Canadian citizen US resident

Hello again David,
Many thanks for the invaluable info. I have just been told by the
person who has done my very simple taxes in Canada for the past
few years that  she needs my wife's SIN number and net income for
last year and I will be taxed in Canada on the combined amount
for the year ( we got married in November so why the whole
year??)  . As my wife has a good income in US that to me means I
will be paying far more Canadian tax than I actually received as
pension income ?!
I also saw an email from you to someone else that said leave the
SIN number blank so what they are asking for is not correct  --
that suggests I go somewhere else to get my taxes done.
I still feel my  Canadian taxes  should be simple so roughly what
would you charge to do them for me?
My wife is self employed so has to do tax returns for several
States based on the work she has done --  is the more complex
situation still something that is in your area?
Thanks
------------------------------------------------------
david ingram replies
 Your wife does not have a SIN and does not need one.  You do
need to put her income in the proper place on the front of the
tax return.  This does NOT cost you any income tax - it does NOT
raise your taxes in any manner whatsoever.  What it does do is
mean that you can not claim GST benefits or subsidized medical or
sales tax credits or rental credits depending upon what province
you are lying in..
Because you have lower income though, you AND your wife are in
luck.  She can file a US joint tax return with you and save
several thousands of dollars because your income will be exempted
or tax credited out on the US return. It is unlikely that a US
tax preparer she would go to would have a clue how to do your
joint return with the exemptions and credits unless she is in the
Dallas area and stumbles into Gary Gauvin's office..
We are specialists in multi-state, multi-country,
multi-provincial and other multi-jurisdictional returns.
We are completely equipped to do the US federal return and any of
the 43 states with an income tax return.  We have several clients
we do multi-state returns for.  One NBA player we did had returns
for 25 states which included a couple of states he did not play
in but owned businesses in.
I hope this assists you.
  -------------- Original message --------------
  From: <taxman at centa.com>
  This was in my draft messages and did not get out for some
reason or other - sorry
  -----Original Message-----
  From:
   Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 8:52 AM
  To: taxman at centa.com
  Subject: Canadian citizen US resident
  Hello David
  I am 65 and fortunate to meet a girl who is a US citizen. We
married in November 2005 after following the fiance Visa route
and I am now living in Maryland waiting for permanent residency
and green card.
  I have LIF and GICs all locked in. My only income for 2005 was
Canadian pension plus the allowed withdrawal of $2000 afetr taxes
from LIF.
  I have advised the Bank that I am now a US resident -  I do not
have property in Canada -  I have no other ties to Canda except
Bank that also deals with LIFand GIC.
  Will I get any statement  ( like T4) to show pension income?
  If not what do I do about US taxes?
  How do they work out the exchange rate as my pension was paid
monthly?
  I understand I have to declare LIF on US taxes on pain of death
or worse but as it is locked in I cannot draw any significant
amount from it anyway.
  My total income for 2005 was around $12K Canadian.
  Please could you let me know which forms I am supposed to
submit to Canada and US
  Your service is fantastic and I am an avid reader but have not
come across the answers to the above
  Many thanks
  ---------------------------------
  david ingram replies:
  Your pension administrator in Canada should be withholding 15%
Canadian tax on any pensions or dividends ytou receive and issure
T4PNR forms for you showing the amount of pension received and
the tax deducted between teh date you left Canada and Dec 31st
2005.  If y9ou have any money on deposti, the bank shoudl issue
an NR4 skip showing you the amount of interest and 10% tax
dedcuted from teh day you left the country.
  The administrator will also issue a T4AP for the pension
received before you left and a T5 for the interst or dividends
received before you left.
  Your US return will be a joint return with your new wife.  It
should save her tax if your income was only $12,000 Canadian.
  Any tax you paid to Canada should be claimed as a credit on
form 1116 and attached to the joint 1040 you filed.
  If you do not have a Social Security Number when you file the
return, fill in form SS5 if you have the green card or form W7 if
ou do not have it yet and take the form AND the tax form along
with your passport and approval papers (if any) to the Social
Security Office where you live. They will look at the
documentation and take copies of anything they require and send
the tax return in for you.
  David Ingram's US/Canada Services
  US / Canada / Mexico tax, Immigration and working Visa
Specialists
  US / Canada Real Estate Specialists
  Home office at:
  4466 Prospect Road
  North Vancouver,  BC, CANADA, V7N 3L7
  Cell (604) 657-8451 -
  (604) 980-0321 Fax (604) 980-0325
  Calls welcomed from 10 AM to 10 PM 7 days a week (please do not
fax or phone outside of those hours as this is a home office)
  email to taxman at centa.com
  www.centa.com www.david-ingram.com
  Disclaimer:  This question has been answered without detailed
information or consultation and is to be regarded only as general
comment.   Nothing in this message is or should be construed as
advice in any particular circumstances. No contract exists
between the reader and the author and any and all non-contractual
duties are expressly denied. All readers should obtain formal
advice from a competent and appropriately qualified legal
practitioner or tax specialist for expert help, assistance,
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message, this disclaimer must be included."
  Be ALERT,  the world needs more "lerts"
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