Spend most of your days in Florida
Florida, like many other states, has a tax rule called the 183-day rule. In the simplest of terms, it refers to the minimum number of days you can spend in one state before you get taxed as a resident. You can spend only part of the day and still be seen as a full day and not necessarily 183 consecutive days.
Evidently, if you spend more than six months in the Sunshine State, you will not spend 183 days or more in your high-tax state where you usually stay for the summers. If you can’t stay that long in Florida, you can still take some time off and go on a holiday, visit your relatives or friends or just spend some time in another place other than your summer state.
To make sure you are not required to pay unnecessary taxes, keep track of where you are each day of the year. You never know when the IRS in your northern state drops in for a residency audit. Receipts from your accommodation in Florida, from restaurants you’ve had your meals might come in handy, so don’t throw them away. Speaking of which, here are 11 Tax-Related Documents You Should Always Keep in Handy.
Buy or rent a home in Florida
Not just any home…one that’s bigger than your house up north. After all, what better evidence that you want to become a permanent resident of Florida than owning a larger house in the Sunshine State? The size one rents or owns is a crucial factor in determining residency in many states, such as New York. Therefore, if you want to convince Uncle Sam that you can pay your taxes in Florida, get a home there that’s at least just as big as the one in your northern state.
If you spend your summers in New York, your residence size will be evaluated in connection to the geographic area where each home is located. For instance, a 3,000 square foot apartment in downtown Manhattan may not be considered that big compared to a sumptuous residence in Florida, but New Yorkers may still see it as roomy and comfortable.
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