IRS Migration Data and Florida in 2026: Adjusted Gross Income and Inbound Trends

Last Updated: May 2026

Florida is the top net inbound state for adjusted gross income (AGI). The IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) migration data for 2020 to 2022 shows Florida gained tens of billions of dollars in net AGI each year. The pull is part lifestyle, part fiscal. Florida has no state personal income tax. New York, California, Illinois, and New Jersey all do.

Safebound Moving and Storage has run long-distance moves into Florida since 2016. The carrier holds USDOT 2900155, MC 975408, and FL IM2839. Safebound has completed 35,000+ moves in all 50 states with trained and background-checked crews. It holds 4.9 stars and 2,401 reviews and runs a 100,000 sq ft climate-controlled storage facility in West Palm Beach.

The sections below cover the IRS SOI dataset, top origin states by AGI, why high earners move, where arrivals land, and the moving logistics.

Key Takeaways

• SOI Dataset: The IRS Statistics of Income migration data tracks tax return addresses year over year. Florida ranks first for net AGI inflow.
• Top Donor States: IRS SOI 2020 to 2022 data lists New York, California, Illinois, and New Jersey as the top sources of inbound AGI to Florida.
• Tax Driver: Florida has no state personal income tax. The four top donor states all apply state income tax, with top brackets can reach the low teens.
• Top Inbound Counties: Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Broward, Lee, and Hillsborough land near the top of the inbound list each year.
• Volume Pricing: Safebound prices by cubic foot, not weight. The minimum shipment for an interstate move is 400 cubic feet.
• Tax Disclaimer: Safebound does not provide tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on tax implications.

The five sections below map each origin state to the tax math, the top Florida landing counties, and the truck window on the Bill of Lading.

What Does the IRS SOI Migration Dataset Show?

The IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) migration data tracks where tax filers lived from one year to the next. The SOI program compares the state on a return for year one with the state on the same return for year two. A change in state is logged as a migration event. The dataset reports the total adjusted gross income (AGI) tied to each move. The SOI tables are public on irs.gov.

The IRS SOI tables for 2020 to 2022 show Florida as the top net gainer of AGI in the country. Net AGI inflow ran in the tens of billions of dollars each year. The average AGI per arriving return runs above the average AGI per departing return. That gap drives the large net AGI gain. SOI data is a look back with a roughly two-year reporting lag, not a forecast. Pair it with current housing and tax data when planning a move.

Which States Send the Most AGI to Florida?

The IRS SOI 2020 to 2022 tables list four states at the top of the inbound AGI flow to Florida: New York, California, Illinois, and New Jersey. Each of these states has a state personal income tax. Each loses high earners to Florida year after year. The table below sets each state next to Florida on the points that drive the move. Income tax rates are general top-bracket figures and vary by income, filing status, and local add-ons.

Origin State	State Income Tax (top bracket)	IRS SOI 2020-2022 Pattern	Common Florida Landing Counties
New York	Top bracket above 10 percent (NYC adds local tax)	Top source of inbound AGI to Florida	Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade
California	Top bracket above 13 percent	Among the top sources of inbound AGI to Florida	Hillsborough (Tampa), Orange (Orlando), Lee (Fort Myers)
Illinois	Flat rate near 5 percent (state level)	Steady annual source of inbound AGI	Lee, Sarasota, Manatee, Palm Beach
New Jersey	Top bracket above 10 percent	Top-five source of inbound AGI each year	Palm Beach, Broward, Martin, Miami-Dade
Florida (destination)	No state personal income tax	Top net inbound state for AGI	Statewide gain across all 67 counties

Source: IRS Statistics of Income, 2020 to 2022 migration data. The savings from a no-income-tax state can be offset by home insurance, HOA dues, property tax, and the one-time cost of the move. Safebound does not provide tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on tax implications.

Why Do High Earners Move to Florida?

Three drivers show up in the IRS SOI data and in pull-factor surveys. The first is tax. Florida has no state personal income tax. New York, California, Illinois, and New Jersey apply state income tax at rates can reach the low teens at top brackets. For a high earner with wage and investment income, gap can be a five- or six-figure annual swing.

The second driver is home cost and property mix. Home prices in California metros and parts of New York and New Jersey sit well above the Florida average for a comparable single-family home. Florida offers a wide mix of coastal, gated, and inland property types. The third driver is remote work. The shift to work-from-home after 2020 cut the tie between job and ZIP code for many households. That freed up movers to pick a state by tax climate and lifestyle.

Safebound does not provide tax, legal, or financial advice. Consult a licensed professional before making decisions based on tax implications.

Where in Florida Do High-AGI Arrivals Land?

IRS county-level data and U.S. Census Bureau ACS data both show new arrivals clustered in a small set of Florida counties. Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Broward, Lee, and Hillsborough land near the top of the inbound list most years. New York and New Jersey movers tilt toward Palm Beach, Broward, Martin, and Miami-Dade on the southeast coast. Illinois movers pick Lee, Sarasota, and Manatee on the Gulf Coast. California movers choose Hillsborough (Tampa), Orange (Orlando), and Lee (Fort Myers).

High-AGI arrivals show up in heavier numbers in Palm Beach, Martin, Collier (Naples), and parts of Miami-Dade. Property in these areas carries gated-community rules, HOA move-in windows, and elevator scheduling for high-rise units. Safebound runs daily dispatch out of West Palm Beach and Miami, two of the top inbound metros for these moves. The Safebound team can quote a long-distance move into any of the 67 Florida counties, with a written delivery window on the Bill of Lading before loading.

What Are the Moving Logistics for High-AGI Relocators?

Each origin state ships into Florida on a different distance band, which sets the truck window. A New York to Florida move runs about 1,200 to 1,400 miles. A New Jersey to Florida move runs about 1,100 to 1,300 miles. Both fall in the 1,001 to 1,500 mile band with a dedicated truck window of 2 to 14 business days.

An Illinois to Florida move runs about 1,300 to 1,500 miles, in the 1,001 to 1,500 mile band. A California to Florida move runs about 2,500 to 3,000 miles. That falls in the 1,501 to 3,300 mile band with a 3 to 21 business day window. Consolidated loads can add 3 to 7 days. Safebound prices all long-distance moves by cubic foot, not by weight, with a 400 cubic foot minimum.

High-AGI households ship art, antiques, fine china, and high-end electronics. Professional packing by the crew puts the carrier on the hook for the contents. For art and instruments, custom crating adds rigid support during the long-haul drive. For heat- and humidity-sensitive items, climate-controlled storage in the Safebound West Palm Beach facility can bridge a gap. For households shipping a car, auto transport is a brokered add-on coordinated through vetted carriers.

5 Things to Confirm Before a High-AGI Move to Florida

1. Carrier licensing in writing: Confirm the USDOT and MC numbers and verify at safer.fmcsa.dot.gov before signing any contract. A licensed interstate carrier is the baseline.
2. Volume-based written quote: Ask for a price that locks based on the agreed inventory and scope, by cubic foot, not by weight. Get the 400 cubic foot minimum confirmed up front.
3. Delivery window on the Bill of Lading: The window on the Bill of Lading is the firm one. For a 1,200-mile route plan for 2 to 14 business days. For a 2,500-mile route plan for 3 to 21 business days.
4. Tax and legal advice from a pro: A licensed tax pro can run the tax math for the origin and destination state and can review residency rules. Safebound does not provide tax, legal, or financial advice.
5. Florida home set up first: Line up power, water, and any HOA move-in window before the truck lands. A short stay in cross-country moving storage in West Palm Beach can bridge a gap.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does IRS migration data show about Florida?

The IRS Statistics of Income (SOI) migration data tracks state-to-state moves by comparing the address on a tax return for year one with the address for year two. The SOI tables for 2020 to 2022 show Florida as the top net gainer of adjusted gross income in the country, with net AGI inflow in the tens of billions of dollars each year. New York, California, Illinois, and New Jersey rank as the top source states. The SOI tables are public on irs.gov.

How much AGI has moved into Florida via migration?

The total AGI entering Florida via domestic migration runs in the tens of billions of dollars each year. This shift includes wage income, investment returns, and retirement capital tied to moves from states such as New York, California, Illinois, and New Jersey. Exact annual figures vary by tax year and are published by the IRS on a roughly two-year lag.

How does the IRS track interstate migration?

The IRS tracks interstate migration through the Statistics of Income (SOI) program. The SOI program compares the state on a tax return for year one with the state on the same return for year two. A change in state is logged as a migration event. The dataset reports the count of returns, the count of exemptions, and the total AGI tied to each move.

Which states send the most income to Florida?

The IRS SOI 2020 to 2022 tables list New York, California, Illinois, and New Jersey at the top of the inbound AGI flow to Florida. Each of these states has a state personal income tax. New York is the largest single source in most recent years, with California a close second. Illinois and New Jersey round out the top four.

Does IRS data predict future moving trends to Florida?

IRS SOI data is a look back, not a forecast. The data captures moves that have already happened and the AGI tied to those moves, on a roughly two-year reporting lag. It does not predict next year's volume or capture sudden shifts in home prices or insurance costs. Pair the SOI tables with current housing data and current tax law when planning a move.

Why do high earners move to Florida?

Three drivers show up in the IRS SOI data and in pull-factor surveys. The first is tax. Florida has no state personal income tax, while New York, California, Illinois, and New Jersey apply rates that can reach the low teens at top brackets. The second is home cost and property mix. The third is remote work, which cut the tie between job and ZIP code for many households after 2020.

Which Florida counties get the most inbound AGI?

IRS county-level data and U.S. Census Bureau ACS data both show Miami-Dade, Palm Beach, Broward, Lee, and Hillsborough at or near the top each year. Palm Beach, Martin, Collier (Naples), and parts of Miami-Dade draw a heavier tilt of high-AGI arrivals. New York and New Jersey movers tilt toward the southeast coast. Illinois movers land on the Gulf Coast.

How long does a long-distance move from a high-tax state to Florida take?

A New York or New Jersey to Florida move runs about 1,100 to 1,400 miles, in the 1,001 to 1,500 mile band, with a dedicated truck window of 2 to 14 business days. An Illinois to Florida move runs about 1,300 to 1,500 miles in the same band. A California to Florida move runs about 2,500 to 3,000 miles in the 1,501 to 3,300 mile band, with a 3 to 21 business day window.

Does moving from a high-AGI state to Florida save money?

It can, but the math is case-by-case. A move from a state with a top bracket above 10 percent to a no-income-tax state can save a high earner a five- or six-figure annual amount on state income tax. The savings can be offset by home insurance, HOA dues, property tax, and the one-time cost of the move. Safebound does not provide tax, legal, or financial advice.

Ready to Book Your Move to Florida From a High-Income State?

A move from a high-AGI state to Florida ties to a federal carrier license, a written delivery window, and a price that locks based on the agreed inventory and scope. Working with a licensed long-distance carrier that quotes by cubic foot and sets the truck window on the Bill of Lading is the line between a clean landing and a moving-day surprise. Get a written quote that covers crew size, the 400 cubic foot minimum, the delivery window, and any packing, storage, or auto transport add-ons before locking the move date. For an inbound Florida move, request a quote or call 561-510-7191 to confirm crew and the preferred move date.

People Also Read

• Moving From New York to Florida: Cost and Timeline Guide
• How Much Does It Cost to Move Out of Florida? 2026 Price Guide by Destination

Sources & References

• IRS Statistics of Income, Migration Data (2020 to 2022)
• U.S. Census Bureau, State-to-State Migration Flows (ACS)
• FMCSA, Protect Your Move

Safebound Moving & Storage is licensed, insured, and certified throughout Florida and the continental United States. USDOT 2900155 | MC 975408 | FL IM2839. BBB Accredited. Forbes Featured. Verify at fdacs.gov or safer.fmcsa.dot.gov.

About the Author

Leo Cavaretta | Moving Industry Specialist, Safebound Moving & Storage

A licensed and insured carrier with trained and background-checked movers headquartered in West Palm Beach, Florida, Leo specializes in interstate moving regulations, USDOT compliance, residential relocation, and moving cost transparency, helping customers navigate the full moving process, from binding estimates with transparent pricing and no hidden fees to long-distance logistics, with confidence. Since 2016, Safebound has completed more than 35,000 residential and commercial relocations across all 50 states. Safebound holds USDOT 2900155, MC 975408, and FL IM2839, and is BBB Accredited. Get a free quote or learn about Safebound Moving & Storage.

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