Tax Question

[Canadia 0]

I was a student last year in the us...I didn't work in Canada or the US....Do I need to file taxes as I had no income? I thought I didn't but now I want to double check.

Also Since were in the AOS process I have basically no id in my married name yet...is there any place in Canada I need to contact about the name change? I have closed my bank account , and I never got my actual license there.

[Delicia 1]

You don't say if you are USC or Canadian, but off the cuff it looks like you don't meet the minimum income to have to file a U.S. return. I can't answer to the Canadian piece.

[EmilyandJason 0]

I think you should look at filing a US return for the tax credits.

As for the Canadian name change, there is nothing you need to do. It sounds like you don't have any ties remaining in Canada.

[Canadia 0]

Sorry I'm Canadian.....would I qualify to file taxes in the US if I got married in 2008 to the USC or does that matter?

[zyggy 9]

You have to file a Leaving Canada return with CRA, even if you had no income. They have to know that you are no longer a tax resident of Canada.

If you made no income in the US, you shoud file in the US as married filing joint if you got married in 2007. If not, you would have no obligation to file, and your spouse would file as Single or Head of Household, depending on how long you lived with him, he may be able to claim you as a dependent.

Edited March 4, 2008 by zyggy

[Canadia 0]

Do you know where I find that paper???

Thanks again!

[Canadia 0]

Do you think I could go to like H&R block in the US and get help b/c i have no clue what I'm doing on my own!

[trailmix 77]

Do you know where I find that paper???

Thanks again!

Which paper do you mean?

[Canadia 0]

a leaving canada return ??

[trailmix 77]

a leaving canada return ??

Oh, what he is actually referring to is an actual Canadian Tax Return (you have to do a whole return). In the information section at the beginning you fill in the date you left Canada.

You can download the 2007 forms here:

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/formspubs/t1general/menu-e.html

Or you can do it online here - http://www.ufile.ca/ - they don't charge you to do it with Ufile if your income was under $ 20,000 for the year. You can then just print it and mail it in, if you don't have an access number for netfile.

Edited March 4, 2008 by trailmix

[TOMN 0]

I was a student last year in the us...I didn't work in Canada or the US....Do I need to file taxes as I had no income? I thought I didn't but now I want to double check.

Also Since were in the AOS process I have basically no id in my married name yet...is there any place in Canada I need to contact about the name change? I have closed my bank account , and I never got my actual license there.

you have to file Form 8843 in US as a student with no income.

[TOMN 0]

you have to file Form 8843 in US as a student with no income.

http://www.thetaxguy.com/nrtaxguide.htm

[Canadia 0]

Wow I had no clue I had to file b/c I went to school...I asked the international student advisor and she told me she had no clue !

If I do my Canadian Tax Return and file there and claim my school tuition I shouldn't do it in the us right?

[trailmix 77]

Wow I had no clue I had to file b/c I went to school...I asked the international student advisor and she told me she had no clue !

If I do my Canadian Tax Return and file there and claim my school tuition I shouldn't do it in the us right?

For your Canadian Return, if you had no income, there is no point in you claiming your tuition - you won't receive any credit for it because you didn't pay any tax.

A better approach would be to let one of your parents claim the credit on their tax return, assuming you want to give it to them/they want it.

Otherwise, you can just leave it off your Canadian tax return altogether, no need to enter a claim for tuition if you had no income.

[Canadia 0]

Thank you soo much!!