Florida Address for American Expats Living Abroad

This is one of the most common concerns we hear from expats. Many US banks prefer or require a domestic residential address (not a PO Box) to keep accounts open. If you notify your bank of a foreign address, or if they discover you're living abroad, some banks will close or restrict your account. A real Florida residential address can help you maintain compliant address records with your bank. However, individual bank policies vary, and we recommend checking with your specific financial institutions.

Most virtual mailbox services give you a commercial address or PO Box. We provide a real Florida residential address, the type typically required for driver's licenses, voter registration, and banking. Plus, we're not just a mailbox: we guide you through the complete domicile process with a step-by-step checklist, integrated online notarization, and support along the way.

Your Florida address and online notarization are typically ready within 24-48 hours. The complete domicile process depends on your schedule. Some steps like the Florida driver's license require an in-person visit. We provide everything you need to prepare so your Florida trip is efficient.

FATCA (Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act) requires foreign banks to report accounts held by US persons to the IRS. This has led many foreign banks to refuse American customers entirely. Having a US domicile address doesn't change FATCA requirements, but it does help you maintain US banking relationships while living abroad.

Yes, Florida has no state personal income tax. By establishing Florida as your state of domicile before moving abroad, you avoid the complications of "sticky states" like California and New York that continue to pursue expats for taxes. If you previously lived in a sticky state, you may need to properly sever ties before establishing Florida residency. Consult a tax professional familiar with expat situations.

US citizens can vote from anywhere in the world using their last US domicile address. Register using the Federal Post Card Application (FPCA) at FVAP.gov. You'll need to submit a new FPCA each calendar year to receive ballots for that year's elections. Your ballot can be delivered by mail, email, or fax depending on your state. Your Florida address works for this purpose.

Domicile is your permanent legal home, the place you intend to return to. You can only have one domicile at a time. Residency can apply to multiple places where you physically live. As an expat, you may be a resident of another country while maintaining US domicile in Florida. This matters for taxes, voting, and legal purposes.

As an expat with Florida domicile, you would typically use your Florida address on your federal tax return (Form 1040). This is especially important for establishing/maintaining Florida as your state of domicile. You do not file a Florida state return since Florida has no income tax.

The State Department can mail passports to US addresses. If you're renewing from abroad, you typically receive your passport through the embassy/consulate, but having a US address is helpful for related correspondence and as a backup mailing option.

Florida offers several advantages: it's not a "sticky state" that pursues former residents, has no minimum presence requirements, has strong banking infrastructure that accepts Florida addresses readily, and has an established expat community. Unlike South Dakota (which requires proof of an annual one-night stay for license renewal), Florida has no such requirement.

No. Florida has no minimum physical presence requirement. Once you establish Florida domicile, you can live abroad indefinitely without returning to maintain your residency status. This is one of the key reasons expats choose Florida over other no-tax states. The initial setup does require one in-person trip to Florida to get your driver's license.

FBAR (Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts) is a separate filing requirement from FATCA. If your foreign financial accounts exceed $10,000 in aggregate at any point during the year, you must file FinCEN Form 114 by April 15 (with automatic extension to October 15). FBAR is filed electronically through FinCEN's BSA E-Filing System, not with your tax return. Penalties for non-filing can be severe. Your Florida domicile doesn't change FBAR requirements, but organizing your finances with a US-based system can help you stay compliant.

No, Florida residency doesn't affect your eligibility for the FEIE. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion is a federal benefit that allows qualifying expats to exclude up to $130,000 (2025) of foreign earned income from federal taxes. Florida's benefit is separate: since Florida has no state income tax, you simply don't file a state return. Combined, you could potentially owe zero federal taxes (via FEIE) and zero state taxes (via Florida domicile). Consult a tax professional to see if you qualify for FEIE.