TOPICS
TOPICS
Legislation extends residency rights to military spouses
The House Veterans' Affairs Economic Opportunity Subcommittee unanimously approved a bill in late June extending residency rights to spouses of service members.
Sponsored by Rep. John Carter, R-Texas, the bill was approved by voice vote. The bill affects spouses of service members who accompany his or her military spouse to temporarily live in another state for military duties.
The bill amends the Servicemember's Civil Relief Act, a law that allows soldiers to keep one state of residency regardless of where military orders send them. It is intended to prevent soldiers from having to re-register to vote, obtain new driver's licenses, maintain property titles and simply state income tax filings. Currently spouses are not covered.
"Over the course of their spouse's career, they face multiple changes of voter registration and drivers licenses, will pay income tax to a state they never intended to live in, and likely not have their name on any property titles," Carter said at a June 19 Economic Opportunity Subcommittee hearing.
Carter said by extending property and title rights to spouses, it will ensure the spouse proper legal protections in the event of a divorce.
Carter added that allowing couples to claim the same state of residency could lead to savings in property and income taxes if military orders take them to a state with higher tax rates.
COMMENTS
- My freind who is an active duty sailor was stationed in California for 3 years. Her home State of Record is New York. CA is now telling her she owes $2,000 for the years 2003 and 2005 (no mention of 2004). She never filed State Income tax forms for CA. QUESTION: Do active duty military personnel have to file State tax forms in two states if they get assigned (bad luck tot them!)in CA? P.S. Her only income in CA was her military pay. M.A. George Posted June 24, 2009 6:52 PM
- To the thought that Military people benefit from the services of the states without paying, let's not forget that the Federal Govt pays those states money for each and every active duty person, spouse, and school age children residing in that state. This is specifically done to augment the tax revenue of the local communities so as not to place an unrealistic tax burden on the local populace. And as for the one comment about the majority of Active duty personnel sitting in some safe cushy job, never being in danger, your facts are wrong. This active duty member, currently in the Middle East, would appreciate it if you did some research, before making such generalizations. And if you really want to complain about something, find out the amount of taxes that rich movie stars or athletes get some accountant to find loopholes so they don't pay the taxes that they should. I dare say the majority of Americans wouldn't begrudge the man/woman, who is willing to make the ultimate sacrfice for his fellow countrymen, a few hundred dollars vice the millions that the super pampered avoid. C Lynch Posted April 26, 2009 11:44 AM
- I have been in the Navy for a little over 7 years. During that time I have lived in 5 different states, and twice in Texas (I am not a TX resident). The idea of paying state taxes everywhere that you are stationed is insane! There is so much more to it than where you pay taxes. I keep my home state as my residence so that I can vote there because I am familiar with the people/candidates and care more about the legislation in my home state than in one that I am only stationed in for 2 years. If you own property in a state such as TX or Fl, it certainly makes sense to keep your residency there. Not to mention the tax burdens you would incur if you bought a new car in a state, then got orders to move to a different state within 6 months. Your "dirty little secret" is worthless dribble. Most states that do have income taxes give various have tax credits to active duty military anyway. As usual, the bureaucrats can't see past their pencils and calculators. If your such a big shot and so worried, why don't you spend a little time simplifying the tax laws and rewriting the tax code. That's a Big Dirty Secret! The average American would much rather have the ability to understand the tax code (and save the hundreds of $$ paid to an accountant) than to tax an E-3 whose been to Iraq 2 or 3 times and makes less than $30,000! Jared Ferguson Posted October 15, 2008 4:22 PM
