theatrics and 2nd hand accounts are what I’m hoping to avoid. . Hoping a few that have done it can give advice and must do’s.
Not all of us are getting out completely.

What is that you guys are referring to? I have not had any one say that there are any issues. Is it a CA to AZ issue or just moving AZ issue and I’d have it too changing from HI? I only spent 100 days in HI last year. Trying to do the same this year. We have to make the change so the wife can have the same medical now that her disability ran out this year and is no longer employed by her company.

 

[DWC]

About time, congrats!

Yeah, no joke. Betting we spent more than half the time in Havasu the last couple years. It’s past time to get it done.

 

[satellitemike]

Yeah, no joke. Betting we spent more than half the time in Havasu the last couple years. It’s past time to get it done.

I know you about to get rid of 2 of the kids soon, are you looking to adopt?

 

[monkeyswrench]

I know you about to get rid of 2 of the kids soon, are you looking to adopt?

Yep, he'll need someone to chip in for fuel after the wedding

 

[DWC]

I know you about to get rid of 2 of the kids soon, are you looking to adopt?

No chance. Cut checks for two weddings today. I barely have enough left for gas and beer.

 

[DWC]

What is that you guys are referring to? I have not had any one say that there are any issues. Is it a CA to AZ issue or just moving AZ issue and I’d have it too changing from HI? I only spent 100 days in HI last year. Trying to do the same this year. We have to make the change so the wife can have the same medical now that her disability ran out this year and is no longer employed by her company.

My guess is Hawaii is more like the Catholic Church where Ca is like the Mormons. . Ca doesn’t have dudes on bikes, It’s way worse. There are all kinds of myths/legends on what Ca will do to confirm residency. Cell phone records, vet bills, etc.
I know when they came after us for the tax bill on our boat it was a nightmare. I had storage bills and signed affidavits that it didn’t leave Havasu for the designated 6mos. It took years to be “partially” cleared. (They basically said they still reserve the right to come after us )

 

[mjc]

Doing a release of liability with the DMV can help with the dmv problem. Maybe. They came looking for one of my cars to the AZ address for 3 years before they gave up.

 

[Flying_Lavey]

The license is REALLY easy. Bring your California License and 2 pieces of legit mail with your name and your Arizona address on it and fill out some forms and away you go. The MVD's that u have been to in AZ were so nice coming from California. I kinda miss them already. Lol!

 

[HNL2LHC]

No chance. Cut checks for two weddings today. I barely have enough left for gas and beer.

I think that we owe you from the last time. So when you are REALLY down and out there is a free meal owed to you. Just give us a call.

 

[CarolynandBob]

Change billing address on everything (even CA home stuff) to AZ. Change DL to AZ. File non- resident CA return in CA for 2022 and AZ resident for 2022. Wait for CA tax board to audit you in 2022, so no playing in grey area on taxes. Make sure you company knows your home address is in AZ.

Do it before you spend a total of 180 days in CA in 22.

This, but will had a few. Get registered to vote, change your primary doctors to AZ. We filed a change of domicile in Florida when we changed our residency. Not sure if AZ has one or uses them.

As far as taxes. We changed ours at the end of the year, so it was a clear cut off date. We put everything on a credit card, so we had proof we were not in the state for more than 180 days. I think the first year we were gone we were back in the state for 40 days or something like that.

Just document everything and you should be good.

 

[DWC]

This, but will had a few. Get registered to vote, change your primary doctors to AZ. We filed a change of domicile in Florida when we changed our residency. Not sure if AZ has one or uses them.

As far as taxes. We changed ours at the end of the year, so it was a clear cut off date. We put everything on a credit card, so we had proof we were not in the state for more than 180 days. I think the first year we were gone we were back in the state for 40 days or something like that.

Just document everything and you should be good.

Thank you very much

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

I will pile on here, great thread and advice as I have to go through this as well.

 

[Riverbottom]

You can register to vote at MVD when you get your driver's license.

 

[Skinny Tire AH]

Contact @was thatguy

He told me how predatory California was for some time after leaving.

He probably could provide some sage advice

 

[samsah33]

Talk to a good tax accountant. From what I recall, there's a concept known as your "tax home," and that can be different than your actual residence. This is to prevent people from merely changing their addresses from one state to another. Doesn't sound like that the case with you since you're spending most of your time in AZ, but it might be worth a conversation regardless.

 

[GOTTBoat]

I moved to Havasu in 07 and kept my house in CA and worked for a completely CA based employer who deducted all CA taxes. At tax time filed CA for refund and got MOST of it back, more than enough to pay AZ state. CA did come after me for Boat unsecured property taxes so after a couple simple "I don't own it anymore" reply's and ignoring them for a few years I wrote a letter with AZ reg. documentation and that stopped. I have a few vehicles so as registration would come due on one I would roll it over to AZ. I still have one early 70's car registered in CA, don't want to lose the original plates on it. I don't think doctors/dentists matter at all.

 

[DLC]

I moved to Havasu in 07 and kept my house in CA and worked for a completely CA based employer who deducted all CA taxes. At tax time filed CA for refund and got MOST of it back, more than enough to pay AZ state. CA did come after me for Boat unsecured property taxes so after a couple simple "I don't own it anymore" reply's and ignoring them for a few years I wrote a letter with AZ reg. documentation and that stopped. I have a few vehicles so as registration would come due on one I would roll it over to AZ. I still have one early 70's car registered in CA, don't want to lose the original plates on it. I don't think doctors/dentists matter at all.

did you notice a big difference in Tax $ Spent or not spent after moving? Wondering how much you could save By jumping off the sinking ship.

 

[DLC]

Great Topic and Excellent feed back!

 

[HNL2LHC]

This, but will had a few. Get registered to vote, change your primary doctors to AZ. We filed a change of domicile in Florida when we changed our residency. Not sure if AZ has one or uses them.

As far as taxes. We changed ours at the end of the year, so it was a clear cut off date. We put everything on a credit card, so we had proof we were not in the state for more than 180 days. I think the first year we were gone we were back in the state for 40 days or something like that.

Just document everything and you should be good.

Great info!!! Thanks!!! I guess one of the good things for us is that we can use our flight data to prove where we were. That is how I know I was in Hawaii for only 100 days last Year.

 

[DWC]

Contact @was thatguy

He told me how predatory California was for some time after leaving.

He probably could provide some sage advice

Will do. Thank you

 

[DWC]

I moved to Havasu in 07 and kept my house in CA and worked for a completely CA based employer who deducted all CA taxes. At tax time filed CA for refund and got MOST of it back, more than enough to pay AZ state. CA did come after me for Boat unsecured property taxes so after a couple simple "I don't own it anymore" reply's and ignoring them for a few years I wrote a letter with AZ reg. documentation and that stopped. I have a few vehicles so as registration would come due on one I would roll it over to AZ. I still have one early 70's car registered in CA, don't want to lose the original plates on it. I don't think doctors/dentists matter at all.

That’s good to hear. My wife visits City of Hope monthly. Really don’t want to switch that or any of her other health care

 

[DWC]

did you notice a big difference in Tax $ Spent or not spent after moving? Wondering how much you could save By jumping off the sinking ship.

State income tax difference is roughly 6%. Car registration, utilities, etc should add up enough to offset any hassle.

 

[traquer]

Great advice in here. The best advice was to make your taxes black and white, no gray area stuff in case they audit you. Never thought of that, but it makes sense.

 

[Singleton]

Talk to a good tax accountant. From what I recall, there's a concept known as your "tax home," and that can be different than your actual residence. This is to prevent people from merely changing their addresses from one state to another. Doesn't sound like that the case with you since you're spending most of your time in AZ, but it might be worth a conversation regardless.

Tax home = state that your company withholds taxes from in your paycheck. Some companies will allow you to change states and start withholdings from the new state you live in. Others can’t, so they make the employee have to file non-resident / resident tax returns to balance it out. Some companies will document place of residence (helps if you get audited), even when withholding taxes from another state

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

did you notice a big difference in Tax $ Spent or not spent after moving? Wondering how much you could save By jumping off the sinking ship.

My calculations are conservative, but it will be 10% raise. About 5% right off the top with income tax. Sales tax is a couple percent less, property tax is half,

This is for UT, but AZ will be about the same savings for income tax, sales tax is a little closer to CA.

I had a coworker moving to AZ run through it and he estimated about 8%.

 

[DLC]

My property tax on Az casa is more than my Ca casa thanks to prop 13!!

 

[DWC]

My property tax on Az casa is more than my Ca casa thanks to prop 13!!

One of the best things about CA. . I’m not selling the CA house so it’s not a savings either way.