Canadian Non-Resident – Cross Border
If you pay taxes to a foreign country, you can claim a foreign tax credit which can eliminate double taxation. Note, however, that CRA will almost certainly request documentation proving that foreign taxes were paid (often this means you must file a tax return in the other country.)
For other types of Canadian source income, the payer is required to withhold tax. Common examples include dividends, pension payments, RRSP payments and CPP/OAS payments. As the tax has already been withheld, you do not need to file a return and you may be eligible to claim a foreign tax credit in your country of residence. However, you may elect to file a Canadian return if you are eligible to recover some of the withholding tax.
For example, students studying abroad will often file returns as Canadian residents.
By filing as a Canadian resident, you will list and pay taxes on your worldwide income.
For an official opinion on your residency status you can submit Form NR74, Determination of Residency Status (Entering Canada) or Form NR73, Determination of Residency Status (Leaving Canada) to the International and Ottawa Tax Services Office.
If you are a member of Actra, you should also inform them that your residency status has changed so that the proper withholdings are taken on residuals/royalties. Actors who return to Canada to work must present themselves a non-resident, as opposed to a local.
If you are receiving any benefits such as Child Tax Benefits, Universal Childcare Benefit, or GST/HST credits, you should inform CRA (1 800 959 8281) you are leaving Canada so that they will stop payments. Otherwise, you will have to repay them at a later date, with interest.
If you have an outstanding balance under the home buyers or life long learning plan, you have 60 days to repay those amounts. Otherwise, the remaining balances owing must be included as income on your final Canadian return.
In the year that you leave Canada, you will file a Canadian tax return indicating the departure date. You will report world income for the part of the year you were a resident of Canada. After your departure date, you only pay Canadian income tax on Canadian source income.
If you owned property with a fair market value of over $25,000, you must complete Form T1161 (List of Properties by an Emigrant of Canada). Excluded from the calculation are cash, pension plans and other retirement plans, RESPs, personal effects, real estate etc. You may also need to file form T1243, Deemed Disposition of Property by an Emigrant of Canada.
As a non-resident for tax purposes, you cannot contribute to a Tax Free Savings account; CRA regularly imposes punitive penalties for TFSA contributions made by non-residents of Canada.
To obtain a Certificate of Coverage:
- Download the appropriate form
- Once completed, fax it to CRA at 613-954-3398.
CRA regularly imposes punitive penalties for TFSA contributions made by non-residents of Canada. These amounts are taxed at 1% tax for each month the contribution remains in the account.
However, as a non-resident you are allowed to keep your TFSA, and will not be taxed in Canada on any earnings (note that you may be taxed in your country of residence, however.)
Non-residents do not accrue TFSA contribution room.
Non-residents can leave their money in RRSP/RRIFs, and it will continue to grow tax-deferred. Upon withdrawing the money, a non-resident withholding tax (usually 25%) will apply. If the country has a tax treaty with Canada, a foreign tax credit may apply in the other country.
You are allowed to contribute to your RRSPs as a non-resident, if you have room.
However, unless you have Canadian income, you won’t be able to use the deduction for tax savings. That said, the deduction does carry forward and can benefit you in future years when you do have Canadian income.
If living in the US, UK, France, Netherlands, or Denmark, mail your non-resident tax return to:
Winnipeg Tax Centre
Post Office Box 14001,
Station Main
Winnipeg MB R3C 3M3
Canada
For all other countries, use this address:
Sudbury Tax Centre
1050 Notre Dame Avenue
Sudbury ON P3A 5C2
Canada
- if you own real estate or have other financial assets in Canada
- if you want to be considered for jobs reserved for Canadian residents
- if you are incorporated
- etc
If you are thinking of moving abroad, please make an appointment with our office to discuss all the considerations.
On your Canadian return, you should use the Bank of Canada exchange rates. The exact rate used will be either the rate in effect on the date of a transaction, or the average annual exchange rate for the year.
On-Line Payment Instructions
1. Go to: httpss://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/e-services/payment-save-time-pay-online.html
2. Scroll down to select the “Start My Payment” option (select the “Pay Now” button.)
3. Select the CRA remittance you wish to pay (scroll down to: Non-Residents Header – Part XIII – non-resident withholding tax.)
4. Choose “regular remittance”
5. The account number is NRF696690. Enter the end of period you are paying for (for example: 2019, January) and the amount. Select “next”
6. Select the payment you are making (by clicking the radio button.) Click “confirm and proceed to pay.”
7. Click “pay now.”
8. Choose the payment method “Interac/Online” and then click “Proceed to Online Banking” (*Note – we don’t recommend paying by credit card, because it’s a outside provider and they will charge a service fee).
9. Select your financial institution.
10. Sign into Online Banking secure site using your existing login ID and password.
11. Select the account from which to process your payment.
12. Click on “Continue” to confirm the payment.
13. Save your confirmation number for future reference and proof of payment
By mail
Make your cheque payable to “Receiver General of Canada”
Send cheques to:
Canada Revenue Agency
PO Box 3800 STN A
Sudbury ON P3A 0C3
Clearly mark on the cheque the non-resident tax account number (NRF696690) and the period it applies to (January, 2019, for example).