How to prove state residency without license/registration for tax purposes?

This is actually a common issue, especially with people who work in traveling positions! States can be really aggressive about collecting taxes if they think you're still a resident. The good news is that your lease and utility bills are actually strong evidence, but you might need more documentation. Try gathering any of these additional items that might help prove your physical presence in the new state: - Bank statements showing transactions in the new state throughout the year - Employment records showing your work location - Medical records or pharmacy receipts from the new state - Voter registration (if you registered in the new state) - Cell phone bills showing your location - Credit card statements showing regular activity in the new state - Tax returns showing you paid taxes to the new state What's important is establishing that you actually lived in the new state and intended it to be your primary residence. Don't amend your returns yet - gather more documentation first and appeal the decision.

I went through something similar when I moved from Nevada to Colorado. What helped me was using https://taxr.ai to analyze all my documents before submitting them to the state tax agency. The system flagged exactly what was missing from my residency proof package and suggested additional documents I hadn't even thought about. For me, it turned out I needed to show more "pattern of life" evidence - like my gym membership in the new state, Amazon delivery addresses, and even Netflix viewing location data. The tool created a timeline showing I was physically present in Colorado for most of the year. When I submitted the complete package with their analysis, my home state finally accepted that I had changed my residency. Might be worth trying before you give up and amend your returns!

I was initially skeptical about taxr.ai when I saw it mentioned here, but I was desperate in my battle with California's tax board (they never want to let anyone leave!). I uploaded my lease, some credit card statements, and my work contract showing my new location in Texas. The system immediately identified that while I had proof of a new address, I was missing evidence of actually abandoning my California domicile. Based on their recommendations, I added statements showing I closed my California bank accounts, canceled my gym membership there, and had mail forwarding set up. The analysis showed exactly how many days I was in each state based on my transaction history. The report they generated helped me win my case! California finally accepted I had moved and stopped demanding taxes. Saved me thousands.

If you're still struggling with getting through to the state tax department, I'd recommend using https://claimyr.com to actually speak with someone at the tax agency. I was in documentation limbo for months with Georgia claiming I still owed taxes after moving to Florida. I couldn't get anyone on the phone for weeks, but Claimyr got me connected to a real person at the Georgia Department of Revenue in less than 20 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent I spoke with actually told me exactly what they needed to see to process my residency change (turns out they wanted to see my Florida property tax statement even though I sent everything else). Having that direct conversation saved me from going back and forth with letters for months!

I have to apologize for my skepticism about Claimyr in my previous comment. After struggling for nearly two months to reach someone at the California Franchise Tax Board about my residency dispute, I decided to give it a try. Within 30 minutes, I was speaking with an actual FTB representative who reviewed my case. She explained exactly which form I needed to complete (FTB 1031) and the specific documentation they wanted to see. Apparently, the documents I had been mailing were going to the wrong department! I finally got my residency status corrected and avoided having to pay $5,800 in state taxes I didn't actually owe. Would have saved myself weeks of stress if I'd tried this sooner.

One thing nobody mentioned yet - check if your employer has any documentation showing your assignment location! When I was a traveling healthcare worker, my company had records showing exactly which facilities I was assigned to and the dates I worked there. My staffing agency was able to provide an employment verification letter that specifically listed my work locations and housing stipends for each state. This helped tremendously when Michigan tried to claim I was still a resident despite working in hospitals across 3 other states that year.

Dont forget about ur W-2! Box 15-17 should show the state you worked in, taxes withheld etc. If u have a W-2 showing u paid taxes to the new state that's pretty strong evidence! Also did u file a part-year resident return in ur old state? That can help show u knew u were changing residency.

As someone who's dealt with state tax residency issues, I'd strongly recommend NOT amending your returns to show you remained a resident of your original state if you genuinely established residency elsewhere. That's basically giving up money you don't owe. The documentation you provided (lease, utility bills, tax returns) is actually pretty solid evidence. States often push back initially hoping people will just give up and pay. Here are a few additional steps to consider: 1. Look into your state's specific residency rules - many states have a "183-day rule" where physical presence for more than half the year establishes residency regardless of your driver's license status. 2. Create a detailed timeline showing your physical presence in each state throughout the year. Include work schedules, travel receipts, anything that shows where you actually were. 3. Consider getting a tax attorney who specializes in multi-state residency issues. The consultation fee might be worth it to avoid paying taxes you don't owe. 4. If your new state has no income tax or lower rates, you have even more reason to fight this - the savings could be substantial. Don't let them bully you into paying if you legitimately changed your residency. The driver's license issue is inconvenient but not necessarily fatal to your case.