Educate me on filing a US tax return in Canada

[jeff198901]

So, my wife if an American living in Canada as a Permanent Reaident.

Can someone educate me on what needs to be done to file an American tax return from Canada? What is needed? What do I do?

Do we need her W2 from the United States?

Any info at all is greatly appreciated!

Thank you very much

 

[Alex54321]

So, my wife if an American living in Canada as a Permanent Reaident.

Can someone educate me on what needs to be done to file an American tax return from Canada? What is needed? What do I do?

Do we need her W2 from the United States?

Any info at all is greatly appreciated!

Thank you very much

It does not matter where your wife lives. The US citizen has to file income taxes on worldwide income (including Canadian income) forever... By the way if she is going to file US Married Filing Jointly to possible reduce US tax obligations she will have to include your Canadian income as well.

https://www.efile.com/married-filing-jointly-tax-filing-status/

After that Canadian taxation comes... by April 30th.

 

[jeff198901]

It does not matter where your wife lives. The US citizen has to file income taxes on worldwide income (including Canadian income) forever... By the way if she is going to file US Married Filing Jointly to possible reduce US tax obligations she will have to include your Canadian income as well.

https://www.efile.com/married-filing-jointly-tax-filing-status/

After that Canadian taxation comes... by April 30th.

That really has nothing to do with the question I asked, but thanks for the info anyways!

 

[Totoro1661]

So, my wife if an American living in Canada as a Permanent Reaident.

Can someone educate me on what needs to be done to file an American tax return from Canada? What is needed? What do I do?

Do we need her W2 from the United States?

Thank you very much

Hi Jeff,

What needs to be filed: if she is a US citizen, she needs to file an annual tax return (Form 1040) as a minimum requirement. Depending on her facts, she might need to file other forms as well.

Form W-2: only applies if she earned US employment income. If she didn't work in the US at all during 2018, then she shouldn't have this form. If she did work in the US, then she needs to obtain this form.

The cheapest way to find out is by having a look at the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/do-i-need-to-file-a-tax-return

I'm a US tax accountant in Canada, so feel free to let me know what I can help. If she lives in Vancouver, perhaps a call will be the best way to figure out her situation.

Best

 

[jeff198901]

Hi Jeff,

What needs to be filed: if she is a US citizen, she needs to file an annual tax return (Form 1040) as a minimum requirement. Depending on her facts, she might need to file other forms as well.

Form W-2: only applies if she earned US employment income. If she didn't work in the US at all during 2018, then she shouldn't have this form. If she did work in the US, then she needs to obtain this form.

The cheapest way to find out is by having a look at the IRS website: https://www.irs.gov/help/ita/do-i-need-to-file-a-tax-return

I'm a US tax accountant in Canada, so feel free to let me know what I can help. If she lives in Vancouver, perhaps a call will be the best way to figure out her situation.

Best

Thanks for the response! We are in Kingston Ontario. We made a few phone calls and found someone who specializes in exactly this here in town!

Thank you!

 

[seamarine]

Thanks for the response! We are in Kingston Ontario. We made a few phone calls and found someone who specializes in exactly this here in town!

Thank you!

Hi

Would you mind sharing the details of the accountant as I am trying to find one in Ontario. Thanks