Is it ok to replace Option C with this?

[Malinka]

So I went through the forum to see what other people use instead of the Option C when they can't provide one but still need some advice. Putting together this application is totally messing with my head and I am not sure about anything anymore ??? My husband is the sponsor, lives in Canada, but can't provide Option C because sombody (let's not point fingers at that irresponsible procrastinator ) hasn't filed taxes. He has been on unemplyment insurance since he lost his job in June.

What we are thinking to do is to send:
- his last pay stub (last 2 maybe?)
- papers showing he started recieving unemplyoment insurance
- bank statements showing UI payment coming in
- a letter explayning why we have not sent Option C printout, that we are working on sorting out the taxes and can send it in as soon as we recieve it if they need it.
He can also get a job offer letter from his friend as he is hiring him starting February 2014, 2 month before the UI runs out, to show he will not go on welfare once he stops recieving the insurance.

Do you think this will be ok or will it cause a delay? We could wait till he files his taxes for the past few years and than apply but it has already been 2,5 years since our wedding and we have been apart the whole time for various reasons only meeting on vacations Don't want to make the wait longer if we can help it. Would appreciate any comments and suggestions.

 

[Avadava]

I can try to give you some answers, but don't take my word for it. This is what I would do in your situation:

1. Get the Printout C for the last year he filled taxes (my husband hasn't filled taxes since 2008 because he has been working outside Canada since then - so he got the Printout C for that year)

2. Send proof that he is on unemployment and if you can get a job offer starting Feb 2014 that would be great to include also.

3. Provide an explanation for his financial situation and how he plans to support you. Although there is no minimum income required for spouse sponsorship, it is important to reassure CIC that neither of you will go on social assistance and he won't default on his undertaking.

 

[Malinka]

I can try to give you some answers, but don't take my word for it. This is what I would do in your situation:

1. Get the Printout C for the last year he filled taxes (my husband hasn't filled taxes since 2008 because he has been working outside Canada since then - so he got the Printout C for that year)

2. Send proof that he is on unemployment and if you can get a job offer starting Feb 2014 that would be great to include also.

3. Provide an explanation for his financial situation and how he plans to support you. Although there is no minimum income required for spouse sponsorship, it is important to reassure CIC that neither of you will go on social assistance and he won't default on his undertaking.

Thanks for the ideas! Will include an explanation of how he is planning to support me. As for the Option C for the last year he filed taxes, I am ashamed on my husband's behalf to say it would be like 2002 or 2003 even though he has always worked in Canada :-[ But I will ask him to order it anyways to include and explain why its so old

 

[Avadava]

You could also get letters from family members that say they are willing to help you with whatever they can. Housing, financial support, etc.

 

[scylla]

I know you already know this - but he really needs to catch up on his taxes. He is now at the point where Revenue Canada could start deducting payments directly from his pay cheque. And if he owes money any of those years, the longer he waits, the higher the penalties.

 

[Malinka]

You could also get letters from family members that say they are willing to help you with whatever they can. Housing, financial support, etc.

That's a good idea. I think we will try to include letters from his mom, brother and my parents saying they are ready to help us financially if we need it. I am not sure if I should also mention my job allows me to work from anywhere with an internet connection and I will not lose my income after moving, so he won't be the only one supporting us :-\

 

[Malinka]

I know you already know this - but he really needs to catch up on his taxes. He is now at the point where Revenue Canada could start deducting payments directly from his pay cheque. And if he owes money any of those years, the longer he waits, the higher the penalties.

You are right, it seems like he is getting himself in more trouble by putting it off. He says he doesn't owe anything : I am not sure how Revenue Canada works, but it seems the only way to know if you owe anything is do all the paperwork and hope for the best. I will be getting into the nagging wife mode and pestering him to do it untill he finally gets it done 8) we definitely don't want to be in a huge debt with the government

 

[scylla]

You are right, it seems like he is getting himself in more trouble by putting it off. He says he doesn't owe anything : I am not sure how Revenue Canada works, but it seems the only way to know if you owe anything is do all the paperwork and hope for the best.

What they will eventually do is just take his earnings information (they have easy access to all of this since it's submitted by employers) and calculate what he owes without taking into consideration any deductions they don't know about (e.g. education, medical, charitable, transportation, etc.). This happened to a friend of mine a few years ago who somehow got 7 years behind. She had to pay what Revenue Canada thought she owed + penalties - and then had to hire a tax accountant to figure out her actual taxes since what Revenue Canada had calculated was higher than what she actually owed (because Revenue Canada had no way of knowing about some of the tax credits she had ). Based on her experience, I would very strongly recommend taking this situation into your own hands and fixing it before Revenue Canada decides to take action themselves.

 

[Malinka]

What they will eventually do is just take his earnings information (they have easy access to all of this since it's submitted by employers) and calculate what he owes without taking into consideration any deductions they don't know about (e.g. education, medical, charitable, transportation, etc.). This happened to a friend of mine a few years ago who somehow got 7 years behind. She had to pay what Revenue Canada thought she owed + penalties - and then had to hire a tax accountant to figure out her actual taxes since what Revenue Canada had calculated was higher than what she actually owed (because Revenue Canada had no way of knowing about some of the tax credits she had ). Based on her experience, I would very strongly recommend taking this situation into your own hands and fixing it before Revenue Canada decides to take action themselves.

That doesn't sound very good in our situation ??? Thank you scylla, really appreciate your advice! Will definitly try to sort it out asap

 

[jomz]

Some information someone can find useful.

Previously I have not filed 2010, 2011 and 2012 taxes, but as I knew I needed an Option C I contacted CRA to ask them if I have to file all prior years taxes or if ok, if I only file 2012. I was told that I do not have to file 2010, 2011 and 2012 to get my Option C, it is enough if I file 2012. This is what I did in July 2013, and received my assessment roughly 3 weeks after. Once I had that I applied for Option C and received it within 2 weeks.

I am planning on filing my 2010 and 2011 together with my 2013 taxes next year. CRA does not tie in prior year taxes to the next, they treat them very separetly so you can have gaps in filing certain years.

 

[Malinka]

Some information someone can find useful.

Previously I have not filed 2010, 2011 and 2012 taxes, but as I knew I needed an Option C I contacted CRA to ask them if I have to file all prior years taxes or if ok, if I only file 2012. I was told that I do not have to file 2010, 2011 and 2012 to get my Option C, it is enough if I file 2012. This is what I did in July 2013, and received my assessment roughly 3 weeks after. Once I had that I applied for Option C and received it within 2 weeks.

I am planning on filing my 2010 and 2011 together with my 2013 taxes next year. CRA does not tie in prior year taxes to the next, they treat them very separetly so you can have gaps in filing certain years.

I was just wondering if we could do that as husband can't find papers for 2 years of those 10 he hasn't filed so has to request them. Someone told him he has to file everything together. good to know it can be done. Thanks for your input, very useful!

 

[jomz]

I was just wondering if we could do that as husband can't find papers for 2 years of those 10 he hasn't filed so has to request them. Someone told him he has to file everything together. good to know it can be done. Thanks for your input, very useful!

Whoever gave him advice wasn't CRA The reason why I only wanted to do 2012 is because to do 2010 and 2011 I need to submit paper file, with 2012 I just did it online and submitted. Have your husband call CRA first to update his address with them, if it changed from his last return, or what they have on file. And when the address is correct, he can file 2012 online right away, and get his Option C right afterwards. Otherwise, you can still go the route to provide the other supporting docs as others have mentioned.

 

[Malinka]

Whoever gave him advice wasn't CRA The reason why I only wanted to do 2012 is because to do 2010 and 2011 I need to submit paper file, with 2012 I just did it online and submitted. Have your husband call CRA first to update his address with them, if it changed from his last return, or what they have on file. And when the address is correct, he can file 2012 online right away, and get his Option C right afterwards. Otherwise, you can still go the route to provide the other supporting docs as others have mentioned.

He just called them and they told him the same thing Luckily his address has been the same. Guess we will do the last year online and the rest later as I expect filing on paper for all those years will take some time, especially considering how lazy he is when it comes to paperwork If Option C comes soon enough we will apply with it, if not (which I think is more likely) we will apply with the above mentioned supporting documents so that my police clearences don't expire, and send the Option C in as soon as we get it. Hope we are getting it figured out finally, this has been confusing ;D