US citizen immigrating to Canada- when to file Canada return

EdwardS · Post by **EdwardS** » Thu May 19, 2016 1:13 pm

I will be "landing" in Canada this July as a new "permanent resident"/immigrant, then returning to the US a week later. I'll be staying in the US until my home is ready to sell, which may take a year. I have no Canadian income and won't have spent more than two weeks in Canada this year. My spouse is a Canadian citizen and resident but will spend about 5 months with me in the US this year. Do I need to file a Canadian return for this year (2016) or can it wait until 2017?

nelsona · Post by **nelsona** » Thu May 19, 2016 2:48 pm

You will not have established sufficient Canadian residential ties to outweigh your US ties, so will not be considered a Canadian tax resident unti;l you physically move to Canada.

Be assured that either being a Canadian resident or filing a Canadian tax return are NOT conditions of being a Canadian PR. You may remain out-of-country for 3 years.