(a) "Domicile" means the place an individual
considers to be the individual's true, fixed, permanent home. Domicile is the
place a person intends to return to after an absence. A person can only have
one domicile at a given time. It continues as the domicile until the person
demonstrates an intent to abandon it, to acquire a new domicile, and actually
resides in the new domicile. Factors that contribute to determining domicile
include family, business activities and social connections.
Example 1: Ron maintains a home in Oregon and
works in Oregon. He purchased a summer home in Nevada and each year thereafter
spent about three or four months in that state. He continued to spend six or
seven months of each year in Oregon. He continued to maintain his home and his
social, club and business connections in Oregon, but established his bank
accounts in Nevada. The months not spent in Nevada or Oregon he spent traveling
in other states or countries. Ron is domiciled in Oregon and is taxed as a
resident of Oregon because he has not demonstrated intent to abandon his Oregon
domicile nor has he shown an intent to make Nevada his permanent
home.
(b) "Permanent
place of abode" means a dwelling place permanently maintained by the taxpayer,
whether or not owned by the taxpayer, and generally includes a dwelling place
owned or leased by the taxpayer's spouse. To constitute a permanent place of
abode, the taxpayer must maintain a fixed place of abode over a sufficient
period of time to create a well-settled physical connection with a given
locality. It is distinguishable from "domicile" in that an individual may have
several residences (or abodes), but only one domicile, at any given time.
(A)Rented or leased
premises. A person is deemed to have a permanent place of abode even
in rented premises, which he or she is free to leave at will, but from which
the person has no present intent or desire to change. Factors that contribute
to permanence include the amount of time spent in the locality, the nature of
the place of abode, activities in the locality and the taxpayer's intentions
with regard to the length and nature of the stay.
(B)Other residential
property. Generally, residential property, such as a house,
condominium, or apartment, is not considered a permanent place of abode if the
individual never uses the property as a dwelling. For example, if the taxpayer
acquires residential property for investment or rental purposes, as the result
of an estate settlement, or as part of a settlement in a divorce proceeding,
and the property is never used by the taxpayer or the taxpayer's family, the
property is not considered a permanent place of abode for the taxpayer. For
purposes of this rule, family includes the taxpayer, the taxpayer's spouse, and
lineal ascendants and descendants of the taxpayer. If the property is used
during the tax year by the taxpayer, even if for just a day, and also used by
the taxpayer's family for a sufficient period of time to create a well-settled
physical connection, then it is generally deemed to be a permanent place of
abode for the taxpayer. However, use of the residential property by a family
member will generally not be attributed to the taxpayer if the residential
property is rented to the relative for fair rental value in an arm's-length
transaction or if the taxpayer never uses the property as a dwelling during the
tax year at issue.
(C)Vacation home. A camp or
cottage that is suitable for and used only for vacations is not a permanent
place of abode. A dwelling that does not contain facilities ordinarily found in
a dwelling, such as facilities for cooking and bathing, is generally not
considered a permanent place of abode. A second home that contains all the
amenities found in a primary residence does not constitute a camp or cottage
even if it is located in a vacation area. Therefore, a second home that
contains cooking and bathing facilities and is suitable for year-round living
may constitute a permanent place of abode even though used primarily for
vacations or on weekends.
(D)
Temporary stay. A place
of abode, whether in Oregon or elsewhere, is not deemed permanent if it is
maintained only during a temporary stay of short duration for the
accomplishment of a particular purpose.
Example
2: Wayne is a long-haul truck driver for an Oregon company. His
work requires that he travel throughout the United States. He is domiciled in
Oregon but does not maintain a permanent place of abode in Oregon. Wayne spends
less than 31 days in Oregon during the year. Wayne's only residence is in his
truck, which has a sleeper unit, closet and refrigerator. Except for two weeks
vacation each year, Wayne stays in any given locale only temporarily and only
for the purpose of delivering or picking up a load. Because Wayne does not
maintain a permanent place of abode elsewhere, he is taxable as a resident of
Oregon.
Example 3: Douglas has
lived and worked in Oregon all his life. On January 1, he retired, sold his
personal residence, and began traveling throughout the United States. He has
not established a new domicile outside of Oregon nor does he intend to give up
his Oregon domicile. Because Douglas does not maintain a fixed place of abode
over a sufficient period of time to create a well-settled physical connection
with a given locality, he is considered not to have a permanent place of abode
elsewhere. Thus, Douglas is taxed as an Oregon resident.
Example 4: James is domiciled in Oregon.
After retiring, James sold his Oregon home and purchased a recreational vehicle
(RV). James rents space year-round at an RV park in Arizona where he spends 7
to 9 months each year. James spends the remainder of his time traveling in the
United States, including Oregon, but he does not remain in any particular
locality more than thirty days. James is considered to have a permanent place
of abode in Arizona, as his stay at the Arizona RV park constitutes the
maintenance of a fixed place of abode over a sufficient period of time to
create a well-settled physical connection with that locality. James is taxed as
a nonresident as long as he does not establish a permanent place of abode in
Oregon and he spends less than 31 days in this state.
(E)Military personnel. For
purposes of this rule, an individual serving in the military is considered to
have a permanent place of abode elsewhere during the time the individual
resides outside of Oregon.