How to establish south dakota residency with a virtual mailbox

Learn how to use a virtual mailbox or mail forwarding service to establish a permanent address in a nomad-friendly state. 

Spending your life traveling always seems glamorous…until you start playing Where’s Waldo with the U.S. Postal Service. If you’re in the military, working as a traveling nurse, or living in a mobile home, you know how frustrating it can be to get a simple bill—let alone a birthday present. 

That frustration only doubles when you start looking into permanent housing costs. Why on earth would you want to buy a home you’ll never sleep in just to receive mail? 

You wouldn’t! And you don’t have to. 

Here’s how to use a virtual mailbox to establish a permanent mailing address and a home residence without changing your lifestyle. Why do that in South Dakota? Well, let’s find out.
Establish South Dakota Residency

Why should I establish residency in South Dakota?

The simple answer? Finances. Whether you plan on relocating or creating a permanent U.S. mailing address, South Dakota tax breaks and low-cost fees make it the number one state for establishing new residency! Florida and Texas also offer enticing deals for nomadic individuals, but South Dakota still has the lowest financial obligations in the country. 

Not only does the aptly-named Mount Rushmore State offer incredible views, but residents also benefit from significant financial perks, including:

  • No pension tax
  • No corporate income tax
  • No business inventory tax
  • No personal property tax
  • No state income tax
  • No intangible tax on investments
  • No state tax on Social Security income
  • No state inheritance tax
  • Lower vehicle licensing fees
  • No annual vehicle inspections
  • 4% net tax on all vehicles and RVs (crucial for travelers!) 
  • Lower vehicle insurance rates 

Sure, you can’t take a nap in a cheese factory, but finding a new snoozing spot seems well worth it in exchange for thousands in savings!

How do I establish residency in South Dakota?

How you establish your South Dakota residency largely depends on whether you’re in the state at the time of registration or not. However, the first step in either situation is establishing a South Dakota address—ideally through a virtual mailbox! Let’s look at both options. 

 

Establishing South Dakota residency in person

  1. Unless you’re buying a house with a physical address, Step 1 is registering a South Dakota address with a virtual mailbox like Traveling Mailbox. You can even register for your mailbox in your RV on the way to SD! 
  2. Stay overnight 24 hours registered under your new address. You don’t need to be at that physical address! If you’re traveling, any address will do—including an RV camp or hotel. Just make sure you register your South Dakota virtual mailbox as your address on your receipt. 
  3. Take that receipt to the DMV and register your vehicle. If you’re traveling and staying with friends and family or don’t have a driver’s license, you can also simply use your receipt to register for an SD government ID.  
  4. Create a bank account in South Dakota. If you already bank with a major banking chain, you can simply switch the primary address on your account to your South Dakota virtual mailbox address. 

That’s it! Over time, you should also register to vote and file your taxes in South Dakota—but the bulk of the paperwork is done. You can now travel for business or pleasure with a permanent address and a state to call home. You can also work through a virtual business address in South Dakota while residing in a personal address in another location. 

 

Establishing South Dakota residency out of state

  1. If you’re an overseas military member or cannot register in person, you can still become a South Dakota resident! Your first step remains the same: registering a South Dakota address via a virtual mailbox provider. 
  2. Once you have your new virtual address, you’ll need to take a look at the rules of your home state. Some states require termination of residency before you establish a new one and some require new residency before you can terminate your old one. It’s all very bureaucratic, so make sure you check your boxes!
  3. Because you’re not able to stay overnight in SD, you’ll need to use another form of residence establishment. The two best ways to do this are through voter registration (using your new virtual address!) or through changing the address on your bank account. You can also use your taxes to change your address, but if you don’t have a current income, that might be tricky. 
  4. Whenever you make it back to the USA, stop by your new state! The best way to solidify your residency is by visiting—even if it’s just for a week or so.

How do I get my mail if I'm overseas or on the road?

Using a virtual mailbox address means you have access to your mail 24/7 from anywhere in the world! When you use a virtual mailbox, you receive daily scans of all packages and letters. Once you take a look through the listings, you can send in a request to shred, open, or forward each piece. Some virtual mailbox providers (including Traveling Mailbox) also offer check depositing services to make sure your money ends up in your hands as quickly as possible. 

It’s your mail. You shouldn’t have to jump through hoops to see it!

How do I sign up for a virtual mailbox or mail forwarding service?

To sign up for a virtual mailbox or mail forwarding service, simply visit the Traveling Mailbox website! Pick the plan that works for you, view a full list of services, and dive deeper into the world of traveling mail with our informative blog. If you’re looking at a South Dakota residency, there’s no reason to wait! Try Traveling Mailbox today and see how quickly you can set up the ideal mailing address.