Moving to Pennsylvania: Save 55% on Moving Services

Important Info about Pennsylvania Movers & Moving to Pennsylvania

Did you know that agriculture is the largest industry in the state of Pennsylvania? Or that tourism is the second largest industry? Are you surprised that Pennsylvania is the home of the first bank in the country, the Bank of North America, which opened in 1781? If you didn't know these facts, you're not alone. But if you're moving to Pennsylvania, you should make an effort to learn about the important things that the state has to offer, and to familiarize yourself with the processes that you'll need to complete upon arrival. Fortunately, I can help.

Choosing Pennsylvania Movers

You should be happy to learn that choosing Pennsylvania movers is easier than choosing movers in most states, as there are several ways in which you can check up on a moving company's integrity. Firstly, Pennsylvania has its own movers association, not surprisingly named the Pennsylvania Moving & Storage Associates. Through this organization, Pennsylvania moving companies pledge to maintain their integrity and honesty throughout the moving process and to adhere to the highest moral and ethical standards. You can double check the PMSA's references by researching your Pennsylvania moving company with the Better Business Bureau or with the American Moving and Storage Association. With this information you should be able to find Pennsylvania movers with whom you will feel comfortable trusting your belongings for the journey to your new home.

Establishing Residency in Pennsylvania

In most cases (excluding residency for the purposes of tuition reductions), Pennsylvania residency can be established after moving to Pennsylvania by:

• Renting, leasing or buying a property to be used as your primary residence
• Possessing a Pennsylvania driver's license
• Paying local and state taxes in Pennsylvania
• Registering a car or bank account in Pennsylvania
• Registering to vote in Pennsylvania

Most of the above requirements can be met shortly after moving to Pennsylvania. For the purposes of in-state residency requirements for institutions of higher education, residency requirements are often set forth as follows:

• Students must be living in Pennsylvania for 12 consecutive months prior to enrolling in university
• If a student's parents move to Pennsylvania during the course of the degree, a student may be able to request in-state tuition

Getting Married in Pennsylvania

If you're moving to Pennsylvania to pursue a romantic interest, there are some things you should know about getting married in the state. Pennsylvania has very conservative marriage laws, and you won't want to find yourself stuck in a difficult predicament because of the state's laws. Here are some things you need to know:

• There is a 3 day waiting period in Pennsylvania between the time you get your marriage license and the time you can get married. You may be able to have this waiting period waived, for a small fee
• Gay marriage is not currently permitted in Pennsylvania
• You don't need to move to Pennsylvania in order to get married there, but you must present valid identification (in some counties you may also be required to speak English or have a translator present)
• Cousin marriages are prohibited in Pennsylvania
• Marriage by proxy is prohibited in Pennsylvania (you can, however, request a marriage by proxy in other states such as Texas or Colorado)
• Applicants for a marriage license who are under age 18 must pay an additional $5 fee

Pennsylvania Tax Rates

• Unlike states such as Oregon, which has nine distinct tax brackets, Pennsylvania imposes a uniform tax rate on everyone in the state who earns money. This tax rate is 3.07% of all income, including compensation, net gains from the dispositions of property, interest, dividends, profit from a business, winnings from gambling and lottery wins and income resulting from trusts or estates.
• State sales tax in Pennsylvania is 6%
• Local sales tax is an additional 1%
• Pennsylvania estate tax ranges from 6% to 15% depending on the relationship of the beneficiary to the deceased
• Cigarettes are taxed 31 cents per pack, which is rolled into the purchase price
• The state of Pennsylvania does not levy property taxes, though individual counties do reserve the right to impose a property tax

Moving to Pennsylvania isn't impossible. In fact, people were moving to Pennsylvania even before its statehood in 1787. Selecting reliable Pennsylvania movers and familiarizing yourself with local regulations and requirements is the best way to move to Pennsylvania successfully.