What to do with my GST refund.. now that I'm living in the U.S.??

[Southern_Canadian 0]

Hey everyone!!

Need your help.. please!! I tried searching for the answer but can't seem to find it.

Before I moved, I notified the Government that I was moving. I gave them my new address and they said no worries, that they won't be sending me anymore GST refunds. Butttt I received one last week. I know that I can't deposit it.. so, what should I do with it? Call them? Write return to sender on the envolope?? Any suggestions??

Also, Eric and I have moved, so is there anyone in Canada that we should notify?? Like for Tax purposes for next year?? If I remember correctly, I don't need to notify USCIS... I just write my new address on all of the AOS forms?

Thanks guys!!!

[BH45 0]

Southern...I would return it to them with a note reminding them that you have moved to the USA.

I did all those things too regarding the CTB. I still received one after my arrival here in the States and it took Revenue Canada 2 months to ask for it back. Once I started receiving my EI, I sent Revenue Canada a money order to pay it back.

[Cassie 8]

Hey everyone!!

Need your help.. please!! I tried searching for the answer but can't seem to find it.

Before I moved, I notified the Government that I was moving. I gave them my new address and they said no worries, that they won't be sending me anymore GST refunds. Butttt I received one last week. I know that I can't deposit it.. so, what should I do with it? Call them? Write return to sender on the envolope?? Any suggestions??

Also, Eric and I have moved, so is there anyone in Canada that we should notify?? Like for Tax purposes for next year?? If I remember correctly, I don't need to notify USCIS... I just write my new address on all of the AOS forms?

Thanks guys!!!

I held onto my extra payment, and when they sent me a "pay back the money" letter, I paid back the money.

I think you have to fill out the "I've moved" form besides putting the new address on your AOS forms.

[Kathryn41 3,205]

You can send it back to them along with the reminder that you changed your mailing address to the US and are no longer eligible. If you received the cheque by mail then they have your new address. If it was direct deposited, then you will want to notify them in writing that you now live at such and such an address in the US so they can send you tax forms there. Be sure to include your S.I.N. so they can match you to the right file. You should also notify Human Resources Development Canada (or whatever they are calling themselves these days) as you will still have CPP funds in your name. Again, include your S.I.N. and update your address. You can't remove the funds or anything but you still get them when you are old enough to retire (and apply with proof of your age and eligibility). If you have any insurances still in Canada notify them as well (ie. car insurance, homeowners/renters insurance) as they cannot cover you in the US and you may even get a rebate. Make sure all of the service providers you had in Canada (internet, hydro, gas, cable, telephone, etc.) have your US address and send you any rebates you might be owed. Make copies of the notices you send to them with the termination dates of services as well - sometimes they aren't so bright and say they didn't get it. I had the cable people send me a bill to my US address saying they didn't receive the termination notice and wanted 3 months payment - I sent them the copy of the termination notice that was the only mail I sent them with my US address along with the final cheque payment to close the account plus the bank receipted cheque. They backed down. (If you don't have any outstanding business with anyone other than the Government then you don't need to send them your new address - that is if you are still finalizing and closing accounts in Canada. )

Oh, keep a Canadian bank account open if you can and you can use that for a direct deposit of your income tax rebate for next year rather than trying to cash a Canadian cheque in the US. Make sure your bank knows your new address.

Edited October 11, 2008 by Kathryn41

[Southern_Canadian 0]

Thanks for the help guys!!

I do have a bank account open but no use for it right now.. Don't know how to keep it active. I also have a Visa in Canada.. I need to change my address and name for that.

The GST cheque was mailed to me.. so, I'll just mail it back to them telling them that I am not eligible and giving them my new address and name aswell.

As for the Forms to update USCIS.. I've been told that since I'm about to file for AOS within the next two weeks, that it is okay to just use my new address on the AOS forms. Is that alright?

[J&K 0]

I held onto the cheque and when they sent me a bill for GST overpayment, I sent the cheque right back to them and write "never cashed" on it.

Kept checking my online account, and finally after 2 months the statement was gone.

[J&K 0]

Since it won't let me edit...

Speak of the devil, I just received my GST credit notice acknowledging my returned cheque

[Texanadian 10]

I cashed 'em. Even though it's supposedly for the current year, I figure since they base on it last year's income, that it should count for your prior year in Canada.

I got a bill in the mail a few months later asking for the money back. But those slow pokes still haven't touched my 2007 T-1 adjustment that I filed with them in June. Since they owe me way more than I owe them for the GST, I'm not exactly in a rush to pay them. They told me they would check my T-1 sometime in the next 6 months. (Lame)

[antda 13]

Hi Southern_Canadian,

A similar thing happened to me too, in regards to my GST refund, but in an even worst situation:

I had told the government I had already moved to the USA (and even filed my last tax return indicating such). However, they then sent me a "bill" for an "overpayment" for my last GST rebate cheque, which was sent to my last known Canadian address. Someone else was picking up the mail for me there, while I was living here in the USA, and I had told them to "return to sender" this cheque back to the government, as I know that as a permanent resident of the USA it would be illegal and dishonest for me to cash in such. They did send it back to the government, but apparently the government "claimed" that they never got it back.

So after a game of "telephone tag" with Revenue Canada about my "bill", I explained to them my situation and told them I now live in the USA and am not entitled to GST rebates anymore. A couple of weeks later, I then get another GST cheque in the mail to my US address (maybe they thought I was going back to Canada or something) and another "bill" stating that I owe them a payment too. So once again, I play "telephone tag", and somehow got transferred from to someone in Quebec..lol...I again explained the situation, and told them to check their computer system again for that former returned cheque and about this recent cheque. And sure enough, it indicated that the "return to sender" cheque was indeed sent back, but was not entered in their system correctly. They then corrected the error, and I told them I would "return to sender" the other recent cheque that I got in the USA (which I did do). And a few weeks later, I got an "official" statement saying I didn't owe them any money anymore, and that they received both of my "return to sender" GST cheques.

Lesson learned: Never ever deal with "Revenue Canada" and "GST cheques" again!

So if you get a GST cheque in the mail, and if you are a permanent resident of the USA, then yes, you should "return to sender" those cheques back to the government (and hopefully they won't give you any trouble for it). Do not cash in those cheques, if you are not entitled to such!

As for moving, government-wise in Canada I only notified Revenue Canada/Elections Canada (with the "final tax return", and to protect myself from any tax fraud), and Passport Canada (when the added my married name to my passport). I didn't notify the Social Insurance (Human Resources Canada, I think) as I didn't need a new social insurance card and I wouldn't be working in Canada, nor did I notify OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance) as my card already expired, not did I notify the MTO (Ministry of Transportation Ontario) as my license was transfered and destroyed here by the DMV. I also closed up my Canadian bank account in Canada. Anyone else I need to notify, I can't think of, government-wise and financial-wise that I should notify, and haven't done such.

And yes, for the AOS, just put your new address on the forms, and you're good to go there, as they want your "most recent address" there.

Ant (No more GST cheques!!!)

Hey everyone!!

Need your help.. please!! I tried searching for the answer but can't seem to find it.

Before I moved, I notified the Government that I was moving. I gave them my new address and they said no worries, that they won't be sending me anymore GST refunds. Butttt I received one last week. I know that I can't deposit it.. so, what should I do with it? Call them? Write return to sender on the envolope?? Any suggestions??

Also, Eric and I have moved, so is there anyone in Canada that we should notify?? Like for Tax purposes for next year?? If I remember correctly, I don't need to notify USCIS... I just write my new address on all of the AOS forms?

Thanks guys!!!

Edited October 12, 2008 by AntandD

[Southern_Canadian 0]

Since it won't let me edit...

Speak of the devil, I just received my GST credit notice acknowledging my returned cheque

Lol!! Yea.. it was a speak of the devil situation for me. The other day, my dad was telling me that he got his GST refund and was asking if I got mine. I told him that I was not longer entitled to it. Then I got it in the mail a few days later.

I cashed 'em. Even though it's supposedly for the current year, I figure since they base on it last year's income, that it should count for your prior year in Canada.

I got a bill in the mail a few months later asking for the money back. But those slow pokes still haven't touched my 2007 T-1 adjustment that I filed with them in June. Since they owe me way more than I owe them for the GST, I'm not exactly in a rush to pay them. They told me they would check my T-1 sometime in the next 6 months. (Lame)

See, I thought that we were entitled to the money.. since it was based on the prior year.

Hi Southern_Canadian,

A similar thing happened to me too, in regards to my GST refund, but in an even worst situation:

I had told the government I had already moved to the USA (and even filed my last tax return indicating such). However, they then sent me a "bill" for an "overpayment" for my last GST rebate cheque, which was sent to my last known Canadian address. Someone else was picking up the mail for me there, while I was living here in the USA, and I had told them to "return to sender" this cheque back to the government, as I know that as a permanent resident of the USA it would be illegal and dishonest for me to cash in such. They did send it back to the government, but apparently the government "claimed" that they never got it back.

So after a game of "telephone tag" with Revenue Canada about my "bill", I explained to them my situation and told them I now live in the USA and am not entitled to GST rebates anymore. A couple of weeks later, I then get another GST cheque in the mail to my US address (maybe they thought I was going back to Canada or something) and another "bill" stating that I owe them a payment too. So once again, I play "telephone tag", and somehow got transferred from to someone in Quebec..lol...I again explained the situation, and told them to check their computer system again for that former returned cheque and about this recent cheque. And sure enough, it indicated that the "return to sender" cheque was indeed sent back, but was not entered in their system correctly. They then corrected the error, and I told them I would "return to sender" the other recent cheque that I got in the USA (which I did do). And a few weeks later, I got an "official" statement saying I didn't owe them any money anymore, and that they received both of my "return to sender" GST cheques.

Lesson learned: Never ever deal with "Revenue Canada" and "GST cheques" again!

So if you get a GST cheque in the mail, and if you are a permanent resident of the USA, then yes, you should "return to sender" those cheques back to the government (and hopefully they won't give you any trouble for it). Do not cash in those cheques, if you are not entitled to such!

As for moving, government-wise in Canada I only notified Revenue Canada/Elections Canada (with the "final tax return", and to protect myself from any tax fraud), and Passport Canada (when the added my married name to my passport). I didn't notify the Social Insurance (Human Resources Canada, I think) as I didn't need a new social insurance card and I wouldn't be working in Canada, nor did I notify OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance) as my card already expired, not did I notify the MTO (Ministry of Transportation Ontario) as my license was transfered and destroyed here by the DMV. I also closed up my Canadian bank account in Canada. Anyone else I need to notify, I can't think of, government-wise and financial-wise that I should notify, and haven't done such.

And yes, for the AOS, just put your new address on the forms, and you're good to go there, as they want your "most recent address" there.

Ant (No more GST cheques!!!)

How would I do a return to sender if it is open?? Silly me, opened it to see if I could find a number on there to call them. I didn't even think of looking on the internet for the number.

Sorry to hear about your phone tag with Revenue Canada, I hope that things will go smoothly when I call them. LOL!!

Thanks for all of the help guys!! I appreciate it!

[JillA 2]

I just received my GST refund too, my last one... Thanks for reminding me to call and cancel it!!

[antda 13]

Hi Southern_Canadian and Everyone,

You can send it back "return to sender" by placing the opened envelope, cheque, and a note explaining your situation, into another larger envelope and "sending it back" that way. Lol...this would require postage on your part, but for all it's worth, it's way better than getting in trouble with Revnue Canada for keeping/cashing in a cheque that you're not supposed to have.

By the way, to save you and everyone else a lot of "telephone tag" time and extra "bills", here is the exact "redirected" contact information (which I had to dig up my old Canadian taxes paperwork to re-find for all you VJers), that I used to get my GST rebate situation finally sorted out with Revenue Canada (lol...yeah, it's located in n Quebec too, for all you bi-lingual folks...). Be sure too, to have your Social Insurance Number handy when contacting them.

Canada Revenue Agency

Schawinigan-Sud, Quebec,

G9N 7S6, Canada

Tel: 1-800-959-1953

Hope this helps. Good luck to everyone who contacts them in regards to your GST rebate cheques.

And good luck too, on your immigration journey, everyone!

Ant (No more GST Cheques! No more "Bills"! No more Revenue Canada!...)

How would I do a return to sender if it is open?? Silly me, opened it to see if I could find a number on there to call them. I didn't even think of looking on the internet for the number.

Sorry to hear about your phone tag with Revenue Canada, I hope that things will go smoothly when I call them. LOL!!

Thanks for all of the help guys!! I appreciate it!

[antda 13]

P.S. And for humour's sake ...here is part of the letter/note that I wrote to Revenue Canada, when I "returned to sender" the GST cheques that they mistakenly sent me:

"I have never cashed any cheques that I was not eligible for, so please do not send me any more cheques, or any other information indicating that I owe you money!"

Ant

[bradcanuck 1]

I've cashed them. I am in no rush to pay them back either - since they take their time with my money I figure I'll return the favor. Couldn't care less about the consequences. RevCan is a joke.