FINALLY - moving to the US!

[dukeandduchess 141]

So, I gave my notice (3 weeks) at work today because my fiance finally has a stable income. But reality is hitting me now -- I'm ACTUALLY going! Wow!

Did anyone else have a panic/excitement thing go on? I've worked for the same company for 4 years and I'm feeling so weird giving it all up. I really want to go (obviously) but I didn't realize it would be so rough. Seems silly because I've had about 4 months to prepare myself.

I plan to leave in 3 weeks so I have so much to do!

A few questions:

How far in advance can I notify BC health and the government (RE: HST cheques)? I get everything direct deposit and I've heard of people receiving cheques even after they cancel so this would be annoying to deal with if they ended up depositing it in my bank.

Thank you!! (Back to being a complete newbie again!)

ALSO: anyone else POEing in February?

[zenaxe 22]

I bid farewell to family and friends, house, and a 15 year career.....but hey money isn't everything. No regrets at all. Congrats to you. Can't help you re the HST stuff. Make sure you keep receipt of when you cross as you'll need it for Canada Pension down the road. YOu should notify CPP. You may be able to qualify for unemployment benefits for a while when you get here while you look for work. Call Service Canada and get information on interstate claims. I think BC health covers you until the end of whatever month you leave. Call them to be sure but I recall that. I"m also from BC. You'll have problems with direct deposit because the same banks don't exist here. Best of luck !!

[pocheros 101]

Regarding HST credits I would notify the CRA ASAP because they tend to do the paperwork for the tax credits ahead of time. You must contact the international CRA office at 1-800-267-5177 and have your SIN number ready. The international office just moved to Ottawa so expect eastern standard time business hours (British Columbia is 3 hours behind, I believe.) You just tell them you're changing your permanent residency as of your date of POE and that after that date you aren't eligible for the tax credits. And of course change you address with them too.

You may be able to ask your bank to not take direct deposits from the CRA- but then that would be a pain when you get your tax return, as you'll want to maintain a Canadian bank account as banks in the USA tend to be finicky with Canadian cheques and the CRA will not direct deposit into an American bank account, I believe.

Congrats on the receipt of your visa and your upcoming POE! It is very exciting indeed.

Edited January 28, 2012 by pocheros

[dukeandduchess 141]

Yes, I plan to keep my bank account and already got my mom signed on as POA. Worst case scenario she could just return the money to them. Thanks for the phone number pocheros - I just don't want to call too soon or too late! I guess I'll call now and just see what they say

Exploding with excitement!

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Yes, I plan to keep my bank account and already got my mom signed on as POA. Worst case scenario she could just return the money to them. Thanks for the phone number pocheros - I just don't want to call too soon or too late! I guess I'll call now and just see what they say

Exploding with excitement!

Call now. If you have been receiving benefits you would already have received the January benefit. The GST payment isn't due in February so by cancelling now you really aren't cancelling anything that will be sent to you before you leave. You should cancel in writing however, not over the phone, as they will need a written signature before they can amend your accounts. Provide them with your US address and they should mail you a copy of the tax return for 2011 to your new address, although they should be available for pick up now, so pick up a tax package and bring it with you to the US so you can file your 2011 taxes (they won't be your exit tax return - you will file that when you file your 2012 return).

Go over the check list I posted and just check things off. One of the things I did that was very useful was to prepare a form letter where I could then fill in the date, the name of the addressee and the account number advising them of my official date leaving Canada and asking them to close all accounts effective that date and to mail all final invoices or rebates to the US address. I then enclosed that with the payment cheque or if they specifically said no correspondence with payment, mailed it to the address for correspondence. I made photocopies of all notices I sent out (which proved useful as the cable company tried to tell me I hadn't notified them. I sent them the copy of the notification that I had included with the bill listing the cheque number and amount on both, and a copy of the bank statement showing the date they had cashed cheque #xx made out to them. Case closed. ).

Keep a paper trail of what you do - it will help you remember who you did or didn't notify - and it is back up to prove that you did, if necessary. Try to get as many of them mailed out while you are still in Canada but be prepared to mail some from the US as well.

Edited January 29, 2012 by Kathryn41

[dukeandduchess 141]

Okay question - My parents have always done my taxes for me (I give them my medical receipts, T4, and anything else) and they hire someone to do it for all of us (they've always done mine for free). So if I call now will my parents not be able to file taxes for me? I'm leaving my bank account open (my mom has power of attorney). I've always had them direct deposit my tax return. I really don't want to mess it up for that because I don't know how to file taxes on my own and I think it would be super difficult filing from the US.

Thank you

[Flames9_RN 358]

Okay question - My parents have always done my taxes for me (I give them my medical receipts, T4, and anything else) and they hire someone to do it for all of us (they've always done mine for free). So if I call now will my parents not be able to file taxes for me? I'm leaving my bank account open (my mom has power of attorney). I've always had them direct deposit my tax return. I really don't want to mess it up for that because I don't know how to file taxes on my own and I think it would be super difficult filing from the US.

Thank you

taxes for canada remain fairly easy, not much of a difference from previous years!! There are multiple tax threads here on the canada forum

[zenaxe 22]

I used a professional accountant for taxes. In my case I worked in Canada from Jan to Aug then started a job in the USA in Oct so I was required to file taxes in both countries. There is a tax treaty between the countries but you do have to file appropriately. Also if you have any money in foreign accounts ie RRSPS you will have to file for that here. You don't have to move that money ...and if that is the case, consult on this one; but you do have to account for it in the USA. Another thing to consider is the residency matter which is a gov't term to determine taxation. In other words, you are no longer considered a resident of Canada if you have cut ties including sold a home, or lease agreement, no address in Canada, banking accounts closed etc. I don't recall everything but you do have to cut ties to Canada pursuant to tax residency requirement to satisfy CRA that you are longer a resident of Canada etc.

When I initially moved here, I was able to get EI benefits for a few weeks. They could not do this direct deposit and had to mail it. It was awful because it took weeks to get this going. I was working by the time things started to roll. And of course they withold 25% because you are no longer a resident of Canada.

Good luck. Very exciting for you !

[Kathryn41 3,205]

Yes. there should be no problem continuing in that process for the 2011 tax year. There will be no real changes to your circumstances as you were still in Canada on December 31, 2011. Your 'exit taxes' will be for 2012 - you might just want to have your parents check with their accountant to make sure he is familiar with doing exit returns and if he is, then no problem. Canadian returns are pretty straight forward regardless so even the exit return shouldn't be a problem.

[Flames9_RN 358]

And if he doesnt know, make sure you ask how much more he will charge?? My American in laws as a favor, said they would do my USA/CDn taxes 1 year! Their accountant wasnt sure on how to do the CDn taxes! So they had to do a lot of research! And guess who pays for the research time,lol Not me, but my inlaws! Was a lot of $$$$$$.

[dukeandduchess 141]

Good points to check out. I will get my parents to ask the accountant about the taxes from 2012. I'm planning on leaving February 19th or so so I will have to file for whatever I earn until then. Does that mean I have to claim the money I earned in 2012 on my US taxes as well?

Yikes!

[dukeandduchess 141]

UPDATE:

Called BC Health - super easy. He just set a date for me leaving on February 29th - and I was informed it was a leap year. Well, whatdya know.

Called CRA - Horrible. Could barely hear the lady and she told me I needed to call back when I moved so they could put an exit date on my account. I told her the day I was leaving but she informed me they can't put a "future date" on the account. Okay, fair enough. She told me she sent a message to the HST credit (she gave me a name) to cancel my HST benefit but they don't give confirmation numbers so that was more or less useless and I guess I just have to hope she did it!

Sigh!

[CANbirdUSman 11]

UPDATE:

Called BC Health - super easy. He just set a date for me leaving on February 29th - and I was informed it was a leap year. Well, whatdya know.

Called CRA - Horrible. Could barely hear the lady and she told me I needed to call back when I moved so they could put an exit date on my account. I told her the day I was leaving but she informed me they can't put a "future date" on the account. Okay, fair enough. She told me she sent a message to the HST credit (she gave me a name) to cancel my HST benefit but they don't give confirmation numbers so that was more or less useless and I guess I just have to hope she did it!

Sigh!

Congrats on your upcoming move. After reading this thread, I've realized I REALLY need to make a check list!

Learning along the way.

Lucky your parents are there to help you.

[dukeandduchess 141]

Congrats on your upcoming move. After reading this thread, I've realized I REALLY need to make a check list!

Learning along the way.

Lucky your parents are there to help you.

Thank you!

Check out this guide for K1/Vancouver:

http://www.visajourney.com/forums/topic/347776-k1-guide-vancouver/

Also check out the link to Kathryn's to-do list. It will help you a lot!

[X Factor 1,112]

Congrats and welcome to the US