Moving from Ohio
About 184,300 people left Ohio for other states in 2023, and about 185,300 moved in.
- The flows nearly cancel out.
- Leaving Ohio can mean three income tax returns for the year you move: state, city, and sometimes school district.
- You can also cancel your vehicle registration with the BMV.
- This page covers every Ohio-origin route we track.
Ohio at a Glance
Taxes
Climate
Humid continental with cold winters and warm, humid summers.
Cost of Living
Why People Move from Ohio
Florida is the top destination at about 18,500, but it sent about 18,700 back, so that route runs both ways.
- Texas took about 13,500 and sent about 8,600.
- Kentucky took about 13,200, Indiana about 12,500, Pennsylvania about 11,300, and Michigan about 8,900.
- Michigan went the other way, sending Ohio about 15,800.
Ohio taxes come in layers.
- The Tax Foundation describes a flat 2.75 percent state income tax on income over $26,050, plus local income taxes in some places.
- The state sales tax is 5.75 percent, and the average combined rate with local tax is 7.3 percent.
- The effective property tax rate on owner-occupied homes is 1.36 percent.
- Ohio has no estate or inheritance tax.
Popular Routes Moving from Ohio
Before You Leave Ohio
File Form IT 1040 as a part-year resident
If you move out of Ohio during the year, you are a part-year resident. File Form IT 1040 and attach Form IT NRC with your dates of Ohio residency. The IT NRC gives you a credit for income you earned while you lived in another state. You do not have to file if your Ohio adjusted gross income is $0 or less. The same applies if your exemption amount is equal to or more than your Ohio adjusted gross income. You must still file if you owe school district income tax.
Source: Ohio Department of Taxation, 2025 IT 1040 InstructionsFile an SD 100 if your school district has an income tax
Some Ohio school districts levy their own income tax. If you lived in one of them, you owe tax on the income you received while you lived there. File Form SD 100 for that part of the year. You can owe school district tax even if you owe no Ohio income tax.
Source: Ohio Department of Taxation, School District Income TaxFile a final city income tax return
Ohio cities can levy their own income tax. If you owe city tax for the year you move, you must file a return for that year. Ask your city tax office how to file the final return.
Source: Ohio Revised Code 718.05Decide whether to cancel your Ohio registration
You can cancel an Ohio vehicle registration online with the BMV. Only an owner or co-owner can ask. BMV gives no refund. BMV cannot reinstate a cancelled registration. Register the vehicle in your new state first.
Source: Ohio BMV, Vehicle Registration CancellationTell the county auditor if you keep a home here
If you keep your Ohio home after you move, it is no longer your principal residence. Tell the county auditor that you no longer qualify for the homestead exemption or the owner-occupancy reduction. If you do not, the county can charge back the taxes you saved.
Source: Ohio Revised Code 323.153Ohio DMV & Registration
Your new state sets its own deadline for the license and plates.
- After you register the vehicle there, you can cancel your Ohio registration.
- Use the BMV online cancellation service, or mail Form BMV 4311.
- Sign the mailed form in front of a notary, even if you no longer live in Ohio.
- BMV gives no refund.
- BMV cannot reinstate a cancelled registration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to file an Ohio part-year resident tax return?
Usually yes.
- If you moved out of Ohio during the year, you are a part-year resident.
- File Form IT 1040 and Form IT NRC.
- On the IT NRC, enter your dates of Ohio residency.
- It calculates a nonresident credit for income you earned while you lived in another state.
- You do not have to file if your Ohio adjusted gross income is $0 or less.
- The same applies if your exemption amount is equal to or more than your Ohio adjusted gross income.
- You must still file if you owe school district income tax.
Do I still owe Ohio school district income tax after I move?
Only for the part of the year you lived in a taxing district.
- Some Ohio school districts levy their own income tax.
- If you lived in one, file Form SD 100 for the income you received while you lived there.
- You can owe school district tax even if you owe no Ohio income tax.
- Use the Ohio Department of Taxation Finder to look up your district and its rate.
Do I need to file a city income tax return when I move out of Ohio?
Usually yes.
- Ohio cities can levy their own income tax.
- Ohio law requires a return for every year you owe city tax.
- RITA, which collects the tax for its member cities, says to allocate the tax by the income you earned while you lived in each city.
- If your city is not a RITA member, ask its tax office how to file the final return.
How do I cancel my Ohio vehicle registration?
Use the Ohio BMV online cancellation service, or mail Form BMV 4311 to BMV Vehicle Information Services in Columbus.
- Sign the mailed form in front of a notary, even if you no longer live in Ohio.
- Only an owner or co-owner can ask for the cancellation.
- BMV gives no refund.
- BMV cannot reinstate a cancelled registration.
- Cancel after you register the vehicle in your new state.
What happens to my Ohio homestead exemption if I move?
The homestead exemption and the owner-occupancy reduction are only for the home that is your principal residence.
- If you keep your Ohio home after you move, notify the county auditor that you no longer qualify.
- If you do not, the county can charge back the amount the reduction saved you for each year you were not entitled to it.
Where do people move when they leave Ohio?
Using Census ACS 2023 state-to-state flows: Florida (about 18,500), Texas (about 13,500), Kentucky (about 13,200), Indiana (about 12,500), Pennsylvania (about 11,300), and Michigan (about 8,900).
- Texas, Kentucky, and Indiana took more people from Ohio than they sent back.
- Florida, Pennsylvania, and Michigan sent more.