dual citizen, moved to US for school

[xozertim]

I've had dual citizenship most of my life, moved from canada to the US in Sept 2011 for a PhD program. I've never lived in the US before or filed taxes in the US (I only got a social security number last August). I have stocks in Canadian companies and a small TFSA (some in a savings account, some mutual funds). In 2011 I attended a Canadian university, worked in Canada, received scholarships in Canada, moved to the US, attended a university, worked, and received scholarships. Do I have to declare my Canadian income/tuition/scholarships/etc in the US even though they were from before I moved here?

All this being said, my net income is around 10,000... would it even be worth it to hire an accountant?

[nelsona]

You should have been filing in US every year your income was more than about $5000. All world income to both countries.

You should ditch the TFSA, since it is not tax-free for IRS and requires mucho paperwork.

Now tha tyou live in US, you should be non-resiswnt of canada, so you won'y have to pay Cdn tax on your US income.

An acct willchagre you about $# to fix the last 3 years, so I'm thinking you should do it yourself.

[xozertim]

I should clarify that the TFSA is from my Canadian income, I'm not adding to it. I only plan on being in the US for the 5 years it will take me to complete my degree. If I move my investments, I think I'll lose money, especially since interest rates are lower in the US, and I'd just have to move my money again when I move back to Canada.

Is this every year my gross income was more than $5000, or every year after deductions? I've never made enough money in Canada, after deductions, to pay any federal or provincial income tax, given that I've been in school.

Thanks.

[nelsona]

Your TFSA is a foreign trust in US, and is not tax-free. Lots of paperwork and no tax savings. Close it the day before you move to US.

$5000 gross. You have no deductions until and unless you file.