4 Reasons To Become A Florida Resident
Benefits From Living in Florida
Many states raise tax rates when they're struggling to collect revenues. The well-to-do and even the not so well-to-do begin looking for ways to minimize their income tax obligations. And some states with income taxes also collect state death taxes as well.
When these two taxes are coupled together, it can provide a huge incentive for individuals to look for a more desirable and less taxing place to call home like Florida.
There are a few other benefits in living in the state as well. Florida's homestead exemption is said to be one of the best, if not the best, in the country.
1) Florida Doesn't Collect an Individual Income Tax
Florida is one of only seven states that don't collect an individual income tax. The other six are Alaska, Nevada, South Dakota, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming. Moving to Florida from a state like New York can save someone in a high-income tax bracket, many thousands of dollars in taxes.
This prohibition against collecting an individual income tax is part of the Florida Constitution so Florida won't be imposing a state individual income tax anytime soon. A constitutional amendment would be required to change this provision.
The state's constitution also prevents counties and municipalities from imposing any sort of income tax at local levels.
2) No State Estate (Death) Tax
Florida used to collect a state estate tax (otherwise known as Death Taxes) in the form of a “pick-p tax”, but changes in federal law phased it out in 2005. Many states took steps to keep the state death tax revenues flowing, a process known as "decoupling." But not Florida. The state's constitution also prohibits the imposition of a state death tax.
Moving to Florida from a state like Massachusetts or New York could save a family considerable money when a loved one dies.
3) Offers Many Asset Protection Benefits
You shouldn't have to worry about losing your assets to a creditor or in a lawsuit if you live in Florida. The state offers many asset protection benefits, including:
- Homestead Exemption
- Tenancies by the entirety for real property as well as person property
- Protection of the cash value of life insurance
- Protection for IRAs and annuities, and
- Protection of assets held in a properly structured business entity
A creditor cannot claim your home to satisfy a debt unless it's the mortgage lender. There's no constitutional rule against foreclosure. And because the state recognizes tenancies by the entirety, this includes your spouse's creditors as well as long as you're not also contractually liable for the loans. A tenancy by the entirety is a form of property ownership reserved for spouses.
4) Property Tax Benefits for Primary Residences
You'll also receive two property tax breaks if you buy a home in Florida and declare that it's your primary "homestead" residence.
First, you'll receive an exemption for the first $50,000 of your home's value for property tax purposes, except for school district taxes which only receive a $25,000 exemption.
There's also the Florida “Save Our Homes” cap on annual assessments. The cap is set at 3 percent or the change in the consumer price index (CPI), whichever is less. It means that the assessed value of your homestead for property tax purposes can't increase on annual basis by more than the change in the CPI or 3 percent if the change in the CPI is more than 3 percent.
For example, the change in the CPI is 2.9 percent in 2018, so the 2018 assessed value of a homestead residence can't increase by more than this. It's less than the 3 percent cap. The change in the CPI was 4.1 percent in 2008, but the increase was limited to 3 percent because this was less.
It can a big deal if you plan to stay in your homestead for many years. A property's value typically increases over time, so you'll eventually reach a point where it's worth more—perhaps much more—than its assessed value. You're building equity each year that will effectively be sheltered from property taxes.*
Becoming A Florida Resident is Easy!
- Obtain a Florida Driver's License
- Register all of your vehicles in Florida
- Register to vote in Florida
- File for Florida's Homestead Exemption (no waiting period required, if Florida will be your primary residence then you can file for your Exemption benefits)
- File a Florida "Declaration of Domicile"
- File federal income taxes using your Florida address
- File your final former state income tax return
- Make sure you update your estate planning documents declaring Florida as your legal residence
