b4 form upon returning to Canada

danny · Post by **danny** » Wed Sep 12, 2012 8:23 pm

Hi I realize that when clearing customs upon returning to Canada there is a B4 form for inventory list. It actually asks for the date of departure and of course arrival so i wonder if they ie the CRA match this with the date on the departure return. Sounds pretty much they might do that. So hopefully that does not lead to issues ?

thanks

nelsona · Post by **nelsona** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 11:24 am

What issues? They are really only trying to ensure that you were gone "long enough" to be allowed to use the returning resident forms.

Why would your departure date not 'roughly' coincide with what you reported to CRA

danny · Post by **danny** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 6:29 pm

should not be any issues just that the forms with the information needed seems to be new. No idea what you mean by returning resident forms though.

nelsona · Post by **nelsona** » Thu Sep 13, 2012 7:59 pm

I meant to say get the returning resident duty rate.

danny · Post by **danny** » Fri Sep 14, 2012 4:23 am

oh ok thats what you meant.

danny · Post by **danny** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 2:33 pm

On a related note, I have a question. If I move my goods back and put them into storage or so and then do not permanently return to Canada until a later date (to travel and visit relatives in Latin America for instancce) would my tax residency in Canada begin on the date I return or the date I put the goods into storage after clearing customs ? In a sense I would not be establishing any real ties except the storage until I move back later. Thanks

nelsona · Post by **nelsona** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 2:56 pm

Absent of a permant home elsewhere, you will have declared your intentions to return to canada, and would have sufficient minor ties in Canada to make you resident.

That said, if you are travelling the world, you aren't generating any income, so what would it matter if your tax residency occured at that time?

danny · Post by **danny** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 3:21 pm

Well I thought a combination of minor ties (secondary) was sufficienc to make me resident but perhaps this is more an intent issue ie moving the goods back. It is strange how having goods here can make one resident. In most countries once one deregisters with the tax authorities it does not matter whether you have goods there or not so this ties thing is pretty special.

That said, you are right in that if I am not working, it would not really matter except that I would have to file a return so not that big of a deal. But for 2012 since there are only 2 months left, I'd love to not have to file the paperwork. If it was January I would not care as I would have to file for 2013 anyway.

Tough for me. Where should I keep the goods for the rest of 2012 ?

Thanks !

danny · Post by **danny** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 3:23 pm

I also wanted to avoid moving in the winter so thats another reason not to move back. January is winter of course but at least I can avoid filing while in November I cant avoid it ie 2012 filing.

nelsona · Post by **nelsona** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 4:03 pm

I'm not in favour af artificailly creating departure/return dates.

If you don't want to move back to canada this year, then don't bring your stuff either.

danny · Post by **danny** » Mon Oct 01, 2012 4:11 pm

I'm not either and then the question is where the stuff would be stored in the meantime.