Canadian working in US - Windfall Elimination Provision - international non-resident cross border income tax help estate family
> > QUESTION: > > I have an opportunity to work as an employee in the us for the next 7 to > 10 years. I am 53. What is the impact on CPP and what can I expect form > Social Security if I work for 1) 7 years or 2) 10 years. I have paid the > max CPP since 1977 and expect to pay the max FICA. > ------------------------------------------- > > david ingram replies: > > You will receive approximtely 30/40th's of your CPP but it will not be > based upon a lower earnings level than if you were still in Canada for > the last ten years. > > However, if you do not work a full 10 years (40 quarters) you will not > qualify for medical in retrirement if you do decide to stay in the US > (i.e. get a green card). You can qualify at 7 years but have to pay a lot > more. (less at 8 years, even less at 9 years and the least at ten years or > more). > > You will receive 7 or 10/40th's of the max FICA > (Social security) less a claw back for what is called the Windfall > Elimination Provision. You can find out more about the WEP by reading > these older questions > ------------------------------------------------ > Thanks to Andrew for adding to this subject. - the original question and > answer are at the bottom. david > > ------------------------------------ > > David, any totalization request made to SSA to include CPP contributions > will NOT affect one's CPP, which is fixed SOLELY on the basis of CPP > contributions. > > One's SS will of course be smaller if totalization is used, than one who > worked a full 40 quarters, and one's SS will be reduced marginally by > one collecting CPP as well as SS (by Pension Windfall provisions of > SS). But neither collecting SS, nor using totalization will in ANY WAY > affect CPP payout. > > One will indeed collect from BOTH SS and CPP when totalization is used. > > Remember too that the poster will be eligible for a portion of his OAS > as well. > > AGN > > > -----Original Message----- > From: centapede-admin at lists.centa.com > [mailto:centapede-admin at lists.centa.com] > Sent: Friday, October 24, 2003 16:15 > To: CENTAPEDE > Subject: Returning to Canada early because of heart > disease. > > > QUESTION: > > I was born Dec 22/39 in Canada. I worked in Canada until Feb of 1997, > moved to the US and presently work with a TN1 visa. > > I developed heart disease and have had two attacks since '01 > > I would like to return to Canada and retire there near my family before > it's too late. > > I understand I have to work in the US for 40 quarters to get their > Social Security, I only have 27. > > I assume I cannot collect from both, but what is the result of applying > the US/Canada treaty to my case?? Do I apply it to the Canadian or US > fund and which one is more advantageous. > > ================================================= > david ingram replies: > > You will want to apply Canadian Earnings to the US Social Security to > make up your time if they will allow it. With 27 quarters, they likely > will and it will be to your advantage to get eh higher US money for two > reasons. > > One it is a higher pension on a pro rata basis. Two - when received in > Canada, only 85% is taxable. > > You will then receive a smaller CPP which will be more than made up by > what you receive from the US Social Security. > > Your biggest problem is medical in the US. If you cannot see yourself > continuing to work in the US, there is no sense but if you can get > another 5 quarters in (up to 32) you can then buy your US social > security medical and if you keep on working and putting in more > quarters, you will get to the point where the full medical is free and > you will have your 40 quarters. Remember, it is only 3 1/3 more years > and you only need to earn $4,000 a year to qualify for four quarters a > year. > > Perhaps, you could continue on a part-time basis for instance. I do > notice that none of your company's three locations appear to be near the > border but if you are filling a needed function, perhaps you could > telecommute and live in Blaine, Washington, Pembina, North Dakota, > Niagara Falls, or Calais, Maine (all US border towns), fill up your > Social Security and be close enough to your Canadian Family to get the > best of both. > ------------ and other older questions > > My_question_is: Applicable to both US and Canada > Subject: Pensions > Expert: taxman at centa.com > Date: Sunday January 14, 2007 > Time: 01:56 PM -0500 > > QUESTION: > > Can an American Citizen ,living in Canada as a Permanent Resident married > to > a Canadian Citizen and having worked in the U.S. and Canada collect both > Pensions as he paid into both pensions and lived and worked in the > U.S.first for twenty years and another twenty years in Canada.Does he have > to report the U.S. Pension in Canada and the Canadian in U.S. He has > aU.S.passport for entry into the U.S. and a Permanent Resident Card for > entry to Canada. > -------------------------------------- > david ingram replies; > > Under Article XVIII(5) of the US / Canada Income Tax Convention, he or she > is only taxable on the pensions in the country in which he or she lives. > > He or she does qualify for both pensions but only half of the CPP (20 out > of > 40 years) and less than half of Social Security because of a clawback > provision called the Windfall Elimination Provision when he or she has not > put a total of 30 years into US Social Security. > > You can find US Government explanations of the WEP at > > http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/wep.htm and > > http://www.socialsecurity.gov/retire2/wep-chart.htm and > > http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10045.html > > > The following older Q & A might help - > > taxman at centa.com: Please see bottom of message if you wish to unsubscribe. > ------------------------------------------ > > > > My_question_is: Applicable to both US and Canada > Subject: US Social Security > Expert: taxman at centa.com > Date: Wednesday December 13, 2006 > Time: 07:38 PM -0500 > > QUESTION: > > I lived and worked in the US for 5 years, and recently returned to Canada. > I > have worked in Canada a total of 30 years. > > Do I qualify for any SSI compensation for the 5 years there or would I > have > needed to work the requisite 10 years to qualify for SSI pay? > > ============================================= > david ingram replies: > When you hit retirement age, you will fill in an application for US Social > Security and an application for Canada Pension Plan. > > In general, The US will give you credit for five years of contributing to > Canada Pension Plan to make up the ten years qualifying period. > > Then, because you have not contributed for 30 years, they (the Social > Security Administration) will apply the Windfall Elimination Provision and > send you about half of the actual Social Security benefits you earned. > > This is NOT discrimination against Canadian or other country workers > however. The WEP also applies to US people who have worked in different > occupations in different states. For instance teachers in some states do > not contribute to Social Security. If they move to a different state where > they do, the WEP reduces their Social Security in the US because of the > "Windfall" of the other states pension. So it is not just used against > Canadians. > > The following older answers may help as well as they contain comments from > other readers. > ------------------------------------------------------------ > > This was an older centapede that dealt with two other opinions about the > Windfall Elimination provision > > david > > > Social Security - Foreign Work test - > > > Frank C sends more information about this very important matter for those > who have contributed to Social Security and to CPP as well. Read on and > save > if it applies or might apply to you in the future. > > > ========================================== > David, > > One further correction. The Windfall Elimination Act does not affect > someone receiving OAS from Canada, only CPP. The U.S. legislation refers > to > pensions derived from working. (Unlike Canada, the U.S. offers no pension > to people just because they have reached a certain age. They must have > worked, or their spouses must have worked.) So, if you WORK in Canada, > and > have worked less than 30 years in the U.S., the WEA will affect you. > > And...if you take Social Security early (before the standard retirement > age > for the year you were born) and work in Canada, you'll be hit with yet > another rule: the "Foreign Work Test". This rule takes away one month of > SS > benefits for each 45-hours you work in Canada in a month! This > effectively > means that you can't be receiving early SS in Canada (say, at 62) and > working in Canada, unless your wages are so high that you don't mind > forfeiting your SS. Once you reach full retirement age, though, you can > work in Canada as much as you like. Here's a good article on this > subject: > > http://overseasdigest.com/odsamples/foreigntest.html > > Interestingly, I was born in the same year as Mark (below) and also plan > to > use my university years in Canada to qualify for full OAS. Sure hope that > time is considered as "living" in Canada! (How could it not??) > > Frank C > > > >> >>I obviously did not understand the 30 year rule or substantial payments to >>FICA to avoid a Clawback when receiving OAS / CPP from Canada . My >>understanding was that the US / Canada Social Security Totalization rules >>overrode the WEP but it appears I may have been incorrect. Read on if you >>are going to be collecting both with les than 30 years into the FICA (US >>Federal Insurance Contribution Act or Social Security), I have no time to >>study or figure it out at the moment so will leave it to others. I have >>received several different replies: >> >>Andrew Nelson sent the first correction: >> >>I guess you are not aware of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) >>that hits many cross-border workers. >> >>THAT is what this person is complaining about. It really does sock >>anyone who earns foreign pension (including CPP) but has less than 30 >>years (not 10) of SS-contributions. >> >>As the writer states, it does result in a substantial knock down of SS, >>unless the person can manage to reach the 30 year mark. >> >>This is the SSA's equivalent of the IRS's AMT provisions, and can hurt >>pretty bad. >> >>There is a couple of pros out there (namely Keats) who have been >>successful in getting the SSA to use the totalization treaty to override >>WEP, but it is not simple. >> >>Keats has a chapter on it in his latest Border Guide. Only his latest >>version, since WEP is just now hitting retirees. >> >>AGN >> >>===================== >> >>Mark sends the second addition >> >> >>Warning: the following is wordy but I've included some details that might >>be >>useful in your practice. I also have a new question at the end. Hope I'm >>not >>stretching my luck... >> >>Thank you for such a rapid response and for forwarding all those dialogues >>with >>others that pertained to my situation. I was prepared to wait several >>months, >>knowing you have quite a backlog. >> >>I very much like your suggestions about H&R Block and Jim Pettinger. I'm >>on >>his mailing list and have often thought about attending one of his >>seminars, >>but haven't as I'm not much interested in export-import. I will >>definitely >>give him a shout. I've also wondered about the Victoria Clipper (Seattle >>company) that docks here in Victoria a block from where I live. I just >>missed >>an accounting job advertised by a Canadian mining company literally metres >>south of the border in Blaine. They have gold mines in both countries. >>I'm >>hoping their newly hired accountant leaves soon;) Seems to me I'd be a >>perfect >>fit for them to visit their mines in Alaska and B.C. & Quebec. >> >>As to the US/Canada Social Security Agreement, my understanding is that >>would >>apply if I were working in Canada on a short-term basis, but I've been >>resident >>in Canada nearly 5 years, so I've contributed to CPP for a few years now. >>As >>you know, it takes nearly that long to complete the citizenship path, >>which >>I've just done a couple weeks ago. I did pay a personal visit to Social >>Security in Bellingham a couple years ago to learn more about the Windfall >>Elimination Provision, and I did find out they would never deduct more >>than >>50% >>of my CPP from Social Security. Such generosity. I have 25 years worked >>in >>the US (I'm 57 y.o.) but with 30 I would escape the WEP penalty >>altogether. >>I >>spoke with the manager of the SocSec office in B'ham so he knew my >>situation >>and he never said the totalization agreement would apply. >> >> See WEP info: http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10045.html >> >> FYI, WEP was instituted in 1983 during the Reagan presidency as >> part of a package to save Social Security. For someone like me, >> contributing to another country's system, it's just a tax grab >> ripoff, in my humble opinion. I liken it to paying premiums on >> two life insurance policies and then having the beneficiary find >> out upon my demise that the 1st company won't pay because there >> had been a second policy. Never mind I'd paid premiums for both. >> >>I'm aware of the relative withholding rates for FICA vs. CPP, and I would >>only >>work for someone else in the US to avoid the self-employment rate. I >>figure >> >>for the five years I'd work in US, it would work to my benefit to pay the >>higher FICA rate as I would increase my retirement income about $200/mo. >>between earning more SocSec and avoiding the WEP. I intend to live in >>Canada >>in retirement in spite of higher taxation because my partner is Canadian >>(only) >>and detests the U.S. >> >>I won't be subject to the OAS clawback in retirement, sorry to say, though >>I >>should approach the $60K annual income limit. Jointly, our goal is to >>have >>about $60K income EACH so we avoid the clawback. By the way, I currently >>am >>self-employed in Victoria as a small-time (friends & family) financial >>advisor. >> >>The current net income limits for OAS clawback, from 0-100%, are $60,806- >>$98,850. (You had used a figure of $80,000+ for the upper limit in your >>reply.) >> >> >>ANOTHER SEPARATE (BUT RELATED) QUESTION >> >>I wasn't going to send this to you until I heard back on the first one, >>but >>we're already there! >> >>I fall into Category 2 below (between the dotted lines) for a full OAS >>pension. >>--------------------------------------------------------------------------- >>Full Pension >> >>Normally, if you meet the conditions in either of the two categories >>below, you qualify for a full pension: >> >>Category 1 - You meet the one condition below >> >> You lived in Canada for at least 40 years after turning 18. NO >> >>Category 2 - You meet the three conditions below >> >> 1. You were born on or before July 1, 1952. YES >> 2. Between the time you turned 18 and July 1, 1977, you >> lived in Canada for some period of time. ??? >> 3. You lived in Canada for the 10 years immediately before >> your application was approved. YES >>--------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >>#1) I was born in 1948. >>#3) I will have been resident in Canada 12 full years when I turn 65. >> >>The gray area for me is condition #2, as I was a student at U. of Alberta >>in >>1976. There is some question, even among the local OAS office personnel, >>whether that qualifies as 'living' in Canada. My own opinion is that I >>did >>not 'live' anywhere else during that time. I cannot find any definition >>of 'living' or 'residence' in the OAS Act or in OAS appeal cases. >> >>So, at long last, my question for you: >> >>DO YOU KNOW OF ANY LAWYERS THAT WOULD HAVE EXPERTISE IN OAS ELIGIBILITY >>APPEALS? >> >>The difference between a partial (12/40=30%) and full OAS pension for me >>is >>just over $4,000/yr., not an insignificant amount in my retirement >>planning. >>I'd like to know what my chances are of qualifying for the full pension. >> >>Thanks again for all your help and super-rapid response. >>----------------------------- >>david ingram replies: >> >>I do not know of anyone that specializes in OAS appeals. Does anyone >>else? >> >> >>The original Q & A follows: >> >>########################################################################### >>Q >> > Subject: Employment opportunities for US-Canadian dual citizen >> > Expert: taxman at centa.com >> > Date: Tuesday November 08, 2005 >> > Time: 10:52 PM -0800 >> > >> > QUESTION: >> > >> > I am US-born and recently became a Canadian citizen also. I want to >>live >>in >> > White Rock, or vicinity (to preserve my Canadian Old Age Security >> > eligibility), and commute daily to work along the I-5 corridor between >> > Blaine and Bellingham. >> > >> > I am caught in the trap of the US Social Security 'Windfall Elimination >> > Provision' which will deduct the exchange-related equivalent of 1/2 of >>my >> > Canada Pension Plan benefit from my US Social Security benefit unless I >>earn >> > another five years of 'substantial earnings' in the US. >> > >> > Are you aware of any employment agencies on either side of the >>BC/Washington >> > border that recruit dual citizens in particular? I read in one of your >> > email replies that dual truck drivers are in great demand, but having >>spent >> > most of my career as an accountant, that's probably not a fit for me. >>Any >> > ideas are much appreciated. >> > -------------------------------------------------------- >> > >> > david ingram replies: >> > >> > I do not know of agencies that specifically deal with dual citizens. >>Maybe >> > "we" should start one up. If you are an accountant, take the H & R >> > Block >>tax >> > course in Bellingham and the one in Vancouver and get into dual country >>tax >> > work. I am always looking for someone who is good at that. >> > >> > Look for a company that works on both sides of the border. >> > >> > Calling Jim Pettinger at 604 273-4474 might give you some ideas. Jim >>runs >> > International Market Access with warehouses in Bellingham and Richmond >>and >> > runs regular seminars on cross border issues. >> > >> > I would bet that he has over 100 clients who might be able to use the >> > services of someone who can work on both sides of the border with no >> > restrictions. >> > >> > With regard to the US / Canada Social Security Agreement, i do not >> > understand your concern. What the agreement is set up to deal with is >> > making sure that you only get one or the other of a pension for the >> > same >> > time worked. >> > >> > In general, if you can put into the US system, you will receive >>materially >> > more when you apply for your CPP or FICA. >> > >> > If you work as an employee in the USA, you will have to contribute your >>half >> > to the FICA (Federal Insurance Contributions Act) at roughly 6.23% up >> > to >>a >> > maximum of ($87,900 -400) $87500 for a total of $5449.80. >> > >> > At the same time you will be paying another 1.45% of the income with no >> > limits so at $100,000 you would pay $1,450 and at $200,000 you would >> > pay >> > $2,900 but would still only owe the $5450.00 of Social Security (FICA). >> > >> > If you were self employed, you would pay both halves. >> > >> > Compare this with the CPP which charges employees 4.45% on a maximum of >> > ($40,500 - $3.500) $37,000 or $1,831.50 and that is it. (all figures >>were >> > 2004 calculations by the way). >> > >> > As for the Old AGE Pension that Canada hands out, remember that it now >>has >> > an earnings test and is all clawed back by $80,000+ earnings. >> > >> > The best situation for an over 65 person is to have worked the last ten >> > years in the US to qualify for the US social Security and Medicare A & >>B. >> > Live in Washington state and you have medical as good as BC's and a >> > much >> > lower tax rate on your pension income. >> > >> > I am 99% sure that you will end up with more money that way then living >>in >> > Canada and trying to collect OAS > --------------------------------------- > David Ingram's US / Canada Services > US / Canada / Mexico tax, Immigration and working Visa Specialists > US / Canada Real Estate Specialists > My Home office is 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 Vancouver (LA) time - > (please do not fax or phone outside of those hours as this is a home > office) > > email to taxman at centa.com <mailto:taxman at centa.com> > www.centa.com <http://www.centa.com/> www.david-ingram.com > <http://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, preparation, > or > consultation in connection with personal or business affairs such as at > www.centa.com <http://www.centa.com> . 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