Canadian with American job offer beginning July 1, 2014

[marty]

Hello,

I've just accepted a job offer to begin working in the USA on July 1, 2014. As a Canadian, I'm trying to figure out the tax implications. I have very low income in Canada as a student, and that will shoot up to a good salary beginning July 1, 2014. Apparently I'll be working under an H-1B visa. I intend to stay in the U.S. for good. I own a parking stall that I purchased for $17,000 but has been valued at $14,000 and which I rent out. I am considering purchasing a home in Canada before leaving for the U.S. because it would be a good investment.

My objective is to continue to own and rent out this stall (my brother remaining in Canada can easily take care of this for me, as well as renting out any home purchase of mine), and to avoid any issues of double taxation.

From what I've read on this website, it appears the right approach for me is to become a non-resident before July 1. The parking stall has been valued at less than what I paid for it so that's a capital loss (I understand all property is sold at fair market value to yourself to determine capital gains taxes so I'm fine there). Were I to purchase a house in the next few months, I can't imagine having to pay any meaningful capital gains (it seems properties are often under-appraised for tax purposes anyways).

Moreover, it seems if I am in Canada fewer than 183 days that I can be considered a non-resident, whereas the U.S. is much more vague and so I should become a U.S. resident sooner rather than later.

How early can I complete the paperwork to become a Canadian non-resident before July 1? Do I also have to physically leave by July 1? What other bizarre rules might I be missing?

Are there any issues I should be thinking about that I haven't listed here? I am not much of a paperwork type of person so I just want this to be as simple as possible. Of course, nothing is simple with taxes.

Thank you very much for any help,
Marty

[nelsona]

You cannot become a non-resident before July 1, since you have no status in US before then. But, form what you say, you will become a CDn non-resident on that day you start working in US, so no worries there.

You will file a departure return next spring, following the guide for Emigrants on the CRA website.

The 183 day rules don't apply here: you are non-resident the day you leave for good.