How to do taxes Quebec/Can and CA/USA.. the first year...

[melusine 5]

Ok so a basic

1st january to 18th of June ... In Canada (Quebec) Minimal province provided income kinda thing (BS) for 2/3 months (I was just finishing my study and was really really broke).. perhaps like... 3k ?

18th of June to 31th of December in USA (CA), got married, Worked a couple of weeks... total Income around 8.5k + Husband Income

What do I need to know ???

My guess:

I will need to fill up Quebec + Federal Taxes Saying I stopped beeing resident the 18th of June and fill up with the numbers I will receive.

But what about US ? How does it work ? Is it the same state + federal ?

Any links ? Advices ?

[SonoranSongbird 3]

Yeah, you file both state and federal taxes in the US. For most states (including California, if memory serves), your state return will have lines where it just asks for adjusted gross income from a specified line on your federal return.

As far as the interplay between the two tax returns (because you should not have to pay taxes on the income you had in Quebec in both countries), that is something we are trying to figure out as well.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Are you going to file as married or are you filing as single still? I only ask because if you make under a certain amount, and are married, then your husband can claim you as a dependant. Filing as married with 1 dependant very well may give you a bigger refund. If you are filing as single, then you should definitely look into qualifying for a Earned Income Credit. It will give you some extra money back.

http://www.irs.gov/individuals/article/0,,id=96406,00.html (that is info about the Federal Earned Income Credit).

[zyggy 9]

Search for posts by me regarding taxes. Everything you want to know is there.

[melusine 5]

Alright so, if I put together all the advices I saw it gives....

- I am considered a permanent resident because my status from I485 is in process (whatever I have a green card or not), for tax purposes

- US Taxes : You will probably be better of filling married filing jointly

- US Taxes : I will have to add my Canadian "Income" in the U.S. AND will have to file either form 2555 (exclude canadian income) OR 1116 (foreign tax credit) depending on which is the best for my situation.

For the Canadian side of it....I'm really not sure.

- Canadian taxes : I guess I have to file married (filing separatly ? thinking my husband will just not file anything) and put no SSN for my husband

Anything else ??

Note to self :

I stayed 168 days in Canada and 196 days in US, I don't have anything retirement in Canada (I emptied my 500$ before leaving (and paid quite some $ because I took it), I received tax credit for last year (but it's not taxable)

[Texanadian 10]

I believe it's publication 54 with the IRS you should read about. You meet the "substantial presence" test. That means you can file as a "resident alien" for the entire year in the USA. You will be taxed on your worldwide income, BUT the first $80,000 is exempt from US taxes. So none of your Canadian income will be taxed in the US.

Probably would be best to have your US spouse file the "married-joint" tax return with you as a dependent. The married-joint deal basically cuts the US person's bill in half.

I can't help on the Quebec part since they seem to have their own tax system separate from Canada or the other provinces. As for filing Canada taxes. File the same tax return you always would. Go to CRA's website and look up emigrant tax return. It basically says fill in the date you left or the date you stopped being a resident (I can't remember which one it is)

Edited December 22, 2008 by Texanadian