Location LedgerSnowbird Day Counting: Tracking Time Between Two States
Updated · Location Ledger
The short answer
If you split the year between a northern home and a state without an income tax, the number of days you spend in your former home state is often the deciding figure. Know how that state counts a day, keep a running total with a cushion below its limit, and keep proof of where you were.
The typical snowbird situation
A common pattern is to change your domicile to Florida, Texas, or another state without a broad income tax, while keeping a home in a state like New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Massachusetts. To stop paying resident tax up north, two things generally need to hold up:
- Your domicile change is real. Your new state is truly your permanent home.
- You aren't a statutory resident of the old state. If you still have a place to live there, you must stay at or below its day limit, usually 183 days.
How domicile is judged
States look at where your life is centered. New York's audit guidelines, for example, focus on your home, your active business involvement, how you spend your time, where you keep items that are "near and dear" to you, and where your family lives. Time is one factor among several, so a low day count alone doesn't settle domicile. A clear record of where you spent the year still supports every part of the story.
Count days the way the state does
In New York and many other states, any part of a day in the state counts as a day. That means:
- The day you fly north counts as a day in your former home state.
- The day you fly south counts too.
- A quick trip back for a wedding or a doctor's appointment adds days fast.
Counting nights instead of days is the most common mistake. Ten nights up north can easily be twelve days.
Leave yourself a cushion
Plans change. A family emergency or a delayed flight can push you over a limit late in the year. Many snowbirds aim to stay well below the threshold instead of planning to land exactly on it. Check your running total during the year, not just in December.
Track both states
Your days in Florida matter as much as your days up north. A record showing that you spent most of the year in your new home state supports your domicile, and your overnight count shows where you actually lived.
Using Location Ledger as a snowbird
- Set a favorite place for each home. Geofencing records exactly when you arrive and leave.
- Check your running total. Filter the Home screen to this year, or ask Siri: "How many days have I spent in New York in Location Ledger?"
- Use the widget. The Home Screen widget shows how long you've been in your current state.
- Count every crossing. If you want drive-through days counted, turn off Visits Only and set Minimum Visit Duration to None in Settings under Presence.
- Export at year end. Save a CSV of the full year with your tax records.
Keep your own day-by-day record
Location Ledger counts your days and overnights in every state automatically. Free 14-day trial.
Download on the App StoreNot tax or legal advice. This guide is general information for record-keeping and may not reflect the latest rules in your state. Residency rules differ by state and change over time. Talk to a qualified tax professional about your situation.