New Hampshire Residency? - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Jpdkmd · RV-Dreams Community Member

New Hampshire Residency?

Jim and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi John,

Here's a link to an OLD thread from 2008 about some domicile/residency options. We believe the NH information is still relevant (just change the example years) but not sure about any other states' info. (Howard also stated NH has a 5% interest & dividend tax.) Hope this helps!

http://rv-dreams.activeboard.com/t14866742/buying-rv-where-to-domicile/
(can't get link to open in new tab/window, sorry!)

BTW, there's also an annual motor vehicle inspection required.

Barbaraok · RV-Dreams Family Member

My rule of thumb is if no one has started a mail forwarding business for RVers in that state, the chances are the state isn't that friendly towards fulltime RVers. There is a reason why everyone will mention Florida, South Dakota, & Texas - all three are friendly towards RVers in that they have good mail forwarding companies, allow you to quickly become residents, the address from the mail forwarding service is recognized as a legal physical address, the county officials in the area where the mail forwarding service is located are familiar with fulltimers, there isn't a problem with jury duty or voting, etc. There are pluses and minuses to each of those states, but overall they have withstood the test of time.

Barb

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

NH requires proof of residency..........a po box will not work you must prove residency to register within the town you claim......there is no mail forwarding in nh.....

I am registered in NH and had to prove it the land ownwership

Clay L · RV-Dreams Family Member

We lived in NH when we started full timing in 2002. We had to use our daughters address for our registration and drivers licences. Registration was very expensive for the motor home. Over $1800 per year for the motor home and car combined. It did drop a little each year as I recall, but not much. As full timers property taxes were a non issue but if you have property it is a big factor. The last year we had our home we paid over $10,000 in property tax.

We moved to SD and saved a bunch of dollars. Registration for the motor home and car combined was $186 per year. Insurance was significantly less. Back then we used to spend a couple of months each summer in NH and we tried to wait until we were there to buy things like electronics since there was no sales tax. However campgrounds were so expensive ($1000 per month) that we probably didn't save anything. Did get to see the kids though. Out west our monthly RV park rates were less than $200 to $300 per month.

-- Edited by Clay L on Saturday 11th of July 2015 01:43:59 PM

-- Edited by Clay L on Wednesday 22nd of July 2015 10:42:51 AM

marianne57 · RV-Dreams Family Member

What is the procedure then to change your address and begin the process. We are in PA, and we initially planned on leaving our domicile as PA residents, with my sister, but now.....in looking at taxes etc, we're rethinking this. We plan on going full-time next spring, and I'd like to get some kind of idea now for health insurance etc. Is that better also in one of those 3 states?? Thanks!

-- Edited by marianne57 on Saturday 11th of July 2015 06:35:40 PM

Jake62 · RV-Dreams Family Member

As a future full-timer, SD is the best State for us. I just signed up for the "mail-forwarding" service in SD called Dakota Post. FMCA also supports Dakota Post.

This was the first step before we drive to Sioux Falls this fall to get our DLs to establish residency in SD. For us, no State Income Tax, no personal property taxes (like VA where I'm now), low vehicle license fees, no annual vehicle inspections, can renew your DL every five years online, and only 4% excise tax (on our future RV & TOAD) was the difference over Texas or Florida which are 6%-8%.

As far as Health Insurance, the Insurance I'm carrying into retirement is from my employer and is nationwide so that wasn't a consideration for us. However, others have commented that SD may not be a good State for Health Insurance if you don't have a National plan, so maybe someone will comment on that aspect comparing it with Texas or Florida.

Good luck with your decision!

Camper Chronicles · RV-Dreams Family Member

WE lived in New Hampshire for 15 years and although we could have used my daughters address for residency ultimately decided to become Floridians. The annual taxes on our RV were VERY expensive and more importantly they require an annual state inspection sticker for every vehicle and since we couldn't commit to going back every year for that we decided to give it a pass.