Departure Tax Return questions

[drudchen]

Hi,

I've started looking at filing my taxes for 2009, and have a couple of (hopefully simple) questions. Thanks in advance - I really appreciate all the help!

I'm looking at the Emigrant's guide on CRA website and trying to follow its guidelines. I was also trying to use QuickTax software.

My situation is that I've left Ontario July 1st, 2009 and moved to USA (Washington state) for work with a TN visa. So this year I should be filing a departure tax return in Canada.
-The guide says "use the tax package for the province or teritory where you lived before you left Canada in 2009".
So, I've looked at the Ontario tax package. This is correct I assume? (This is the only one that has departure date listed on it (non-resident ones don't)).

My question here is related to filling out T1 general form. Specifically, when they ask "Enter the province or territory of residence as of December 2009", what should I put there? Also the mailing address has boxes for province and canadian postal code. How do I fill out my US one? (I can still use my old canadian address as my parents still live there, but I wonder if it'll count against me as residential ties).

Thanks in advance!
Dmitry

[drudchen]

Also, another quesetion.

I've started filling out 1040 for my US tax return. As far as I understand, for US 1040 return I should report all my income, US and Canada. (and convert Canadian currency to US according to the yearly average exchange rate (that I got from BankOfCanada website).
http://www.bankofcanada.ca/pdf/nraa09.pdf

When entering Canadian companies (2) what do I enter for EIN #? Leave it blank?
I was using TurboTax, and it's complaining that I need these filled out to file online.

[nelsona]

You use the ontario package. As you read, the criteria for province of residence is Dec 31 OR the last day you were resident in canada.

As to reporting Cdn income,. it looks like you are trying to fill outa fake W-2 to enter the income .Don't. Just put the wages in the wage line.

[Ontario]

From TurboTax support forum:
"To report foreign earned income not reported on a Form W-2 (and not reported elsewhere in TurboTax), click on Federal Taxes, Income, Select Specific Topics, Less Common Income. Then select Miscellaneous Income. On the Any Miscellaneous Income screen, check the Wages not already reported box and continue. You will come to a screen where you can enter foreign earned income.
If you qualify for the foreign earned income exclusion, click on Federal Taxes, Income, Select Specific Topics, Less Common Income. Then select Foreign Earned Income. The income amount must be entered before you can enter the exclusion.
If you qualify for a foreign tax credit, click on Federal Taxes, Deductions & Credits, Find Deductions Myself, Taxes Paid, and select Foreign Taxes."

[nelsona]

Great tips. Please post this on jjhowey's recent thread, has they are having trouble with 2555 as well.