QUESTION: We're US citizens considering a move from the US to take jobs in BC. At some point in the next 10 years or so, I may receive an inheritance from a parent's estate in the US; I don't know how much. It is likely to include mineral rights on family property which if we ever get lucky (haven't yet) could result in sizable royalties from oil and gas. If so, would we be in much worse shape tax-wise residing in Canada than in the US? So, there are 2 parts to my question: (1) inheritance taxes in general, and (2) taxes on oil and gas royalties. Thanks! ----------------------------------- david ingram replies: Forecasting ten years in the future is a fool's game. And dealing with an oil and gas play and what might happen is even more foolhardy. I can tell you that when "my" mother died leaving a small oil and gas possibility, I looked at the paperwork with an American brother and sister and a Canadian brother and sister, and renounced any claim to the money because I did not want to do the paperwork and I figured (I was right as it turns out 18 years later) my share would not possibly be enough to reimburse me for the paperwork I would be expected to do. Canada has NO inheritance taxes and would not put any tax on the corpus of an estate you inherited from a resident of the US if the property was located in the US. The US will tax you a maximum of 15% (under the Treaty) on any royalties paid to you in Canada and Canada will tax you at whatever your marginal tax rate is in Canada and then give you a dollar for dollar credit for the taxes paid to the US. After that, it depends. For instance, (forgetting about exchange) if you are self-employed, single and earn $100,000 Cdn in West Vancouver, the richest postal code in Canada, you will need $120,000 US to stay even in San Francisco with the California and US Federal taxes and Social Security taxes being higher than the equivalent taxes in Canada and the other cost of living being materially higher in the US other than milk, cheese, gas and turkeys. If you are a single wage earner but filing as a married couple, your tax will be slightly lower in California. So, it "depends." And the same is true between Calgary, Alberta and Denver, Colorado and Toronto, Ontario and New York, New York. Whatever you do, do NOT let your decision about moving to Canada be based upon the "maybe" taxes on a "maybe" oil and gas play ten years from now. Look at the good stuff in Canada and the experience and the opportunities you will have to explore. Of course, Denver is a pretty nice place as well but if I had a choice between Denver and Vancouver, I take Vancouver (had offices in Denver in the early seventies so I did have a choice). ================= Answers to this and other similar questions can be obtained free on Air every Sunday morning. Every Sunday at 9:00 AM on 600AM in Vancouver, Fred Snyder of Dundee Wealth Management and I, David Ingram host a LIVE talk show called "ITS YOUR MONEY" Those outside of the Lower Mainland will be able to listen on the internet at www.600AM.com <http://www.600am.com/> Local calls are taken at (604) 280-0600 and Long Distance calls (BC only) are taken at 1( 866) 778-0600 Callers to the show are invited to attend free seminars on financial planning with such specialities as deductible mortgage interest. They are held at Fred Snyder's Office at 1764 West 7th in Vancouver - (604) 731-8900 for more information. ========================================= David Ingram's US/Canada Services US / Canada / Mexico tax, Immigration and working Visa Specialists US / Canada Real Estate Specialists 4466 Prospect Road North Vancouver, BC, CANADA, V7N 3L7 Res (604) 980-3578 Cell (604) 657-8451 (604) 980-0321 Fax (604) 980-0325 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 in connection with personal or business affairs such as at www.centa.com <http://www.centa.com> . If you forward this message, this disclaimer must be included." Be ALERT, the world needs more "lerts" ============================== This from "ask an income tax and immigration expert" from www.centa.com <http://www.centa.com/> or www.jurock.com <http://www.jurock.com/> or www.featureweb.com <http://www.featureweb.com/> . 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