Moving Question..

[mcvickj]

What step in the moving process officially says you've moved. Perhaps there isn't one.

Forwarding your mail? Changing your address with the DMV? Contacting the IRS?

I'm in the process of a move and going through my long list of information changes and was wonding this.

 

[imported_LoKe]

Giving up set of keys, aquiring new set of keys.

 

[FoBoT]

i doubt there is an official definition since you could have dual everything
we moved into the house we bought 3 weeks before our lease was up on our rental

http://www.fool.com/taxes/2003/taxes030131.htm

The IRS says that, generally, your principal residence will be the home where you spend the majority of your time. But this isn't the only test. Other factors that will be relevant to the determination include but are not limited to:

* Your place of employment
* Where your family lives
* The address you use on your tax return
* The address you use for your general mail, bills, bank statements, and brokerage statements
* Where you maintain your bank accounts and banking relationships
* Where you maintain your memberships (such as country clubs, health clubs, etc.) and religious affiliations

Not stated in the regulations but important to the determination of your principal residence are:

* Where you are registered to vote
* The address on your driver's license
* The property on which you claim your homeowners property tax exemption (many states and counties allow for the payment of lower property taxes on your principal residence)

None of these issues will provide a clear definition of your principal residence. As noted in the regulations, all of the facts and circumstances will be considered. If you have a second, third, or even a vacation home that you are considering selling and would like to avail yourself of the gain exclusion rules, make sure that it'll qualify as your personal residence taking into consideration all of the issues noted above.