Required to file with CRA with no income?

[Cryssiekins 976]

Hello,

 

In 2018, I had zero Canadian income, of any kind.  I do not own property, or have any significant assets there.  I also do not have residency there (obviously).

 

I have checked with CRA and based on their website, it appears that I do not need to file a return, which seems odd to me.  I feel as though, there should be something to file, even if it’s a $0 statement, and perhaps a declaration of US earned income.  I have checked with a couple Canadian friends I have that reside abroad, and none of them seemed too sure of the answer, which was frustrating, because I don’t understand how they have never been concerned about it.

 

If any Canadian could chime in and let me know, I would greatly appreciate it.

[D&D_NYC 58]

According to this info from TurboTax (which I have referred to in the past), you are not required to file if you are not considered a resident and if you no longer have significant ties to Canada. 

 

https://turbotax.intuit.ca/tips/tax-tip-do-canadian-citizens-living-in-the-us-need-to-file-income-taxes-in-canada-5531

 

I first came down to the US on my TN in September 2014, so I had Canadian income for the first part of the year, and US income from September-December. When it came time to file taxes in 2015, I had to do a Canadian and an American return, and state my US income on the Canadian return. However, I have not filed a Canadian tax return since then as I no longer have any Canadian income, nor do I have any assets significant enough to need declaration (I keep a single bank account open with a few hundred dollars in it.) I have since filed only US returns for every year since, and just filed my first joint return with my husband as I'm currently adjusting status from TN to GC after getting married last year. I still sometimes get paranoid around tax time and wonder if I was meant to be filing, but have been reassured that because of my lack of significant ties to Canada and the fact that I'm considered a US resident for tax purposes, it's not required. 

[Damonlee 91]

Have you filed with the CRA that you are no longer a Canadian Resident? (No more health care, driver's license, gym memberships, "ties" to Canada? If so, make sure you do to not be on the hook for Canadian income taxes. 

 

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/international-non-residents/individuals-leaving-entering-canada-non-residents/non-residents-canada.html

 

 

[Cryssiekins 976]

6 minutes ago, Damonlee said:

Have you filed with the CRA that you are no longer a Canadian Resident? (No more health care, driver's license, gym memberships, "ties" to Canada? If so, make sure you do to not be on the hook for Canadian income taxes. 

 

https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/international-non-residents/individuals-leaving-entering-canada-non-residents/non-residents-canada.html

 

 

That’s the page I had looked at.  I haven’t been a resident since 2016, so last years tax return indicated the same.  

 

I just feel like there should be a form to say I have $0 in ties to Canada.  No Canadian income earned, no rent, no property, nothing.