Ready to file taxes...

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Sheesh. I finally received all my T4s from Canada, and my W whatever from the US. Okiedokie. So peepz, correct me if I am wrong. I was the only one making money this year (TLM was on student loan mode), so this is what I recall Zyggy told me to do:

CANADA

1. File returns for BOTH of us (I already told CRA we are no longer residents, etc.) and indicate day we left Canada. Now, does Bren need to file if he didn't make any money?

2. I DID withdraw my funds from the Alberta Pension Plan and they sent me an NR4 "Statement of Amounts Paid or Credited to Non-Residents of Canada"--- where the blip do I include this?

3. Do I have to say here about my miserable US income? I only worked for a month and a half here.

4. Send the complete return to the Ottawa international tax office.

US

1. We will file "married filing jointly".

2. Zyggy said to also file a foreign tax exclusion (?) with my Canadian income translated into USD's. Where do I get this form?

I am sure more questions will arise. I am not going to pay anyone to do our taxes this year. I will probably use what the trailmix suggested to input my numbers and then fill the forms by hand.

So, if you know the answers to my questions, by all means I appreciate your wisdom!!!

Peace, L.

[Delicia 1]

I haven't had to use this yet, but from a quick read on the IRS.gov, I found the guide and the form for foreign income & exclusion is Form 1116.

Hope that helps a little.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I haven't had to use this yet, but from a quick read on the IRS.gov, I found the guide and the form for foreign income & exclusion is Form 1116.

Hope that helps a little.

Oh Gods... I was just reading this link and got a headache. Why can't these people write for us simple mortals??? I am going insane. :wacko:

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

I haven't had to use this yet, but from a quick read on the IRS.gov, I found the guide and the form for foreign income & exclusion is Form 1116.

Hope that helps a little.

Oh Gods... I was just reading this link and got a headache. Why can't these people write for us simple mortals??? I am going insane.

What do you mean going? TLM doesn't have to file but if he does he can transfer any credits (usually GST) to you. I don't believe you have to declare US income if you are no longer a resident of Canada. I don't remember all the rules anymore and once tax time is past (or I've filed), I forget them as soon as I can.

BTW, I filed using Studio Tax which is free but in the past I used Ufile. They're about the same.

Hope this helps.

[EmilyandJason 0]

I'll have a look tonight when I'm home from work if it isn't sorted out by then.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

What do you mean going? TLM doesn't have to file but if he does he can transfer any credits (usually GST) to you. I don't believe you have to declare US income if you are no longer a resident of Canada. I don't remember all the rules anymore and once tax time is past (or I've filed), I forget them as soon as I can.

BTW, I filed using Studio Tax which is free but in the past I used Ufile. They're about the same.

Hope this helps.

Funny, very FFFF funny.

TLM need not file Canadian taxes then? that would be such a relief. I am claiming him as my dependent anyways.

As per the US tax shite, I believe I should do the foreign tax credit stuff, but if I don't have to then I won't.

WHY ON EARTH CAN'T THIS BE EASIER?????

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

What do you mean going? TLM doesn't have to file but if he does he can transfer any credits (usually GST) to you. I don't believe you have to declare US income if you are no longer a resident of Canada. I don't remember all the rules anymore and once tax time is past (or I've filed), I forget them as soon as I can.

BTW, I filed using Studio Tax which is free but in the past I used Ufile. They're about the same.

Hope this helps.

Funny, very FFFF funny.

TLM need not file Canadian taxes then? that would be such a relief. I am claiming him as my dependent anyways.

As per the US tax shite, I believe I should do the foreign tax credit stuff, but if I don't have to then I won't.

WHY ON EARTH CAN'T THIS BE EASIER?????

That's my understanding of the situation.

[EmilyandJason 0]

Just looking at this quickly (I'll try giving a longer answer later) ..

You should both file Canadian taxes .. Bren's will transfer credits to you (which you need to claim him as a dependant). Was his school post-seconary in Canada (ie does he have one of the tuition slips??) you can also have him transfer that to you as well.

That guide I posted before shows how to do the Canadian return in the year of leaving.

As for the US stuff, I claim ignorance!

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Just looking at this quickly (I'll try giving a longer answer later) ..

You should both file Canadian taxes .. Bren's will transfer credits to you (which you need to claim him as a dependant). Was his school post-seconary in Canada (ie does he have one of the tuition slips??) you can also have him transfer that to you as well.

That guide I posted before shows how to do the Canadian return in the year of leaving.

As for the US stuff, I claim ignorance!

Emily, thanks for reminding me. I believe Bren needs to file his stuff to get the max credit for his Mrs. and to claim the dependent spouse. I thought he wasn't in school but tuition credits should be claimed if he was. The tax programs usually ask you all these questions in case you forget and you can always play around with the figures to see how claiming different deductions will affect your tax burden.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I am numb, and getting more pizzed off by the moment. ARGHHH. I have no idea where the F the tuition slips are, and the UofA has not been kind enough to forward shite.

Sorry guys, I'm just NOT in a fey mood. I will keep reading your advice though, I really appreciate it.

Edited March 11, 2008 by Len_and_Bren

[EmilyandJason 0]

I was at the UofA once and I had Hoo Hoo special soup ... no joke

[EmilyandJason 0]

Sheesh. I finally received all my T4s from Canada, and my W whatever from the US. Okiedokie. So peepz, correct me if I am wrong. I was the only one making money this year (TLM was on student loan mode), so this is what I recall Zyggy told me to do:

CANADA

1. File returns for BOTH of us (I already told CRA we are no longer residents, etc.) and indicate day we left Canada. Now, does Bren need to file if he didn't make any money?

2. I DID withdraw my funds from the Alberta Pension Plan and they sent me an NR4 "Statement of Amounts Paid or Credited to Non-Residents of Canada"--- where the blip do I include this?

3. Do I have to say here about my miserable US income? I only worked for a month and a half here.

4. Send the complete return to the Ottawa international tax office.

US

1. We will file "married filing jointly".

2. Zyggy said to also file a foreign tax exclusion (?) with my Canadian income translated into USD's. Where do I get this form?

I am sure more questions will arise. I am not going to pay anyone to do our taxes this year. I will probably use what the trailmix suggested to input my numbers and then fill the forms by hand.

So, if you know the answers to my questions, by all means I appreciate your wisdom!!!

Peace, L.

Do you have more questions Len? Just let me know.

For the Alberta Pension income you can either elect to do the 217 return in Canada for the period or report it on your US return. I believe you have to file a US return this year .. I don't know much about that. I do know there are some credits available so its probably a good idea to file one.

[thermophile 0]

I haven't had to use this yet, but from a quick read on the IRS.gov, I found the guide and the form for foreign income & exclusion is Form 1116.

Hope that helps a little.

the 1116 is for the foreign tax credit. form 2555 and 2555EZ are used to exclude the first $80,000 of foreign earned income. I've never used the 1116 so can't help with that. but I'm guessing that L&B won't need to use the 1116 this year, just using the 2555EZ will probably allow you to get back all of the taxes that you paid the US gov't last year.

the hubby does the Canadian taxes, so I'm sure that I'll have questions on his behalf in a week or 2.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Okies, so if I understand correctly this is how it goes:

ONE US return for both of us (1040?), including form 2555EZ for excluding Canadian income.

ONE Canadian return for me (and maybe one for the sexy redhead with zeroes in all columns), and this one does not need sh1te about foreign income BUT does need something for the money I took out of the pension plan??? <---this question bugs me.

I downloaded StudioTax at the behest of my beloved brother Mumsie and it looks pretty cool (and, peepz, it's FREE). Even if I don't e-file, I get to play with the numbers and the like. This for Canadian taxes. i wonder if there is anything like that for US taxes.

Keep the advice rollin'

[thermophile 0]

there used to be a free version of TurboTax on the IRS website for poo folk like us. I haven't been able to efile since getting married (out of country peps have to send in a hard copy) so not sure if its still free.

don't have any retirement plan so can't help you on that. (budding academic, I will die hunched over my lab bench )

Edited March 12, 2008 by thermophile