CanadianTaxes

[Reba 2]

what does that mean exactly? "itemize"? I have no idea what we would be "itemizing".

We don't have mortgage interest to claim, our house is paid for.

*sigh*

[Texanadian 10]

Itemizing would be medical expenses, mileage expenses for work, mortgage interest, etc

[zyggy 9]

Itemizing would be medical expenses, mileage expenses for work, mortgage interest, etc

Here's some interesting news... For those of you who collected nothing but EI the past year...

Basically if your worldwide income was less than about $34,000 CAD last year you can get a portion of your 25% that was withheld by CRA on your EI income (and some other types of income) be filing a Section 217 return. You do this by filling out the Non-resident T1. We are getting back about 2/3 of the 25% that was withheld by doing this.

You basically have a choice when it comes to the 25% non-resdient withholding... you can

1) choose to take the 25% witholding as your tax burden to Canada and be done with it

or

2) calculate your tax burden as if you were still a resident of Canada. If the amount that your tax burden would be if you were resident in Canada based on your worldwide income is less than the 25%, then you get the difference back.

It worth the calculation if the above situations apply...

[Flames9_RN 358]

I filed a 217, and getting a good chunk back!! Will belive it when I see it. But I did phone up the international tax office, and they said it was an option. Wil belive it when I get the cheque!!!

[must-b-dreaming 0]

Hi, I was hoping someone can help me with a quick question. I'm filing my Canadian income tax without any professional help for the first time. Do I send my T4 sheet with my tax package or do I keep it for my records?

[Reba 2]

you should have more than one copy. One is for you, one is for Revenue Canada.

[must-b-dreaming 0]

My T4 has 2 copies but they are both on the same page. Like half a page each. I asked my mom and she said to cut it in half and keep one.

[Reba 2]

what an ordeal this is turning out to be! you wouldn't believe the freakin' mess.

*sigh*

Yesterday we went to H&R Block to talk to the lady who is preparing our taxes. She and the manager and the district Manager have been talking to NC State Revenue trying to figure out what to do with my Canadain NR4. The State says we have to include a copy of my Canadian tax return, to verify that I have paid taxes in Canada. Well of course I don't *have* a Canadian tax return because I don't need one The NR4 is my evidence that I've paid the taxes. Its good enough for the IRS, but apparently not for the State.

Not to mention that neither the state nor the feds are taking into account the full $8000+ in taxes (once converted from CAD to US$) so my refund on the federal return went down by more than $1000 and I'm still having to pay the State over $1700. We had to get a loan

GAH!

I even called a tax preparer in Canada to confirm that I am not required by Revenue Canada to file a return, and gave the phone number to the preparer here so they can talk to them and explain it!

On a side note, can you believe that H&R Block here says they do not have access to telephone numbers for H&R Block Canada #######?!

[Flames9_RN 358]

H&r Block and Jackson Hewitt type of Tax prep places are not for the most part very well trained to deal with Canada/USA tax situations. I walked into H&R block and their Cdn dude was useless, told me soo a lot of wrong info. Luckily I visited http://forums.serbinski.com/index.php?sid=...69e26b292b2d1cc

and knew a lot of info prior to the meeting. Went to jackson hewit, and the ir Cdn guy was much better informed, but was still confused on a few issues, especially with my RRSP, but at least he listened to the info I had found onthe above tax forum. If ones case is to complicated, its probably best to go with a company (such as Serbinski) that deals with such issues. it may cost a bit more than H&R block, but less of a hassle, and yu know it will be done correct, and they may actually save you $$$. Hewitt Jackson wasnt exactly cheap, think it came to $390, that included a $35 insurance, so if they screw up, they pay it!!

[KevandKiki2 0]

Yea I know about JH..they originally said $340.00..I said not going to happen...They called back with $286.00 including the gold insurance...and filed everything for the US taxes...

Best,

Kev

[Marilyn. 340]

I have no clue what to do....

My mom mailed me a T4 from the last job I worked at before I moved... it is only for about $400....

what do I need to do...

[must-b-dreaming 0]

My T4 was only for like $600 but I've completed my taxes and am about to send them off. I know that I owe them like $50 because I notified them too late that I had moved and they deposited a GST payment in my account that I'm not entitled to receiving since I am no longer a resident. Just wondering... does anyone else still have a canadian bank account opened? I never closed mine because it was around tax season last year and I was waiting for my refund. I plan on closing it when I visit this year.

[zyggy 9]

My T4 was only for like $600 but I've completed my taxes and am about to send them off. I know that I owe them like $50 because I notified them too late that I had moved and they deposited a GST payment in my account that I'm not entitled to receiving since I am no longer a resident. Just wondering... does anyone else still have a canadian bank account opened? I never closed mine because it was around tax season last year and I was waiting for my refund. I plan on closing it when I visit this year.

We still have a Canadian Bank Account open.. we still need it to pay some debts that we still have outstanding there...

[Reba 2]

Scott, I honestly dont think even a different tax preparer is going to do much different than H&R Block in this instance. The problem is the STATE. I've checked their website myself and it clearly states that if there is foreign income that they will grant a tax credit *if they get a copy of the tax return filed in the foreign country*. But because of the Canadian laws I *don't have a Canadiant tax return*, just the NR4. The State won't accept the NR4 as evidence that tax has been paid already on this income.

Seriously, I'm in a small town in the south, some people around here don't even know WHERE Canada is, let alone that there's a tax treaty with them I honestly don't think I'm going to get much better knowledge elsewhere. The H&R Block person from Canada knows more about US taxes than the US person here knows about Canadian taxes of course, but its the State that's fuckin' us up. *sigh*

They've even suggested I don't even bother including the NR4 with my return at all. I'm not sure what the consequences of that would be tho.

[zyggy 9]

Scott, I honestly dont think even a different tax preparer is going to do much different than H&R Block in this instance. The problem is the STATE. I've checked their website myself and it clearly states that if there is foreign income that they will grant a tax credit *if they get a copy of the tax return filed in the foreign country*. But because of the Canadian laws I *don't have a Canadiant tax return*, just the NR4. The State won't accept the NR4 as evidence that tax has been paid already on this income.

Seriously, I'm in a small town in the south, some people around here don't even know WHERE Canada is, let alone that there's a tax treaty with them I honestly don't think I'm going to get much better knowledge elsewhere. The H&R Block person from Canada knows more about US taxes than the US person here knows about Canadian taxes of course, but its the State that's fuckin' us up. *sigh*

They've even suggested I don't even bother including the NR4 with my return at all. I'm not sure what the consequences of that would be tho.

I suggest that you fill out a Non-resdient T1 tax return... you don't have to file it... just fill it out and give it to them...They want a return... then give them what they want...

Edited March 24, 2006 by zyggy