Moving anywhere, even to a great place like South Dakota, means there will be a number of chores that need to get done.  We’ve put together this quick guide to help newcomers feel at home faster and make the transition into your new life in South Dakota as smooth as possible. 

Check To See If Your Moving Expenses Are Tax Deductible - If you are moving to South Dakota due to a change in your job or business location, or because you started a new job or business, you may be able to deduct your moving expenses. See http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc455.html for more information.

Get In Touch With Your New Surroundings – Subscribing to local newspapers and magazines or taking a few minutes to see if there are any locals blogging about hobbies (fishing, skiing, hunting, etc.) that interest you, is a great way to get in tune with local culture and learn about what’s going on in your new hometown. 

Changing Your Mailing Address – Save your self some time and safeguard sensitive personal information by filling out the U.S. Postal Service’s change of address form online. Fill out the form, pay the $1 fee and the USPS will email you a confirmation once your address has been changed.

Connecting Utilities – Avoid the hassle of trying to move into a new place in the dark.  This is one chore that’s easily and often overlooked.  Here is a list of utilities serving South Dakota, and make sure you contact your provider prior to moving day.

Schools – Check out the South Dakota Department of Education’s website for a statewide listing of K-12 and postsecondary educational institutions.  Or here is a list of county by county private schools in South Dakota.

Registering Your Vehicle and Getting Your Driver’s License - A nonresident moving into South Dakota has 90 days to register and title a vehicle, which can be done at your local county treasurers office. To get a new driver’s license you will need to bring your out of state license and one other form of identification, such as a birth certificate, passport or social security card, to a South Dakota Exam Station. Here is a list of exam stations and hours of operation.  Your out of state license will be given to the examiner, who will check to make sure you have valid driving privileges in all states and you will be given a vision screening. When both are completed and passed you will be issued a South Dakota license that will be valid for five years.

Registering To Vote And Becoming An Organ Donor – You can get both of these done while you are getting your license at any South Dakota Exam Station.

Explore Your New Backyard – Odds are that South Dakota’s rugged beauty and unique western character had something to do with you choosing to move here, so get out there and explore! From skiing and snowmobiling to biking, hiking, camping and hunting, the possibilities to enjoy South Dakota’s untamed wilderness are nearly endless.  Read more about South Dakota recreation and hunting opportunities.  Also consider visiting a park such as  Badlands National Park with its 244,000 acres of other-worldly landscapes. Or check out the 1.2 million acre playground that is the Black Hills National Forest.