Serbinski Accounting Firms

We lived in Georgia and moved back to Canada in spring 2006. I have been trying since October to get a transcript of our 2005 returns - by fax to Georgia processing area, by fax to Philadelphia, and by telephone at 800-829-1040 (which disconnects after 10 rings, except on federal holidays when the m...

In your first tax year, you will likely have income from both Canada and the States, and you will have to file in both countries. There is a tax treaty between the two countries, and it really is quite complicated for a newbie. I would recommend that you negotiate with your US employer that they cov...

In Canada, the best bank to deal with for cross border exchanges is TD Canada Trust. You can open a Cdn $ account, a US $ account, get a Cdn visa card and a US $ visa card. Funds can be transferred easily back and forth, cards paid, all with the click of a mouse. You can even get a mortgage from the...

It's good to see the Serbinski site has started up the Immigration forum again, with Jim Eiss as moderator.

I can help with two of your questions. The RESP is not recognized in the USA, and they will require you to pay tax on any gains. The best thing there would be to transfer the subscriber's name to a trusted relative who will stay in Canada. There are complicated rules in the treatment of RRSPs as wel...

Also check out the Registrar of Imported Vehicles "RIV" for info. on exporting and importing cars. And US Custom and Border Protection - Exporting a Vehicle.

The border people use their "red book", and the values they assign are higher than you would expect. The Kelly Blue Book, converted to Cdn $ would only give you a very rough approximation.

Thanks Ron. I phoned the number you gave me, and talked to a most helpful Canada Customs person. Didn't like the answers or info - but now I know what is what.

We have lived in Atlanta for three years on H1 and are now preparing to move to Vancouver. Our moving company has informed us that we must meet the tractor-trailer at the US border to export our stuff. We did not have to do this on the way down. Is this a real rule? Where can I find out more about it?

Since you are willing to pay for help, I advise you to thank Mr. Glock for his time, and remove your documents and rush them to Serbinski. Mr. Glock will charge you for his research time, and he still won't know what he is doing. He will make mistakes that will have to be corrected in the future. Li...

Thanks Nelson. I'll finish up my daughter's return tonight, and nag my son (again) to got his stuff in to me!

Our 18 and 21 year old kids were students and had summer jobs in Canada. The older child has not lived with us in the States, but the younger one completed high school here. She will not be moving back to the States. I'm using Ufile (thanks for the recommendation Nelson) for their Cdn tax returns. H...

My two dependent kids were students in Ont. and Man. respectively and had summer jobs in 2005 in Man. Is there on-line Cdn tax software so that I may do their taxes soon? Or can one Quick-Tax handle returns from both provinces?

In the first year of your residency in the States, your taxes (both Cdn and US) will be quite complicated. This is a great forum to help you do the returns by yourself, but it you want paid help, contact the host of this forum. As for OHIP - it really seems that officials don't know their own rules....

I suggest you contact the host of this forum, as I do. I live in Atlanta, too, and found some atrociously wrong cross-border tax services here.