Yes.
South Dakota is one of the easiest states to establish residency in, with several websites promoting the practice for full-time RVers, Americans living abroad, military personnel or those seeking tax savings.
The organization South Dakota Residency Center says it can be “easily” done in three steps: securing a physical address in the state from a local mailbox provider service; staying one night at a state campground or hotel; and bringing required documents to the Department of Motor Vehicles.
The America’s Mailbox website provides mailbox services, as well, and touts the South Dakota residency as a way to “avoid state income and other taxes, save on vehicle insurance and more.”
In 2024, a Connecticut state comptroller asked prosecutors to investigate whether any of their state residents were using South Dakota to get out of state taxes.
One South Dakota legislator estimated in 2024 that 30,000 people are full-time traveler residents.
This fact brief responds to conversations such as this one.
Sources
Associated Press, Becoming a resident of South Dakota is easy. Some say too easy
AmericasMailbox.com, South Dakota residency
South Dakota Residency Center, Get your SD residency in 3 easy steps
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This story was from South Dakota News Watch.
