My last year filing taxes in Canada.

[CanuckmeetsYank 0]

I just got off the phone with Canada Rev, Tax department. The guy told me that yes you should fill out the NR-73 and mail it in. From there they will send you a letter to tell you if you are considered a Canadian Res. on non-Res when filing the taxes. According to him since I just left Canada in Mid December and still have ties ie: Bank accounts and Visa card and the US does not reconize me as a resident right now, then I should be filing as usual for my Canadian taxes. Thought this might be useful for those in a similar boat.

[Flames9_RN 358]

I left Dec 17 2005, and didnt have a prob. Everyones diofferent though!! Best of luck

[zyggy 9]

Personally.. I wouldn't file the NR-73 unless CRA asked me to in writing... I would just file the leaving Canada return...

If they determine that you are a deemed resident after you file it, you are in a world of tax problems... why needlessly run the risk that they find against you by voluntarily filing that form...

Edited January 18, 2007 by zyggy

[Eli 0]

Personally.. I wouldn't file the NR-73 unless CRA asked me to in writing... I would just file the leaving Canada return...

If they determine that you are a deemed resident after you file it, you are in a world of tax problems... why needlessly run the risk that they find against you by voluntarily filing that form...

Where does a person get this "leaving Canada" tax form, is it available for download anywhere? Or does one need to call and request it, and they mail it? I left Canada on January 4th, by the way ... does this mean I have to file a 2007 return too because I was in Canada for a couple days? (I was actually in Seattle for New Years and New years day, so I was literally only in Canada on the 2nd-4th.) Seems stupid if I did, but I was there...

-Eli-

[Flames9_RN 358]

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/nr73/README.html

I agree with Zyggy, why give the governemnt more paper. I never mailed it in,just stated on my taxes (first page there is a spot) the date I ceased to be a cdn resident. If you enjoy filling out paperwork, go at it, lol

[zyggy 9]

Personally.. I wouldn't file the NR-73 unless CRA asked me to in writing... I would just file the leaving Canada return...

If they determine that you are a deemed resident after you file it, you are in a world of tax problems... why needlessly run the risk that they find against you by voluntarily filing that form...

Where does a person get this "leaving Canada" tax form, is it available for download anywhere? Or does one need to call and request it, and they mail it? I left Canada on January 4th, by the way ... does this mean I have to file a 2007 return too because I was in Canada for a couple days? (I was actually in Seattle for New Years and New years day, so I was literally only in Canada on the 2nd-4th.) Seems stupid if I did, but I was there...

-Eli-

You file a leaving Canada return by filing a plain old T1 but you place the date that you left Canada on Page 1 in the space provided... and yes, you would not file a leaving Canada return until 2007 if you left Canada in 2007. However, if you backdated your leaving Canada date to late December, I doubt anyone would call you on it... You could argue that you actually left Canada when you went to Seattle the first time...

You do not file the leaving Canada return to your normal Tax Office and it cannot be efiled. It has to be sent to the International Tax Services office in Ottawa...

[smallcan999 0]

This is such a great question. I was just trying to fill out the NR-73 Determination of Residency Status (leaving Canada) and feeling a bit overwhelmed by teh whole thing. I just left Canada in December and still have bank acounts and driver's licence, but of course eventually that will change. My head is spinning right now. Some of these questions are just crazy! Ah, the paper trail never ends...

The NR-73 is not a requirement, it's you just getting their opinion about your residency status in advance... All that is required is filing a leaving Canada return. You do this by submitting the same T-1 for the province that you lived in when you left and placing the date you left Canada in the box on the first page... If you have no income in 2006, that's all you pretty much all you have to do...

However, if you get EI during 2006 in the US, you can get a refund of a portion of the Non-resident taxes that you paid. You file a Section 217 Return... if you do this, you treat the income earned by the EI the same as if you earned it in Canada in terms of your personal worldwide income (income earned in the US + your EI income. If the amount of taxes that would be charged is less than the 25% non-resident tax that they withheld, then you get the difference back. If your only personal income for 2006 was the EI, the refund could be significant. My wife got a $2,500 refund back last year by filing a Section 217 return...

If you lived part of the year in Canada and part of the year in the US, you can file a partial Section 217 return...

What about if you cross with a K-1 visa, and still have a house in canada? You are allowed to own a house in Canada and live here, so what happens then?

thanks,

smallcan999

[ceriserose 1]

This is such a great question. I was just trying to fill out the NR-73 Determination of Residency Status (leaving Canada) and feeling a bit overwhelmed by teh whole thing. I just left Canada in December and still have bank acounts and driver's licence, but of course eventually that will change. My head is spinning right now. Some of these questions are just crazy! Ah, the paper trail never ends...

The NR-73 is not a requirement, it's you just getting their opinion about your residency status in advance... All that is required is filing a leaving Canada return. You do this by submitting the same T-1 for the province that you lived in when you left and placing the date you left Canada in the box on the first page... If you have no income in 2006, that's all you pretty much all you have to do...

However, if you get EI during 2006 in the US, you can get a refund of a portion of the Non-resident taxes that you paid. You file a Section 217 Return... if you do this, you treat the income earned by the EI the same as if you earned it in Canada in terms of your personal worldwide income (income earned in the US + your EI income. If the amount of taxes that would be charged is less than the 25% non-resident tax that they withheld, then you get the difference back. If your only personal income for 2006 was the EI, the refund could be significant. My wife got a $2,500 refund back last year by filing a Section 217 return...

If you lived part of the year in Canada and part of the year in the US, you can file a partial Section 217 return...

What about if you cross with a K-1 visa, and still have a house in canada? You are allowed to own a house in Canada and live here, so what happens then?

thanks,

smallcan999

Herein lies part of your answer. For more specific information, see the Tax Treaty itself (available on the Canadian Revenue Agency website) or contact the International Tax office (phone number in post in link).

[smallcan999 0]

This is such a great question. I was just trying to fill out the NR-73 Determination of Residency Status (leaving Canada) and feeling a bit overwhelmed by teh whole thing. I just left Canada in December and still have bank acounts and driver's licence, but of course eventually that will change. My head is spinning right now. Some of these questions are just crazy! Ah, the paper trail never ends...

The NR-73 is not a requirement, it's you just getting their opinion about your residency status in advance... All that is required is filing a leaving Canada return. You do this by submitting the same T-1 for the province that you lived in when you left and placing the date you left Canada in the box on the first page... If you have no income in 2006, that's all you pretty much all you have to do...

However, if you get EI during 2006 in the US, you can get a refund of a portion of the Non-resident taxes that you paid. You file a Section 217 Return... if you do this, you treat the income earned by the EI the same as if you earned it in Canada in terms of your personal worldwide income (income earned in the US + your EI income. If the amount of taxes that would be charged is less than the 25% non-resident tax that they withheld, then you get the difference back. If your only personal income for 2006 was the EI, the refund could be significant. My wife got a $2,500 refund back last year by filing a Section 217 return...

If you lived part of the year in Canada and part of the year in the US, you can file a partial Section 217 return...

What about if you cross with a K-1 visa, and still have a house in canada? You are allowed to own a house in Canada and live here, so what happens then?

thanks,

smallcan999

Herein lies part of your answer. For more specific information, see the Tax Treaty itself (available on the Canadian Revenue Agency website) or contact the International Tax office (phone number in post in link).

thank you very much.....this is helpful.......This is a new chapter in all our lives and I am so happy that we have this site to ask quesions and get answers and support each other......Thanks again.....

smallcan999

[Cassie 8]

This is such a great question. I was just trying to fill out the NR-73 Determination of Residency Status (leaving Canada) and feeling a bit overwhelmed by teh whole thing. I just left Canada in December and still have bank acounts and driver's licence, but of course eventually that will change. My head is spinning right now. Some of these questions are just crazy! Ah, the paper trail never ends...

I believe the NR-73 is an optional form. Most people don't fill it out (me included). I think the member here named Cassie has some experience with it, as she was asked by Rev Canada to do so.

Aye, I had my last set of Canadian taxes taken care of by the Chartered Accountants my family always used. I got a call from them saying they were told that my paperwork couldn't be submitted until I filled out the form. So I did, got my taxes filed and received a nice return to boot.

[zyggy 9]

If you own a house and you are not going to rent it out, you will be considered a deemed resident of Canada and will be subject to taxes on your worldwide income to Canada ... basically you'll have to pay the difference between what you pay in the US and you pay in Canada... In this case, you probably have to file married filing separate in the US in order to keep your husband's income out of the equation as far as CRA is concerned. The thing is that you take some pretty big tax hits by filing as married filing separate in the US...

If you own a house and will be renting it out, you have to file the leaving Canada return, but you will have to pay taxes on the rental income to CRA and will have to file a non-resident return each year to report your rental income and determine the amount of tax that you will have to pay to CRA. You will also have to report this income on your US 1040 and claim a foreign tax credit for the taxes that you paid to Canada...

Revenue Canada considers having a house in Canada a pretty big tie... even if you are renting it out, they may still consider you a deemed resident of Canada if you have some other ties in place... (kids, RRSP's, banking, etc.).. You may wish to consider selling your house in Canada prior to your arrival in the US, or ask for their thoughts before you leave by calling them (call the direct number to the international tax services office, do not call the general CRA line), so that you don't get hit with some unanticipated tax consequences. They are very helpful and will be more than willing to guide you...

If you are going to have a house in Canada while you are living in the US, this would be a good case of one voluntarily filing a NR-73 to determine what your tax status will be... but I would have the conversation with CRA and/or a cross border tax professional to the right direction to go...

Edited January 22, 2007 by zyggy

[antda 13]

Hi Everyone,

What ? I'm supposed to tell the Canadian government that I left the country for good and ceased to be a resident there? I thought I could just "pick up my stuff and run/drive" and happily continue my life here in the USA? I guess not then, regarding the Canadian paperwork trail.

Like the original poster of this message thread,

I'm not sure what I do. I have no income to declare. Should I phone (or write or e-mail) and tell them that I am moving (moved) to the US? Is there a form I have to fill out? I've always used an Accountant in the past (and I am somewhat clueless about taxes).

I have nothing left in Canada (except for my cat that I had to leave behind with my so-called-ex-family, and I don't think she as a pet counts for taxes) and I still have a Canadian passport in my old name. I don't have any financial (I closed off my Canadian bank account) or property (I didn't own proprety there) ties to Canada either. However, I did attend school in while in Canada, and I think that I would get a T20A form for part of 2006.

So, what should I do? Should I fill out that NR-73 forms or other forms? Should I file my 2006 taxes (even though I don't owe them anything). Any comments, ideas, or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Ant

[Flames9_RN 358]

Hi Everyone,

What ? I'm supposed to tell the Canadian government that I left the country for good and ceased to be a resident there? I thought I could just "pick up my stuff and run/drive" and happily continue my life here in the USA? I guess not then, regarding the Canadian paperwork trail.

Like the original poster of this message thread,

I'm not sure what I do. I have no income to declare. Should I phone (or write or e-mail) and tell them that I am moving (moved) to the US? Is there a form I have to fill out? I've always used an Accountant in the past (and I am somewhat clueless about taxes).

I have nothing left in Canada (except for my cat that I had to leave behind with my so-called-ex-family, and I don't think she as a pet counts for taxes) and I still have a Canadian passport in my old name. I don't have any financial (I closed off my Canadian bank account) or property (I didn't own proprety there) ties to Canada either. However, I did attend school in while in Canada, and I think that I would get a T20A form for part of 2006.

So, what should I do? Should I fill out that NR-73 forms or other forms? Should I file my 2006 taxes (even though I don't owe them anything). Any comments, ideas, or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Ant

Some say to fil out the NR 73 form, others say you don't! I called up revenue Canada and they stated it WASN"T a must! I just filled out my CDn taxes as per norm, BUT on the 1st page of the T1 it asks when you CEASED to be a CDn Resident, I put in the date I crossed into the USA. Simple as that! Phone up revenue canada, the few times I have called they have been very helpful, unlike the IRS, they tend to be a bit clueless at times, lol

[zyggy 9]

Hi Everyone,

What ? I'm supposed to tell the Canadian government that I left the country for good and ceased to be a resident there? I thought I could just "pick up my stuff and run/drive" and happily continue my life here in the USA? I guess not then, regarding the Canadian paperwork trail.

Like the original poster of this message thread,

I'm not sure what I do. I have no income to declare. Should I phone (or write or e-mail) and tell them that I am moving (moved) to the US? Is there a form I have to fill out? I've always used an Accountant in the past (and I am somewhat clueless about taxes).

I have nothing left in Canada (except for my cat that I had to leave behind with my so-called-ex-family, and I don't think she as a pet counts for taxes) and I still have a Canadian passport in my old name. I don't have any financial (I closed off my Canadian bank account) or property (I didn't own proprety there) ties to Canada either. However, I did attend school in while in Canada, and I think that I would get a T20A form for part of 2006.

So, what should I do? Should I fill out that NR-73 forms or other forms? Should I file my 2006 taxes (even though I don't owe them anything). Any comments, ideas, or thoughts would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Ant

You have to file a Leaving Canada return, even if you have no income, because there are benefits that you have to pay back when you cease to be a resident of Canada and they want to make sure that none of those conditions apply or if they do, send you the bill for it...

The NR-73 is an optional form and personally I wouldn't file it unless I was asked to in writing from CRA...

Definitely send CRA a letter telling tham you have moved and your new address in the US and send it to your Tax Centre that has jurisdiction over your residence. It may or may not stop any benefits that are coming to you such as GST Rebate and Child Tax Rebate. If it doesn't, CRA will ask for the money they gave you while you were in the US back when you file your Leaving Canada return...

[MissStacey 1]

Ant-Why did you change my quote? I am not clueless about taxes. I did my own for many years and always ended up paying. My calculations were never more than a few cents off. I never realized how many deductions I was allowed, so when I started using an Accountant, I was actually getting a return!

This is a different situation altogether.