South Dakota, interestingly, offers a benefit that Texas and Florida do not—the ability to create a dynasty trust. A dynasty trust enables a family to pass assets through many generations, while attempting to minimize the tax consequences of each generational transfer.
A discussion of dynasty trusts requires a brief history of estate law. One of the fundamental principles our founding fathers held is that the law should prevent families from passing assets, specifically land, through their generations, indefinitely. Our founding fathers did not want to replicate the European feudal land system where common citizens could never ascend into the ranks of nobility because all of the land would forever be owned by “noble” families.
In the United States, the Rule Against Perpetuities prevents the creation of a feudal land system by truncating the transfer of wealth. States vary in their construction of this rule. Some states will allow families to pass assets for hundreds or even a thousand years.
South Dakota, however, does not have a Rule Against Perpetuities. In theory, families could establish a dynasty trust in South Dakota and pass assets through the generations forever. In addition, those families could condition the use of those assets in various and specific ways.
Therefore, estate planning becomes another factor for RVers to consider when choosing a domicile. South Dakota’s dynasty trusts may be a compelling reason to choose a South Dakota county.
(If this resonates with you, you are strongly encouraged to consult with a South Dakota estate planning attorney. The nuances of the Rule Against Perpetuities are complex. You should not attempt to create a dynasty trust without the advice of an attorney tailored to your specific circumstance.)
One strange thing about South Dakota that’s a disadvantage is that memberships are taxed in SD. For example, I have a Thousand Trails, Hulu, Costco, etc. members and every one of these are taxed! If you have a credit card where the zip code is SD you’ll be taxed on these memberships. It adds up.
One other (and big) consideration for full time RVers (and maybe others) is the cost of vehicle insurance. We found that insuring our toad and Class A for fulltime coverage is 3 times as expensive in Texas as in our “home” state, many thousands of dollars more, nearly wiping out the advantage of no income tax…. Just one more consideration.
SD requires mailbox owners to put ‘PMB’ on their Drivers License address. PMB addresses are invalid for the purchase of a firearm from a dealer.
South Dakota taxes groceries, which is possibly the most regressive tax possible. Your overall tax burden may be low here but the social costs of their policies are high.
Having FL domicile for the last fifteen years, I can attest to low taxes, no tax on groceries, no property tax on vehicles (just yearly tag, which is super inexpensive), insurance seems to be average to below average in cost, they allow for CCW, and extensive medical services. Isn’t much to see here, once you’ve been to the beaches, but it’s an amazing place to call Home.