Moving to Pennsylvania: what is different for newcomers

Most first steps in the U.S. work the same way in every state. A few rules in Pennsylvania are its own, and newcomers meet them early.

A PennDOT license within 60 days, and the car within 20. New residents with a license from another state must get a Pennsylvania license within 60 days of establishing residency (PennDOT). For a car you bring, you must apply for a Pennsylvania title and registration within 20 days, and that requires a Pennsylvania ID (PennDOT). Foreign licenses, the medical form and the tests: our Pennsylvania driver’s license guide.

State and local income taxes. Pennsylvania taxes eight classes of income at a single rate, with no standard deduction or personal exemption (PA Department of Revenue). Moving in during the year makes you a part-year resident, taxed on income from all sources while you live here (PA Department of Revenue). Employers with worksites in the state also withhold a local Earned Income Tax (PA DCED). You fill in a Residency Certification Form when hired, and the higher of your home and work-location rates applies; Philadelphia runs its own system (PA DCED). See state income taxes and your paycheck.

A state program for refugees. The Department of Human Services runs the Refugee Resettlement Program, funded by the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement, with employment, education, case management, health and financial support (PA DHS). It serves refugees, asylees, Cuban and Haitian entrants, certain Afghan and Iraqi special immigrants, trafficking victims and a few other groups, mostly within 60 months of arrival (PA DHS). See refugee resettlement services.

Renter protections. A security deposit cannot exceed two months’ rent in a lease’s first year, or one month’s rent from the start of the second; every lease includes an implied warranty of habitability, so the landlord must keep the home fit to live in; and a landlord may not change your locks or cut your utilities to evict you (PA Attorney General). See tenant rights.

Floods and winter roads. Floods here can come from heavy rain, rising rivers, snow melt and ice jams (Ready PA). Most home insurance doesn’t cover flooding, and federal flood insurance is open to renters too, where the community takes part (Ready PA). In a snow squall, pull over and wait it out (Ready PA). Plan with our emergency preparedness guide.