Filing taxes in Canada - married filing jointly?

[skitlee 0]

Are there any Canadians around who have experience with filing taxes under "married filing separately" ?  My wife can't figure out how to complete her taxes since everything is done electronically, but I don't have a SIN.

 

We also realized we never sent the Canadian government any documentation of our wedding. We were supposed to do this? Will they question her status of filing as married?

[Cryssiekins 976]

This will be my first year filing since getting married.

 

I have a myCRA account so I was able to change my last name and marital status on there (since my T4 was issued in my married name).

 

The real problem is with the SIN.  I called to change my name and marital status there and was advised by the agent that as a Canadian I was prohibited from marrying in another country and living there.  After my brain stopped bleeding from that ridiculous statement I asked to speak to a supervisor hoping they had more of a clue how to do their job.  It was only slightly better.  I was advised I could change my status via mail by filling out a 2120

form and sending an original copy of both my birth certificate and marriage certificate, though she finished by saying she wasn't sure if they'll recognize the marriage since it was foreign and she also wasn't sure if there was a way to send registered mail across the border. (Clearly the Canadian government only employs the brightest of the bright)

 

My brother (in Canada) will be doing my taxes and he's confused how to do it bc I'm not a resident here but technically not there either.  I figure if they have any follow up questions for mismatch information or why my spouse isn't filing (he doesn't have a SIN and hasn't been to Canada even for a visit in 13+ years) they can call or send mail.  I changed my address on there but left a Canadian address for mail purposes.  

 

I'm not entirely sure if I have to register the marriage with any other stupid department in Canada, but I'm done trying to figure it out until they get some competent folk in there. 

[Lemonslice 4,632]

35 minutes ago, skitlee said:

Are there any Canadians around who have experience with filing taxes under "married filing separately" ?  My wife can't figure out how to complete her taxes since everything is done electronically, but I don't have a SIN.

 

We also realized we never sent the Canadian government any documentation of our wedding. We were supposed to do this? Will they question her status of filing as married?

Is your wife now living in the USA? If so, she has to paper file, you can netfile when you're not filing as a resident.

 

I've never had any problem filling with my husband details, indicating he's not a resident and had no Canadian income. 

 

Just done with my 2016 taxes there... going to mail them out tomorrow.  The international tax office of the CRA is helpful if you still have questions. 

[Cryssiekins 976]

14 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

Is your wife now living in the USA? If so, she has to paper file, you can netfile when you're not filing as a resident.

 

I've never had any problem filling with my husband details, indicating he's not a resident and had no Canadian income. 

 

Just done with my 2016 taxes there... going to mail them out tomorrow.  The international tax office of the CRA is helpful if you still have questions. 

Do you have to continue filing even when there is no Canadian income?  Or do you have income from a Canadian source? 

 

Good info!  Thanks!  I didn't realize it had to be paper filed :-/ 

[skitlee 0]

16 minutes ago, Lemonslice said:

Is your wife now living in the USA? If so, she has to paper file, you can netfile when you're not filing as a resident.

 

I've never had any problem filling with my husband details, indicating he's not a resident and had no Canadian income. 

 

Just done with my 2016 taxes there... going to mail them out tomorrow.  The international tax office of the CRA is helpful if you still have questions. 

 

My wife is still living in Canada and is still considered a resident and earning income there.

 

 

Just now, Cryssiekins said:

Do you have to continue filing even when there is no Canadian income?  Or do you have income from a Canadian source? 

 

Good info!  Thanks!  I didn't realize it had to be paper filed :-/ 

As far as what I've read, you still have to file taxes for Canada if you lived there for 183 or more days during that tax year.