Away for 17 years

[Toffee]

Hi Leon and experts here,
I landed in 1994 and left the country in 1996 without applying for citizenship. I returned to Canada in 2013. I still have the IMM1000 paper with me. I'll fulfill the 2 years out of 5 years stay for PR card in Sept 2015. However, it's been a headache for me after I filed Income Tax of 2013. Revenue Canada kept asking me my global income before I came back. I've replied them with my world income of 2013 but now they asked me for my departure date as well as world income for the past few years. They even ask me to provide contact number so that they can call me for further information.
I'm afraid if I tell them my departure date of 1996 and they notice that I have been away from the country for 17 years, then I'll get into trouble.
Please advice!

 

[steaky]

This is a tax issue and has nothing to do with permanent residency obligations. I suggest you retain an accountant to represent you with Revenue Canada.

 

[Alurra71]

Cra and CIC are two different agencies. One has nothing to do with the other. You can give them the information they need.

 

[Leon]

Agreed, give them the info they need. What you should have done back when you left would have been to tell them that your leaving, file for one year after leaving and then ask them to consider you non-resident for tax purposes.

Otherwise, CRA is not bothered about your status. For all they know, you might be a citizen or you might still meet your PR RO on humanitarian grounds or by having a Canadian spouse.

 

[Toffee]

Thanks for all your replies!