How to Become a Georgia Resident 🍑 | Your Georgia Residency Guide

You need to figure out how to become a Georgia resident! Getting ready to relocate to Georgia or recently settled into your new home? One of the first things you must do is establish residency in Georgia. Georgia state residency will allow you to qualify for in-state tuition if you’re a student and avoid tax problems.

This complete guide will cover how to become a Georgia resident, including income taxes and student residency. By completing these steps, you'll establish residency in Georgia and enjoy all the benefits of living in this terrific state.

Why Becoming a Georgia Resident Matters

Why do you need to know how to become a Georgia resident? What does it matter if you settle in, start working, and go on with your life? Establishing residency in Georgia may not seem urgent. However, it affects taxes and college tuition if you hope to qualify for lower in-state tuition.

Regarding taxes, it’s a good idea to establish residency quickly. Your state of residency can then tax all of your income, even if it’s earned in another state. If residency isn’t clearly established, your old state may try to challenge your residency. You would then have to pay taxes in your old state.

Your state of residency also impacts other areas of life. You can only start voting in Georgia once you establish Georgia residency. You can also qualify for state grants and financial support programs in the largest cities in Georgia.

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How to Become a Georgia Resident

Becoming an official resident of Georgia will involve finding a primary home and transferring your information to Georgia. After these steps are completed, you’ll officially be a Georgia resident! Here are the essential Georgia residency rules.

Establish a Georgia Residence

The first step in establishing residency in Georgia is establishing a permanent or primary home in the state. You can either buy a home or sign a lease. A P.O. Box won’t count! Georgia doesn’t have a “Declaration of Domicile,” a document that lets you officially declare your residency status. Talk to a realtor about buying a house in Georgia and using first-time homebuyer programs in Georgia.

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Be Present in Georgia for 183 Days

The second step is to live in Georgia for at least 183 days. You don't have to live in your Georgia home. However, living in your new Georgia address can indicate it is your permanent residence. You can document your presence in Georgia with a bank statement showing purchases in Georgia and other documents.

Obtain a Georgia Driver’s License

The process of how to get a Georgia driver's license isn't difficult. Georgia requires that you transfer your driver's license with the Department of Driver Services (DDS) within 30 days of relocating.

Be prepared to bring:

• Your current driver’s license
• Proof of your Social Security number
• Proof of identity, such as your passport or birth certificate
• Two documents proving Georgia residency, such as a signed lease, a utility bill, or a bank statement

You’ll get a temporary license, and your new Georgia driver’s license will arrive in the mail.

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Register a Vehicle in Georgia

As a new Georgia resident, you have 30 days after moving to register your vehicle and get a Georgia license plate. To register and title a car in Georgia, you first need to get your temporary Georgia driver’s license from the DDS. Take your new temp license to the County Tax Commissioner’s Office to fill out the form and provide:

• Proof of insurance
• Proof of ownership, such as an out-of-state title or current registration

Register to Vote in Georgia

Once you meet basic Georgia state residency requirements, you can register to vote in Georgia. You can register to vote when you obtain a driver’s license in Georgia or complete your voter registration online. Under Georgia’s voter ID law, you can still vote with a valid out-of-state license until you get your new license.

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Other Ways to Establish Georgia Residency

You should establish roots in Georgia to prove your residency status to the IRS and other groups. Here are other options for how to become a Georgia resident.

• Change your address with the IRS using Form 8822. You can also use this document to start changing your address in Georgia.
• Update bank account information. You may be able to change the address on your bank account. However, you may need to open a new bank account with a bank in Georgia instead.
• Get a license for your dog or cat through Animal Control and have proof of vaccination.
• Once you’re ready to move, make sure you change your address with USPS.
• Set up new utilities at your Georgia address.
• Apply for a professional license from Georgia if you have an out-of-state license through your professional licensing board.
• Enroll children in public school.

Georgia Residency Rules for Taxes

Georgia has income taxes. Your residency status will determine, in part, whether you need to pay Georgia taxes.

You are considered a Georgia resident for tax purposes if:

• You are a legal resident of Georgia on December 31
• You reside in Georgia on a permanent or regular basis and live in the state on December 31
• You have been living in Georgia for 183 days (or part days) in the last year

There are two types of nonresidents for tax purposes:

• You are a nontaxable nonresident if you do not reside in Georgia and have not earned income in Georgia
• You are a taxable nonresident if you are not a resident of the state but earned income from Georgia sources

Most nonresidents don't need to file an income tax return in Georgia. You only need to do so if your compensation is over $5,000.

You are a part-year resident of Georgia if you have moved to Georgia within 183 days. You're also a part-time resident if you leave the state early. In this case, you may need to file income taxes in two states! You must become a permanent resident in another state to avoid paying Georgia income taxes.

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Georgia Residency for Tuition Purposes

If you are considering attending college in Georgia, you should find out how to become a Georgia resident. Once you’re considered a state resident, you can qualify for lower in-state tuition as well as state education grants.

Most state-supported institutions, like the University of Georgia, require you to prove your residency to quality for in-state tuition. Georgia residency rules for in-state tuition in the state university system require showing:

• Proof of residency for at least 12 months before the start of classes with a permanent or primary Georgia address
• Documentation showing payment of Georgia income taxes
• Copies of documents proving your intent to remain a Georgia resident, such as a Georgia driver’s license, voter registration, or homeownership

There are some unique situations that qualify for exceptions to these rules. You can get in-state tuition if your parents are active duty military personnel.

Welcome to Georgia Residency!

With these steps complete, you’re now an official resident of Georgia! It’s a good idea to get started on these steps right away, especially getting a new Georgia driver’s license. You'll avoid any complications and high fees and receive all the benefits of Georgia residency. You should buy or lease a home and stay in the property for at least 183 days.

Need help moving to your new state? Call Wirks Moving and Storage today for a free estimate on your move to Georgia!