JimmyLenny

Hello people,

let's say you lived in the US many years, got yourself US citizenship and now you are coming back to the UK or anywhere in Europe for good.

Just a few months ago I got a new US drivers license. What do I do with it now? Obviously the address won't be current anymore and I might get some jury duty, etc.

What did you do?
What other things did you do to sever ties?

nun

Unless you are worried about some issues with state residence I'd just keep the drivers license. I would send change of address notification to all relevant organizations.

Steve_

The only one that really matters is IRS Form 8822.

BritInParis

Did you exchange your UK licence for a US licence? If so you'll want to bring it with you to exchange back.

kins

Keep the driving license. If you ever move back to the US it's helpful to already have a license, even if it's not for the state you're moving to.

Bob

Unless you're in one of those states that requires you to keep filing a state tax return when you leave unless you return your license or pick up residence in another state.

There's a couple of them from memory.

kins

Which ones are they?

Bob

Possibly NJ? MA was one of them and someone mentioned it about one of the mid west states.

nun

You need to look at the residency rules for your particular state if you are moving. If you intend to move to the UK permanently then it's usually easy to prove that you have changed your domicile and tax residency. It isn't hard to become non MA domiciled.

Bob

Yes, which is where returning your state drivers license comes in.

nun

Returning the driver's license cannot hurt, but there are lots of other things that would hold more weight when taken together. Moving home, closing bank accounts, starting a job in the UK. If I was to return to the UK I'd probably keep the DL and drive on it in the UK at least until I'd got a new UK license as my old green non-photo UK one in the little plastic pouch isn't valid anymore

penguinsix

Several states are of the opinion that you cannot leave for a foreign country as eventually you will return and you should pay for the upkeep and maintenance of the state during your "temporary" absence. It's a state-by-state kind of thing, but it's one of those things that bites a number of USC expats living overseas.

To combat this, you first need to check the details of your state and second, with an accountants advice, consider what steps are necessary to cut ties. Sending back a D/L, closing bank accounts, no longer voting, etc. As others have mentioned you might want to keep you D/L for just a bit to transfer to a drivers license in your new country, but I suspect eventually you'll want to return it as part of the cutting ties.

JimmyLenny

I very appreciate your responses guys!

To clarify few things, my state is Nevada, which at least is known to be tax friendly when it comes to income taxes.

Believe it or not, I do currently possess valid UK driving license as well! So I don't need two surely. But If I gave it back and eventually returned to the U.S. I guess I would have to apply from scratch, pass tests and such.

But if I keep I will never cut the ties, right? I will also be liable for jury duty ... hm?

hungryhorace

Use it to get out of sticky situations. I would.

JimmyLenny

what sticky situations?