Hello all, new to the forum. I'm sure you love new members who sign up because they were ignorant about their tax issues, don't you? :oops:
Anyway, I've been living in Canada since 2006 and have not filed a US tax return since coming here. I became a PR of Canada in August of 2008 and began working in September of that year. I have since filed appropriately and in accordance to Canadian tax laws.
My issue is one of ignorance and not knowing I was required to file in both places. Living in the US, my tax returns were always taken care of by family and it's not something they ever taught me to do and as long as they were getting done, I didn't care to learn. :oops:
Anyway, I assume I should file back returns for all years I've missed?
What forms, other than a 1040, am I required to fill out, by law, in order to get caught up?
I don't think I owe anything in back taxes, my income is quite modest. Assuming I owe nothing in back taxes, am I correct to assume that I will not be penalized for not filing?
I apologize for being "one of those guys" but I sincerely want to rectify the problem. I'm not looking to be walked through the process step by step. If I know what forms I'm required to fill out, I should be able to handle the rest. I'm just trying to avoid taking the problem to a local tax professional here and getting charged an arm and a leg.
Thank you for any feedback. 8)
US citizen living in Canada as a PR.
Moderator: Mark T Serbinski CA CPA
Wow...I thought I was in bad shape until I read about the guy who hadn't filed in 14 years here. :o I still haven't read that entire thread but there may be some answers in there for me.
Some more information about my situation.
Common law relationship (engaged, no kids). Fiance was born and raised Canadian, lived her entire life here. I'm assuming I would file separately since she has no US ties whatsoever.
I'm not sure about this FBAR form, but, we have joint Canadian checking and savings account that have never exceeded more than a few thousand dollars. I do have a US$ checking account with my bank as well, the most that was ever at was 16k (I cashed out some of my mutual funds from the US) and 3 months after that, that account had a balance of less than 1k. At no other time during my time in Canada, except for that 3 month span, has that $US account had more than 1k US$.
Some more information about my situation.
Common law relationship (engaged, no kids). Fiance was born and raised Canadian, lived her entire life here. I'm assuming I would file separately since she has no US ties whatsoever.
I'm not sure about this FBAR form, but, we have joint Canadian checking and savings account that have never exceeded more than a few thousand dollars. I do have a US$ checking account with my bank as well, the most that was ever at was 16k (I cashed out some of my mutual funds from the US) and 3 months after that, that account had a balance of less than 1k. At no other time during my time in Canada, except for that 3 month span, has that $US account had more than 1k US$.