How do I know my state of legal residence in the military?

Asked by: Celine Spencer  |  Last update: May 17, 2025
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Under the SCRA, servicemembers retain the state they claimed when they entered active duty as their state of legal residence unless they take affirmative steps to change their state of legal residence.

How to determine state of legal residence in the military?

Your state of legal residency (SLR) is your "Home of Record," unless you changed it to another state. Changing the state on your paycheck records doesn't change your SLR. To change the SLR, a DD Form 2058 must be submitted to your local finance officer and accepted.

How do I find my state of legal residence?

Your state of residence is determined by: Where you're registered to vote (or could be legally registered) Where you lived for most of the year. Where your mail is delivered.

What is your permanent address in the military?

"State of Legal Residence" (SLR) and "Domicile" mean the same thing; your true, fixed, and permanent home. This is the place where, although you may leave for military duty, you intend to return.

Can I live in one state and claim residency in another military?

A military member can have one state as a home of record, claim another state as a legal residence, and be stationed in a third state. It is important to be able to identify one's legal residence because it affects important aspects of one's life.

State of Residency

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How do I change my state of residence in the military?

You should complete DD Form 2058 and file it with the finance office in order for your LES and W-2 to reflect your new domicile.

What counts as a legal residence?

"Legal Residence" is used frequently as a synonym of "domicile." However, you may become a legal resident of a state for certain purposes without changing your domicile. For example, if you have lived in California for at least six months, you qualify as a "legal resident" for purposes of obtaining a divorce.

What state do I put for military address?

The last line must contain the APO or FPO designation, the appropriate two-letter "state" abbreviation, (AA, AE, or AP) followed by the ZIP+4® or five-digit ZIP Code™ number (when applicable "United States" or "USA" would be the country name utilized).

How do I change my state of residence in DFAS?

In order to make a state change, you will need to fill out a form DD-2058. Please submit your change through your pay office or admin office for processing. Changes to your state of legal residence may not be made retroactively.

What determines your permanent address?

A permanent address is the location where you reside. A mailing address is the place where you would like to receive your mail. Permanent Address: Your permanent address is the location where you reside. This is usually an apartment, house, or any address that describes where you live.

What is my permanent state of residence?

Typically, you're considered a resident of the state you consider to be your permanent home. Residency requirements vary by state. You can confirm your residency status by visiting your state's department of revenue website. If your resident state collects income taxes, you must file a tax return for that state.

How do I find my place of residence?

Find current location on Google Maps

The Where Am I app shows your current geograph location, including latitude and longitude, on Google Maps. The geolocation service is available on both desktop computers and mobile phones. The location finder service uses the Google Maps Geolocation API to determine the place.

What is a military state?

A military state is one in which the government is directly run by the military. This can happen as the result of a coup, occupation or by some other means. Military governments are by nature undemocratic. However, sometimes a military government is put in place as a means of transitioning to democracy.

Where is your state of legal residence?

The state where your permanent address is located.

Does being stationed in a state make you a resident?

Being stationed somewhere is nothing more than mere physical presence, and mere physical presence is not enough, that is only a residence. However, if you have the mental intent to make the state where you are stationed your domicile, then you have met the requirements.

Can I choose where I live in the military?

Military members who live off-base choose where to live, choose their own living space, and decide how much they'll pay for rent.

What is the 10 year rule for DFAS?

In addition, for orders dividing retired pay as property to be enforced under the USFSPA, a member and former spouse must have been married to each other for 10 years or more during which the member performed at least 10 years of military service creditable towards retirement eligibility (the 10/10 rule).

Can I be a resident of a state I don't live in?

Most states will consider you a resident for tax purposes if you spend 183 days or more in that state. If you permanently moved to another state during the year, you may have to file a part-year resident return in both states.

How can I change my address with DFAS?

Answer
  1. Log-in to My Pay.
  2. Under the 'Pay Changes' header, select 'Correspondence Address'.
  3. Follow the directions to change your home address.
  4. If you have more than one pay account (e.g., Civilian and Military Retiree), you will need to update your home address using the steps above for each pay account.

How do you determine your state of legal residence in the military?

Under the SCRA, servicemembers retain the state they claimed when they entered active duty as their state of legal residence unless they take affirmative steps to change their state of legal residence.

What state do I file for military?

If you're in the military, you're probably taxed in your state of legal residence rather than in the state where you're stationed. Filing taxes while deployed can depend on your state of residence as well. To establish legal residence in a state, you usually must prove you live — and intend to continue living — there.

How do you verify a military address?

To verify a military address, you should use the guidelines provided by the USPS, which is to set the APO/FPO designation in the City field and the two-letter AA/AE/AP designation in the State field.

What is an example of state of legal residence?

For instance, a person's legal residence determines the state in which they pay taxes and vote in elections. Examples: John was born in New York and has always lived there. New York is his legal residence.

What determines your legal address?

The General Rule. While states differ somewhat in how they define the place of domicile, the general rule of thumb can be stated as follows: the domicile is the place a person regards as his or her true home, and where they maintain the most economic, social, political, and family ties.

How do I know when I became a legal resident?

This date is on your Permanent Resident Card, also called a green card. If you interviewed at a U.S. embassy or consulate, it is the date that you entered the United States with your immigrant visa. If you adjusted your status inside the United States, it is the date that USCIS approved your permanent resident status.