Before you start

An SSN or ITIN
Form W-4 with your employer for federal withholding
Records of foreign income and foreign financial accounts
No state withholding form — Florida has none

Step-by-step

1
Complete your W-4 on day one
This sets federal withholding, and in Florida it is the only withholding form you file. Getting it wrong is the most common cause of a surprise April bill, especially in a two-income household.
Via employerWho: YouFirst week of employment
2
Determine your US tax residency
The substantial presence test counts weighted days over three years to decide whether the US taxes your worldwide income or only US-source income. Some students and scholars are exempt from counting days for a period. Your visa category does not decide this.
OnlineWho: You
3
Check for an applicable tax treaty
The US has income tax treaties with around 70 countries which can reduce or exempt tax on specific income types. Treaty benefits are claimed on your return, not granted automatically. With no state tax, a Florida treaty position is simpler than a California one.
OnlineWho: You
4
File your federal return by 15 April
The tax year is the calendar year and there is no Florida return to file, which makes filing here genuinely simpler than in New York, California or Massachusetts. An extension moves the filing date, not the payment date.
OnlineWho: YouBy 15 April annually
5
File an FBAR if foreign accounts exceed $10,000
Aggregate foreign account balances over $10,000 at any point in the year trigger a FinCEN filing, separate from your tax return. A normal current account at home is enough to cross it — and in a city with this much international movement, it is very commonly missed.
OnlineWho: You
6
Claim the homestead exemption if you buy
Florida's homestead exemption reduces the taxable value of your primary residence and, through the Save Our Homes cap, limits how fast the assessment can rise. Filing is a one-off with the county property appraiser, and newcomers routinely go years without doing it.
OnlineWho: You

Documents you’ll need

Form W-2 from each employer, issued by 31 January
Form 1099s for freelance, interest and investment income
Passport and travel history for the substantial presence day count
Foreign account statements for FBAR reporting
Property tax statements and homestead exemption filing, if you own

Things most newcomers don’t know

Florida's property insurance market turned in 2026, after five years of headlines saying otherwise.

Citizens Property Insurance announced an average statewide premium reduction of 8.7% from Spring 2026, with over 150,000 policyholders receiving cuts of 10% or more, following the elimination of one-way attorney fees and assignment-of-benefits abuse, lower reinsurance costs and a roughly 50% drop in Citizens policies in force. Nearly every article written about moving to Florida still describes the pre-reform market.

Source: Florida CFO — insurance rate relief announcement, January 2026

Flood is not covered by property insurance, and Miami floods.

Standard homeowners and renters policies exclude flood damage; it requires a separate policy through the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier. King tides and heavy rain flood parts of Miami Beach and low-lying mainland neighbourhoods without any hurricane involved. This distinction destroys people financially every few years.

Source: Florida Office of Insurance Regulation — property insurance overview

The no-income-tax rule is constitutional, not merely legislative.

Florida's constitution prohibits a personal income tax, so changing it requires a constitutional amendment rather than an act of the legislature. For someone making a long-term relocation decision on tax grounds, that durability is worth more than the headline rate — it is a materially stronger guarantee than a state that simply chooses not to levy one.

Source: Florida Department of Revenue

Condo special assessments are the hidden cost of the post-Surfside laws.

Florida now requires milestone structural inspections and fully funded structural integrity reserves. Associations that underfunded for decades have issued special assessments of tens of thousands of dollars per unit. Ask for the milestone report and reserve study before buying, and be aware the cost flows into rents too.

Source: Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation — condominium requirements

Common mistakes to avoid

Comparing Florida against New York or California on income tax alone, ignoring insurance costs.
Assuming a property policy covers flood — it does not, and a separate policy is required.
Buying a condo without reading the milestone inspection and reserve study.
Buying a home and failing to file the homestead exemption.
Missing the FBAR — very commonly overlooked in a city with this much international money.

Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.