Simple Tax Guide for Americans in Canada

At TFX we have been preparing U.S. tax returns for U.S. Citizens and permanent residents living in Canada for over 20 years.

US Expat Taxes - Canada

US citizens, as well as permanent residents, are required to file expatriate tax returns every year regardless of where they reside. Along with the typical tax return for income, many people are also required to submit a return disclosing assets which are held in bank accounts in foreign countries by using FinCEN Form 114 (FBAR).

The United States is among only a few governments who tax international income earned by their citizens, as well as permanent residents, residing overseas. There are, however, some provisions that help protect from possible double taxation. These include:

• The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. This exclusion allows one to exclude USD 101,300 (this amount is for 2016 taxes) in earned income from foreign sources.
• A tax credit allowing tax on remaining income to be reduced based on the taxes paid to foreign governments.
• An exclusion on foreign housing that allows additional exclusions from their income for some amounts paid to cover household expenses due to living abroad.

Preparing a quality tax return following proper tax planning should allow one to use these, as well as other strategies, in minimizing or possibly eliminating tax liability. Note that in most cases the filing of a tax return is required, even if taxes are not owed.

Some US Tax Relief

The normal penalty for failing to file United States taxes is 5% per month, up to a maximum of 25% each year. Although it is hard to believe, the IRS has said they will waive this penalty for Americans in Canada and dual citizens filing late returns. This helps relieve the issue of dual citizens fearing a trip over the border if they were not sure if their United States taxes were current. There is no longer a risk of being arrested when visiting friends or family in the US.

Tax Rates in Canada

The Canada Revenue Agency has set tax rates as follows for 2016:

Territories and provinces also impose taxes, which range from 4% all the way to 21%! Each province is different, so check the Canada Revenue Agency website for details.

When Are Canadian Taxes Due?

For most people, the due date for their Canadian return (T1) is April 30. Self-employed individuals get until the 15th of June to file, although payment of taxes must still be made before April 30. An extension is granted to non-residents until June 30.

Canadian Social Security

Canada and the US have an agreement regarding social security that is beneficial to people who have made contributions in both systems, or with parents or spouses who have made contributions in either country. Additionally, this agreement states that contributing to the system in one country can be used to meet residency requirements in the other.

The public retirement system in Canada has two pieces - Old Age Security, as well as the Canada Pension Plan. In general, Old Age Security provides a monthly payment to Canadian residents with low to middle income levels. The Canada Pension Plan is similar to the way the US Social Security system works, in that both the employer and the employee contribute. Employees pay 4.95% on up to CAD 54,900 in wages, with the employer matching that amount. In both plans, normal age for retirement is age 65, although there are exceptions in special circumstances. Different than US Social Security, the Canada Pension Plan is partially funded.

Along with these public options for retirement, Canada offers a savings option which is tax-deferred known as a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). Any contributions are not included in income for the tax year they are made, but withdrawals are taxed like ordinary income.

Does Canada Tax Foreign Income?

One thing that United States and Canadian residents have in common is having to pay tax on their income generated worldwide. But, some non-residents are taxed only on their income from Canadian sources. One large difference between United States and Canadian treatment of income is residency. United States citizens as well as permanent residents must pay US taxes regardless of where they live. But, Canadian citizens not living in Canada are subject to different rules than residents. One benefit is most income derived outside of Canada does not get considered in calculating income tax in Canada.

Who Qualifies as a Resident of Canada?

As is usually the case, the issue of residency has important consequences for taxes in the eyes of the Canadian Revenue Agency. They take factors like these into account:

• If a person has a home within Canada
• If a person has a spouse, partner, or kids in Canada
• If a person owns personal property within Canada
• A person’s economic and social ties to Canada

Also, even non-residents staying in Canada over 183 days per year could be considered residents and become subject to tax on worldwide income.

In Canada, ending your residency is considered taxable. Residents who leave Canada are considered to have sold all of their property. This is assumed to have occurred at the market value, then the person reacquired the property. The effect is that tax on any presumed capital gains is imposed. There are ways to shelter from this if you plan to stay in the country for under five years, although this needs to be in place prior to immigration to Canada. It is important to realize that this is applicable to all Canadian residents, not just citizens. The point is that you should do tax planning both before moving to Canada, then again prior to leaving.

US-Canada Tax Treaty

The US and Canada do have a treaty for taxes. It was first agreed in 1980, with four revisions since then. One provision in the treaty is agreement to share data between the governments of the two countries in the process of collecting tax revenue. Another provision establishes the income that is taxable in each country and the income that might be exempt from taxes. This becomes very important for people and companies engaging in commerce across the border. Yet another provision includes the foreign tax credit available to both permanent residents and citizens of the United States when Canadian taxes are paid.

Self-Employed Individuals

There are strict requirements for self-employed individuals when they file their United States expatriate tax return. Having self-employment income of at least USD 400 obligates a person to file United States expatriate taxes, no matter where the income is generated.

Similar to US businesses, businesses in Canada can be set up in many different ways, including limited partnerships and partnerships, sole proprietorships, and corporations. These each have differing legal protections, along with different US expat tax requirements.

Canadian Sales Taxes

In Canada, the sales tax is known as the Harmonized Sales Tax, and is assessed at both the provincial and national levels. The federal tax is 5%, then each province adds additional tax anywhere from 0 to 10%.

Articles We Published Specifically for Our Canadian Readers

https://www.taxesforexpats.com/articles/financial-account-reporting/changes-streamlined-procedure-canada.html
https://www.taxesforexpats.com/articles/investments/what-us-investors-living-in-canada-should-bear-in-mind.html
https://www.taxesforexpats.com/articles/retirement/simple-us-tax-guide-for-canadian-retirement-plans.html

Questions About Canadian Taxes?

Contact us! We have an expert team to provide tax advice to expats, and give you all the information you need to know to file your United States expat tax return while living outside the country.