Submissions for Streamlined Filing Compliance

This is our main tax information forum which deals with topics concerning Canadians living and working in the U.S., U.S. citizens contemplating working in Canada, and all aspects of Canadian and U.S. income tax and related adminstrative issues.

Moderator: Mark T Serbinski CA CPA

Post Reply
pdfc
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:49 pm
Location: Canada

Submissions for Streamlined Filing Compliance

Post by pdfc »

As I have recently learned of the tax filing requirements for a US citizen living in Canada I am going to use the Streamlined method. This requires Tax returns for 2009-2011 plus 6 years of FBAR's. my question is, do I also include my 2012 return & FBAR in the streamlined package as it goes to a different address than normal filing?
PDFC
JGCA
Posts: 754
Joined: Thu Nov 18, 2010 3:05 pm
Location: Montreal, QC Canada

Post by JGCA »

Are you sure teh streamline filing is still open? I thought it was eliminated by now and you need to ask permssion from the IRS to backfile.
JG
nelsona
Posts: 18675
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2004 2:33 pm
Location: Nowhere, man

Post by nelsona »

For 8891, which is still required, you canonly use it to report the account, not to elect the income deferral. This means that streamlined would probably result in tax and peanlties, but not fines.
After 20 years, I am severely cutting back on responses. Do not ask specifically for my help. There are a few others on this board that can answer most questions. All the best
pdfc
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:49 pm
Location: Canada

Post by pdfc »

Then how do I elect deferral? My accountant was going to use the streamlined process but I can't begin to pay him $3500 to do it so am doing it myself.
PDFC
pdfc
Posts: 17
Joined: Wed Apr 10, 2013 9:49 pm
Location: Canada

Post by pdfc »

I have no income and such a small amount that I take from my RRSP and hold approx $97,000 in RRSP 's. am I better off to just file 'quietly'
PDFC
nelsona
Posts: 18675
Joined: Wed Oct 27, 2004 2:33 pm
Location: Nowhere, man

Post by nelsona »

Sure. It is unlikley that you would owe tax on this income.
After 20 years, I am severely cutting back on responses. Do not ask specifically for my help. There are a few others on this board that can answer most questions. All the best
primo
Posts: 93
Joined: Mon Jan 23, 2012 11:51 pm

Post by primo »

Looks like there is a way to request deferral of RRSP income through the streamlined process.

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Instructions-for ... -Taxpayers

Any taxpayer seeking relief for failure to timely elect deferral of income from certain retirement or savings plans where deferral is permitted by relevant treaty will be required to submit:

a statement requesting an extension of time to make an election to defer income tax and identifying the pertinent treaty provision;
for relevant Canadian plans, a Form 8891 for each tax year and each plan and a description of the type of plan covered by the submission; and
a dated statement signed by the taxpayer under penalties of perjury describing:
the events that led to the failure to make the election,
the events that led to the discovery of the failure, and
if the taxpayer relied on a professional advisor, the nature of the advisor’s engagement and responsibilities.
Post Reply