Check list and agencies for registering as a Florida resident.
 

Looking for guidance to convert to Florida resident. Driver license, registrations, vote, tax, etc.
Thank you in advance.

You don't officially register as a Florida resident. Just get a Florida drivers license and vehicle title, and apply for a homestead exemption if you own a house. The main thing is that you need to break ties with your previous state so they cannot tax you. There is a DMV office on Rt 466A and Powell Rd.

Note that I moved here from Virginia where they have a car tax. Virginia told me that I had to continue to pay the car tax until I sent them a copy of a Florida car title. To me, that seemed to be the most important thing to do. Also, you can only get a Sumter County library card at Powell Rd. If you want a Lake or Marion County library card, you need to go to one of their branches.

First two weeks here, I got my driver’s license, registered my car, registered to vote, and got a library card. Did it all at

7375 Powell Road
Suite 100
Wildwood, FL 34785

You can also file a Declaration of Domicile in Florida.


Statutes & Constitution
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Online Sunshine

Agree that the "Gold domed building " does an efficient and pleasant job of much of the paperwork. If you are selling your other house, and will only have one residence, the declaration of domicile is probably not needed. If you are becoming a FL resident and keeping your other house to use for less than 6 months per year, the declaration is useful to persuade your other state that you've really left!

You will need to provide several forms of identification. Look at their website BEFORE going. You will wait in line then be turned away because you did not bring the required information. The items you present must show proof of residency I.e. utility bill, house deed, etc. Look at the county website for the details.

Thank you to responders. I now have a number of suggestions from which to proceed.

Video Florida resident
 

Avoid Tax problems
 

If you just retired from a company make sure they know you moved and have your new address if there is any possibility of any future payments to you (bonuses, back pay, stock grants, annuities etc.) You don’t want any source of income withholding taxes to a previous state and filing a W2 with your previous address. Because if they do, you will then need to file a tax return with that state for a refund.

LOL. It takes less time to become a Florida resident than to watch that video. The important thing is that you need to break ties with your previous state so they cannot tax you. Florida doesn't really care about declaring you as a resident. All I did was to buy a house and get a Florida drivers license and car title.

Since you will be enrolling in the Homestead exemption for your new home, be sure to tell the state of your former residency if you still have a home there. If you still claim the old states real estate tax exemption, then they will use that to claim that you owe them state income tax.

We started with the Drivers License as the first step. I found this information from the Sumter Tax Collector to be very helpful. Appointments - Randy Mask - Sumter County Tax Collector

Florida DL, car plates, and voter registration card happen together. Property tax homestead exemption, same building, different office (if you are a widow(er) bring death certificate to get additional tax exemption. You'll be in and out in 30 min.

Not necessary right away or at all, but having a SunPass makes it easier to drive on the turnpike. We have the kind that suctions to our windshield. We set it up so that it automatically adds $ to it if our account drops below $25.

If you own the FL home apply for homestead tax exemption. My home state required that I mail back my car tags/ number plate to remove car from tax rolls. I requested a receipt to prove I mailed the tags back.

Veterans get additional tax exemptions as do widows/widowers.