Establishing residency as a Colorado nomad?

[BigMoneyJim]

Hi, I'm selling my house in TX and moving to Colorado, but I'm planning on using airbnbs and other short-term rentals, so basically RVing without the RV. I'm planning on moving around a bunch along the front range.

In my Googling so far I'm only finding residency stuff for in-state tuition (no thanks) and the homeless. I'm more interested in getting CO plates, drivers license, and health insurance.

I'm not ready to play low-income as there are a number of reasons I might show a substantial income next year. So I'm looking for a 'normal' individual health plan. I'm currently paying out the last of my COBRA eligibility which runs out early 2021.

Uh, so any ideas what I need to do if I have no permanent physical address or utilities? I do have a Traveling Mailbox presence in Aurora where I'll send all my mail to, but of course I don't live there.

Thanks!

[Financial.Velociraptor]

I think it would pay to consult a state of CO attorney.  Someone will have to know the residency requirements as most local state officials such a fire chief, constable, water board director etc. will have legal residency requirements.

[terran]

Does this help? https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/tax/new-colorado-resident

[mcluhan]

Why would you want to give up your Texas residency and pay Colorado income taxes? Is it just for health insurance reasons? I'm just curious. Most nomads establish residency in a no income tax state before they start traveling, but you're doing the opposite.

[BigMoneyJim]

@terran Thanks, that's the most helpful thing I've seen so far.

@mcluhan Well, I intend to live and mostly stay in CO, and I don't know if I'll like being nomadic. I may rent an apartment at some point or even consider some work (or not). I'm not currently interested in gaming the system; I intend to spend all my time in CO, and my COBRA insurance expires early 2021, and car registration needs renewal then, etc.. So I just want to live there and get local services. So it would just be easier for me to go full Coloradan (is that a word?).

[the_fixer]

I think at 90 days of employment or owning / renting in Colorado is the trigger.

You are required to register your vehicle (other than special circumstances) after that period of time

I think the easiest way would be to rent a place even month to month and have proof of paying rent. If you had utilities transferred into your name that would likely help as well.

Good luck and welcome to the state


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[Joof]

If you RV in CO for 6 months, it's automatically you're domicile. Proving it might be another matter.

I'll 'rent you a parking spot' at my place for some reasonably priced if you want.

[cangelosibrown]

I would highly recommend calculating out how much tax you're going to be paying to the state of CO if you do this.  If you're doing short term rentals, I don't see any reason to switch this over until you hit 6 months in the state.  You legitimately aren't sure if you're settling in CO, so I don't see any problem ethically here. If you have some sort of address in TX you can use, doing the car registration and health insurance in TX shouldn't be an issue. Obviously a little more convenient to do it in CO now, but it sounds like you're talking about a significant amount of money you'd be paying in state taxes in CO.

[FIKris]

Welcome to the great state of Colorado!

Pro tip: if you plan to get health insurance on the exchanges, there is a BIG difference in price for the same exact plans depending on where you establish your residency.  For example, up here in the high rockies, it is typical to pay 200% of what you'd pay if you bought the same plan in Denver.  It'll be cheapest for you if your "residency" is in one of the front range cities, or out near Grand Junction.   New Mexico has lower healthcare prices than Colorado too, if you're interested in setting up a base in a cool town out there like Taos.

Good luck and happy travels.