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Will I loose Old Age Pension if I leave Canada forever?

JSPCAN

Hero Member
Oct 20, 2016
272
4
Hi Seniors,

I am a PR at the moment and hopefully by God's grace I will file for Citizenship by May 2021 and get it.

I plan to leave Canada forever and move to Australia after becoming a Citizen ,be with my spouse.

-Do I loose my old age pension benefits?

-Do I still have a meet any tax obligations?

-Will my imcome im Autralia have to be repoeted im Canada?

Best Regards
JSPCAN
 

Copingwithlife

VIP Member
Jul 29, 2018
3,864
1,866
Earth
Hi Seniors,

I am a PR at the moment and hopefully by God's grace I will file for Citizenship by May 2021 and get it.

I plan to leave Canada forever and move to Australia after becoming a Citizen ,be with my spouse.

-Do I loose my old age pension benefits?

-Do I still have a meet any tax obligations?

-Will my imcome im Autralia have to be repoeted im Canada?

Best Regards
JSPCAN
You need to investigate how CPP works . If you have contributed minimally to the plan, you can expect an extremely small pension . If you haven't contributed anything thru employee contributions , you can expect no pension. Just becoming a citizen doesn't guarantee a pension. You derive benefits based upon what's contributed
 

JSPCAN

Hero Member
Oct 20, 2016
272
4
You need to investigate how CPP works . If you have contributed minimally to the plan, you can expect an extremely small pension . If you haven't contributed anything thru employee contributions , you can expect no pension. Just becoming a citizen doesn't guarantee a pension. You derive benefits based upon what's contributed
Hi Copigwithlife ,

Thanks for your response.

What is if even though I wont be in Canada but I still report my Australian (foreign) income and file taxes in Canada....does that work to some advantage in some way for CPP?

-Lets assume after few years I want to come back to Canada. Is it possible to revive it again?

And what happens to Old Age Pension...will I be eligible for that? Is there any way to keep it running ?...like paying taxes..

Best Regards
JSPCAN
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
52,959
12,758
Hi Copigwithlife ,

Thanks for your response.

What is if even though I wont be in Canada but I still report my Australian (foreign) income and file taxes in Canada....does that work to some advantage in some way for CPP?

-Lets assume after few years I want to come back to Canada. Is it possible to revive it again?

And what happens to Old Age Pension...will I be eligible for that? Is there any way to keep it running ?...like paying taxes..

Best Regards
JSPCAN
Think Australia will have something to say if you pay Canadian taxes and you don’t pay your Australian taxes. That’s not how taxes work. CPP is based on contribution through work not taxes. If moving to Australia you should be exploring Australian pension system. If you return to Canada and contribute to CPP for decades yes you will get a pension. You still will need to save or will struggle to afford the necessities.
 

Copingwithlife

VIP Member
Jul 29, 2018
3,864
1,866
Earth
Hi Copigwithlife ,

Thanks for your response.

What is if even though I wont be in Canada but I still report my Australian (foreign) income and file taxes in Canada....does that work to some advantage in some way for CPP?

-Lets assume after few years I want to come back to Canada. Is it possible to revive it again?

And what happens to Old Age Pension...will I be eligible for that? Is there any way to keep it running ?...like paying taxes..

Best Regards
JSPCAN
If you’re working in another country , you’ll be contributing to THEIR pension .
You should contact service australia, there’s a toll free # from Canada in the link
and see exactly how their pension system is set up


https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/international-services/how-we-can-help
 

Ms.kaka

Star Member
Jan 24, 2011
132
10
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Hi Seniors,

I am a PR at the moment and hopefully by God's grace I will file for Citizenship by May 2021 and get it.

I plan to leave Canada forever and move to Australia after becoming a Citizen ,be with my spouse.

-Do I loose my old age pension benefits?

-Do I still have a meet any tax obligations?

-Will my imcome im Autralia have to be repoeted im Canada?

Best Regards
JSPCAN

I am tempted to answer your questions,but I am not legal expert and also my ideas was based on my research when I was a new immigrant back in 2012. What I am trying to say, maybe the rules was change.

Like you, I don't want to leave in Canada forever. Maybe enjoy my retirement back in the Philippines in the future.

Based on what I gathered before, you need a number of years as a tax payer in Canada so that you can have a old age pension. If my memory serve me right, 10 years was the minimum tax contribution to have a old age pension benefits here in Canada( Living physical in Canada).

So let say, you are old age pensioner with 10 years of tax contribution, and you want to travel and leave outside Canada, in order to receiver your pension benefits continuously. You need to go back to Canada.

in short, you need to stay here or live here.

I am not sure anymore, probably you are allowed at least minimum less than 6 months outside Canada.
To summarize, in order to enjoy your pension, you need to stay in Canada most of the time.

In addition, 20 years of Canadian tax contribution or more you can enjoy your old age pension, stay and live anywhere in the world. No need to travel right away in Canada or any restrictions for your pensions.

# 2 I don't have any idea about Australia taxation.

But food for thought, when you become a Canadian citizen. You can call the C.R.A or canada tax office, inform them,that you are planning to leave outside Canada and you want to file a non resident status.

My friends and I was planning to move in the STATES last year, I was lucky I did not pursue it ,but my friends continue the plans and moved in New york.
She called the cra or canada tax office, to change non resident status to avoid double taxes.

Canada and USA have a treaty regarding about this.

If I was able to move and stay in New york, I rather pay my taxes in Canada than in the states. you are allowed to choose anyway.
 
Last edited:

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
52,959
12,758
I am tempted to answer your questions,but I am not legal expert and also my ideas was based on my research when I was a new immigrant back in 2012. What I am trying to say, maybe the rules was change.

Like you, I don't want to leave in Canada forever. Maybe enjoy my retirement back in the Philippines in the future.

Based on what I gathered before, you need a number of years as a tax payer in Canada so that you can have a old age pension. If my memory serve me right, 10 years was the minimum tax contribution to have a old age pension benefits here in Canada( Living physical in Canada).

So let say, you are old age pensioner with 10 years of tax contribution, and you want to travel and leave outside Canada, in order to receiver your pension benefits continuously. You need to go back to Canada.

in short, you need to stay here or live here.

I am not sure anymore, probably you are allowed at least minimum less than 6 months outside Canada.
To summarize, in order to enjoy your pension, you need to stay in Canada most of the time.

In addition, 20 years of Canadian tax contribution or more you can enjoy your old age pension, stay and live anywhere in the world. No need to travel right away in Canada or any restrictions for your pensions.

# 2 I don't have any idea about Australia taxation.

But food for thought, when you become a Canadian citizen. You can call the C.R.A or canada tax office, inform them,that you are planning to leave outside Canada and you want to file a non resident status.

My friends and I was planning to move in the STATES last year, I was lucky I did not pursue it ,but my friends continue the plans and moved in New york.
She called the cra or canada tax office, to change non resident status to avoid double taxes.

Canada and USA have a treaty regarding about this.

If I was able to move and stay in New york, I rather pay my taxes in Canada than in the states. you are allowed to choose anyway.
Somewhat right.

If you moved to the US you have to pay US taxes you can’t choose to pay Canadian.
 
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Ms.kaka

Star Member
Jan 24, 2011
132
10
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Somewhat right.

If you moved to the US you have to pay US taxes you can’t choose to pay Canadian.

As I mention earlier, there is a tax treaty between countries.

This mentioned by the links below cbc news.

Unlike the factual test in Canada that determines residency, the U.S. taxes non-U.S. citizens based on a very mechanical formula. The calculation is thus: You take all the days you have lived in the United States during the current year, a third of the days you stayed in the U.S. in previous year, and one sixth of the number of days from the year before that. If the sum of those days exceeds 183, you are deemed a U.S. resident.

But it is possible to challenge that. A person can file a "closer connection" statement.

"You basically assert that you have a closer connection to another country and this is why you won't file a U.S. return," Tollstam said.




Some links to ponder...
http://www.americanlaw.com/ustxtmp2.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/taxes/6-must-know-tax-facts-for-canadians-earning-abroad-1.1167892
https://www.canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/international-non-residents/information-been-moved/determining-your-residency-status.html
 

Ms.kaka

Star Member
Jan 24, 2011
132
10
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Anyway, I rest my case. I am not a legal expert and also, what I learned is only a theory and I don't have personal experience about it. But one thing for sure, Most of the people I know prefer to pay taxes in the states than file a non resident status in Canada to avoid double taxation.
 

canuck78

VIP Member
Jun 18, 2017
52,959
12,758
Anyway, I rest my case. I am not a legal expert and also, what I learned is only a theory and I don't have personal experience about it. But one thing for sure, Most of the people I know prefer to pay taxes in the states than file a non resident status in Canada to avoid double taxation.
Non-residents aren’t required to file taxes. That also isn’t choosing to pay taxes in Canada vs the US.
 

Ms.kaka

Star Member
Jan 24, 2011
132
10
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Non-residents aren’t required to file taxes. That also isn’t choosing to pay taxes in Canada vs the US.
You got it right, it is my mistake and I stand to be corrected.

My mind was referring to an idea, if you have an green card holder or under working visa in the states and the same time, you are a canadian Citizen also.
 

Eveslm

Champion Member
Jun 21, 2018
1,060
295
Edmonton
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
Mississauga
I am tempted to answer your questions,but I am not legal expert and also my ideas was based on my research when I was a new immigrant back in 2012. What I am trying to say, maybe the rules was change.

Like you, I don't want to leave in Canada forever. Maybe enjoy my retirement back in the Philippines in the future.

Based on what I gathered before, you need a number of years as a tax payer in Canada so that you can have a old age pension. If my memory serve me right, 10 years was the minimum tax contribution to have a old age pension benefits here in Canada( Living physical in Canada).

So let say, you are old age pensioner with 10 years of tax contribution, and you want to travel and leave outside Canada, in order to receiver your pension benefits continuously. You need to go back to Canada.

in short, you need to stay here or live here.

I am not sure anymore, probably you are allowed at least minimum less than 6 months outside Canada.
To summarize, in order to enjoy your pension, you need to stay in Canada most of the time.

In addition, 20 years of Canadian tax contribution or more you can enjoy your old age pension, stay and live anywhere in the world. No need to travel right away in Canada or any restrictions for your pensions.

# 2 I don't have any idea about Australia taxation.

But food for thought, when you become a Canadian citizen. You can call the C.R.A or canada tax office, inform them,that you are planning to leave outside Canada and you want to file a non resident status.

My friends and I was planning to move in the STATES last year, I was lucky I did not pursue it ,but my friends continue the plans and moved in New york.
She called the cra or canada tax office, to change non resident status to avoid double taxes.

Canada and USA have a treaty regarding about this.

If I was able to move and stay in New york, I rather pay my taxes in Canada than in the states. you are allowed to choose anyway.
I think the 6 month still applies. My father in law lives in Canada for 6-7 months each year and lives in his wife's country for the remaining 5-6 months. And he gets his pension