Question about filing tax for spouse outside of Canada

[fayzaan]

Hello,

I am just starting to do my taxes via Ufile just like any previous year, but this year is a little different...because of Marital status change. I was married in Feb of 2011 in Pakistan, and now that I am doing my taxes, I have realized that I need to change my marital status to married.

I have sent the sponsorship documents to immigrate her here, but she has never been to Canada before, do I still have to update my marital status to married in ufile? Is she considered a non-resident? what about SIN#??

When I try to do my taxes via ufile and change my status to married, it requires that I add my spouse into the system. Doing so requires I enter her SIN#(which she doesn't have yet as she has never been to Canada).

Any help or information would be appreciated!! I did look on CRA's website but couldn't find anything specific to my situation. I think at this point my spouse is considered a non-resident but I am not 100% sure. Offices are closed today so I was wondering if I could get the answer on here .

 

[computergeek]

You need to request an ITIN for your spouse. See http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/E/pbg/tf/t1261/t1261e.pdf for the relevant form.

 

[Deficient]

Right, so to be absolutely clear on this as I think this applies to me... if a Canadian and non-Canadian marry during one tax year but the non-Canadian doesn't become tax resident during that year, the non-Canadian needs to have an Individual Tax Number issued for them so that the Canadian can enter it on their tax return?

Does this then create any obligation for the non-Canadian to file a tax return?

The reason I ask is because the form asks why the ITN is being requested. Assuming no tax return needs to be filed by the non-resident non-Canadian, what should be ticked on the form?

 

[computergeek]

Right, so to be absolutely clear on this as I think this applies to me... if a Canadian and non-Canadian marry during one tax year but the non-Canadian doesn't become tax resident during that year, the non-Canadian needs to have an Individual Tax Number issued for them so that the Canadian can enter it on their tax return?

Does this then create any obligation for the non-Canadian to file a tax return?

The reason I ask is because the form asks why the ITN is being requested. Assuming no tax return needs to be filed by the non-resident non-Canadian, what should be ticked on the form?

If the non-Canadian spouse does not have any Canadian tax liability, CRA does not require an ITN. What I've been reading on here is that what people in this situation typically do is put all zeros in for the SIN. But if your spouse does have an ITN and no tax liability, it would not require filing a return.

If I had to choose a box, I'd pick "Filing a Canadian tax return" (it doesn't say "filing MY Canadian tax return after all").

Good luck!

 

[gege]

You do not need to file tax return for her since she is in none resident status. Ufile will ask you "what infomation you provide for your spouse?" From the drop down box, you should select "net income only" ,thus you only need to input her name and net income(no SIN necessary). Don't forget select"no" at the drop down box on her page about the question " was this person a canadian resident in 2011?" )

 

[Kat2012]

I have a similar situation. I'm from the U.S., living in Canada (on a temporary visitor permit) with my Canadian spouse, awaiting sponsorship processing to be over with. We've registered a change in marital status for him with cra but we still can't figure out how to fill out his tax return with me on it. I heard that I need to get a temporary sin. But I'm so confused by all that we've had to do, I don't know what to believe anymore. Any suggestions?