Filing a Tax Return in Canada while in U.S.

[zhangziyi 0]

Hi everyone,

I am here in the U.S. since July with K1 visa, but I worked in Canada from Jan - June 2015. I requested my T4 with my previous boss. Can you help me on how to file it here in the U.S?

I also worked here in the U.S. last December 2015. Should I file on two countries, right? One in Canada, and one here in the U.S., right?

Another thing, I still receiving a GST/HST credit even I told them to stop it. It was only forwarded on my U.S. address. I cannot contact them thru fon. Maybe I can write them a formal letter?

[NikLR 13,227]

You need to call them about the GST credit. You will owe everything they paid you after the date you moved. Writing a letter will not work (I tried.)

Did you work in the USA? or make over the threshold to file?

[AC&BS 23]

you need to file in both countries. Report the income earned in Canada Jan to June on your Canadian return. Make sure you select that you are a non resident as at December 31 2015. Report the income you earned in the US July to December on your US return. File a US return even if you don't make the threshold. I have seen lots of situations where people applying for credit, mortgages, or even as support for K1 or other immigration didn't file and then had a tough time meeting the criteria.

This should be the last Canadian return you need file unless you move back there.

[NikLR 13,227]

Because no income was made in the USA then there are specific schedules you can file for Canada to get your entire return instead of just a portion (if you recieve a return instead of paying or breaking even.) Also you file a form 2555 with your US tax return so that you arent taxed twice.

Its interesting that ive never seen this lack of creditthing but I will grant that being in the US system longer can help credit history.

[zhangziyi 0]

You need to call them about the GST credit. You will owe everything they paid you after the date you moved. Writing a letter will not work (I tried.)

Did you work in the USA? or make over the threshold to file?

I tried calling them at 1-800 959-1953 but there's no way I can talk to a representative.

I started working in the U.S. in December 2015. So I figured I must file a tax return right?

[zhangziyi 0]

you need to file in both countries. Report the income earned in Canada Jan to June on your Canadian return. Make sure you select that you are a non resident as at December 31 2015. Report the income you earned in the US July to December on your US return. File a US return even if you don't make the threshold. I have seen lots of situations where people applying for credit, mortgages, or even as support for K1 or other immigration didn't file and then had a tough time meeting the criteria.

This should be the last Canadian return you need file unless you move back there.

So I will go at CRA website? I cannot file online? Did you do yours already? Thank you for your help.

[La Souris 19]

This is the phone number for non residents:

1-800-959-8281

[NikLR 13,227]

So I will go at CRA website? I cannot file online? Did you do yours already? Thank you for your help.

You cannot file online. You MUST paper file. If you can find and use a tax software that allows you to input a non-Canadian address and continue to do the return at least to print and mail, then please let us know. All of the free ones I tried would not allow me to even continue the return without a Canadian address. But maybe someone has changed their software or a new one has come out since 2013.

[AC&BS 23]

So I will go at CRA website? I cannot file online? Did you do yours already? Thank you for your help.

Here is a link to the CRA website where you can get the paper return for non residents.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/formspubs/t1gnrl/nnrsdnts-eng.html

There are also non-resident guides there.

I don't think CRA allows non-residents to file electronically. It must be paper.

I haven't done mine. I am a procrastinator. I will probably do both returns in April.

You don't need to file the foreign earned income form 2555 as you were not resident and therefore not subject to tax in the US until you moved here. You have a clean split between Canada and the US. Canada taxes you as a resident up until the time you moved and the US taxes you as a resident after your move.

[NikLR 13,227]

Not necessarily. It would be better to send this form than not IMHO.

However the OP should to be sure check the Serbinksi forums for any questions on taxes between Canada and the USA.

http://forums.serbinski.com/

[Marie-Eve 3]

I am very new to all this (just started my first exiting taxes for Canada today) but so far the ImpotRapide (french equivalent of TurboTax by Intuit) software allows me to enter in my US address without any problem. Would that mean I can file electronically, or at least file electronically then print and submit paper?

[AC&BS 23]

I am very new to all this (just started my first exiting taxes for Canada today) but so far the ImpotRapide (french equivalent of TurboTax by Intuit) software allows me to enter in my US address without any problem. Would that mean I can file electronically, or at least file electronically then print and submit paper?

au

Check to see if the software allows you to enter the date you became a non-resident. If it does not do that then I am afraid it will give you the wrong answer as to the amount of tax you owe, (the tax credits are prorated for a portion of the year if you become non-resident). Also if you don't tell them that you are no longer a resident of Canada they will hound you for a tax return next year. It is important to break resident ties now to avoid fights later about how much of your income earned in the US is subject to tax by Canada. Unlike the US (which taxes you based on both residence and citizenship) Canada taxes based on your residence so unless you formally break your ties to Canada by telling them on your tax return that you are no longer a resident they will continue to assess you for taxes.)

[zhangziyi 0]

What if you are receiving EI? Are you going to file it next year (2017) too? It is too complicated now..

[Loki_Go 126]

Here is a link to the CRA website where you can get the paper return for non residents.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/formspubs/t1gnrl/nnrsdnts-eng.html

There are also non-resident guides there.

I don't think CRA allows non-residents to file electronically. It must be paper.

I haven't done mine. I am a procrastinator. I will probably do both returns in April.

You don't need to file the foreign earned income form 2555 as you were not resident and therefore not subject to tax in the US until you moved here. You have a clean split between Canada and the US. Canada taxes you as a resident up until the time you moved and the US taxes you as a resident after your move.

I get a 404 error when I click this link.

Edited January 26, 2016 by Loki_Go

[AC&BS 23]

I get a 404 error when I click this link.

Sorry about that. Perhaps the best way is to Google "Canadian Revenue Agency"

The first hit should be the Agency's web site.

Once at their site type "non-resident 2015"into the search bar.

In the list returned you are looking for "

5013-R - T1 General 2015 - Income Tax and Benefit Return for Non ...

and

5013-G - General Income Tax and Benefit Guide for Non-Residents ...

Good luck