Tax Resources

Canadian Taxation

Two Key Observations from Canadian Tax Conference

At a tax conference in Toronto this month I learned several interesting things, two of which I want to share here. They are labeled below as “Bringing in CPAs to Their Side” and “Tax Planning is an Uncertain Art”.
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U.S. Taxation

IRS Form 8854 – Expatriation (U.S. Taxation)

One might say that the ultimate break from the U.S. tax system is expatriation, i.e., renunciation of U.S. citizenship (or renunciation of permanent residency). Renunciation is a serious action that should only be taken after careful consideration of its many ramifications.
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U.S. Taxation

IRS Forms 3520 and 3520-A – Information Reporting – Foreign Trusts (U.S. Taxation)

This article discusses information reporting requirements that relate to foreign trusts.
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U.S. Taxation

Form 5471 – Information Reporting – Foreign Corporations (U.S. Taxation)

This article discusses information reporting requirements that relate to foreign corporations. More specifically, a particular type of foreign corporation called a Controlled Foreign Corporation (CFC).
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U.S. Taxation

Fincen Form 114 (FBAR) and IRS Form 8938 Information Reporting – Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (U.S. Taxation)

This article discusses information reporting requirements that relate to foreign bank accounts and other foreign financial accounts.
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U.S. Taxation

IRS Form 1116 – The Foreign Tax Credit (U.S. Taxation)

Are you a U.S. citizen moving to a foreign country for work or investing in a foreign country for income? If so, this article is for you.
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U.S. Taxation

IRS Form 2555 – The Housing Exclusion (U.S. Taxation)

Are you a U.S. citizen moving to a foreign country for work? If so, this article is for you.
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U.S. Taxation

IRS Form 2555 – The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (U.S. Taxation)

Are you a U.S. citizen moving to a foreign country for work? If so, this article is for you.
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Globe showing North America

Are LLCs Suitable for Canadians? (Cross-Border Tax Issues)

The Limited Liability Company (LLC) is a popular type of entity with U.S. investors. It is distinct from other entity types such as corporations, partnerships, and limited liability partnerships.
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Globe showing North America

Tax Treaties (Cross-Border Tax Issues)

Do you engage in international business or investing activities? If so, it is highly recommended that your tax planning take into consideration tax treaties.
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Globe showing North America

Canadian Residents with U.S. IRAs (Cross-Border Tax Issues)

A number of tax traps lie in wait for Canadians returning to Canada, and U.S. citizens moving to Canada, who hold a U.S. Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Diligent tax planning requires awareness of these traps before making a move to (or move back to) Canada.
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Canadian Taxation

Electing to File a Section 216 Tax Return for Rental Income (Canadian Taxation)

A separate article in these web pages discusses the Section 217 election, an election that can reduce a non-resident’s taxes on Canadian-source pension income. In this article I discuss a similar but different election for non-residents, one that is available for rental income from Canadian property
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Canadian Taxation

Electing to File a Section 217 Tax Return for Pension Income (Canadian Taxation)

A separate article in these web pages discusses the taxation of Canadian government pension benefits. As explained there, a non-resident is taxed on Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS) pension payments via a withholding tax of 25% (or, if applicable, a lower rate under a tax treaty...
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Canadian Taxation

Ownership Of Foreign Corporations – International Tax Rules (Canadian Taxation)

Many Canadian investors create foreign corporations as part of their asset ownership structure. This may be done for various non-tax reasons.
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Canadian Taxation

Government Pensions (Canadian Taxation)

There are two primary federal government pension programs for retired Canadians: Canada Pension Plan (CPP) and Old Age Security (OAS). One of these (CPP) is based on contributions you make during your working years, while the other one (OAS) is based on age and income.
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Canadian Taxation

The Departure Tax (Canadian Taxation)

When a Canadian resident severs ties with Canada and becomes a non-resident, they are required to file a final resident income tax return and pay their final resident income tax to the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
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Canadian Taxation

Tax Residency: Moving to Another Country (Canadian Taxation)

Are you a Canadian considering a move to another country? If so, there are important elements of Canada’s tax system relating to international activities that should be aware of. One is tax residency.
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