Donald and Melania Trump have decided to move their permanent residence from Trump Tower in New York to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida—one of the first clear suggestions that the president has begun contemplating his post-presidential years.
In a string of tweets posted by the president on October 31st, Trump notes that while he hopes to stay for another presidential term in the White House, his and his family’s permanent residence after he leaves Washington, D.C., will be Palm Beach, Florida, instead of his native New York City. The President and the First Lady each filed a Florida Declaration of Domicile in Palm Beach County, Florida, to make their intentions known to the state.
Trump’s critics were quick to point out that the president’s attempt to become a Florida resident comes on the heels of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which caps an individual’s state and local tax deduction at $10,000 and hence penalizes many taxpayers in states with high state and local taxes. By attempting to change his residence from New York to Florida, a state that doesn’t collect an individual state income tax, critics argue that Trump is fleeing the negative effects of his own overhaul of the tax code.
Whatever the case may be, Trump’s bid to become the world’s most famous Florida Man is part of a larger trend of wealthy New Yorkers attempting to move their permanent residences or domiciles to Florida, a state without an estate tax or individual state income tax. The key word, of course, is “attempting.” In of itself, filing a Florida Declaration of Domicile is not enough to become a Florida resident—it simply announces an individual’s intention to make Florida his or her permanent home. Trump still must convincingly demonstrate that he has truly abandoned his former New York domicile and no longer qualifies as a resident of New York for state income tax purposes.
For someone like President Trump—who will likely retain significant business and financial connections to New York—that could be a tall order.
Moving to Florida or interested in becoming a Florida resident? Check out Northwest’s articles on the following topics:
- How to Become a Florida Resident: Learn about the most common ways to officially become a Florida resident, including filing a Florida Declaration of Domicile and establishing key connections to the State of Florida.
- Florida Mail Forwarding Service: Learn about the benefits of a Florida Mail Forwarding Service for individuals and businesses, including how to get a Florida address with a unique suite number, a secure online account, and same-day digital mail forwarding.