Taxes and Spouse abroad

[denis_mtrl]

Hi,

With the lovely tax season at the door, I wonder can I (and on what form) claim
refunds because I am supporting my wife who is a student abroad and has no income?

We got all the bank records, but I cant find appropriate tax form to fill in~
Any help please?

Many thanks!

 

[mexicanada]

Good morning,
I just did my taxes and the form I had to use ( If you reside in Canada) was a T1.
You can double check anyways with H&R Block or another Tax agency to make sure.

 

[denis_mtrl]

Thanks, so on T1 you showed support payments you made for your wife?

 

[mexicanada]

I used Turbo Tax when I filed and on the T1 form it asked for "All" spousal information
including amount given to support spouse. This was my first year filing as married and my husband
lives abroad.

 

[Dan_from_Surrey]

Howdy, I file with H&R every year, this past year 2012, my wife and son where in the Philippines the entire time, and I was their sole form of support financially. I presented all my remittance slips for 2012, and a copy of our marriage certificate from Alberta, and I got credit (money back) against what I had sent to them this last year. So yes, especially if you are the sole source of income for your partner, you can claim it. Bit prepared to show some proof is all.

Dan

 

[CharlieD10]

I'll agree with previous posters, before I was landed my husband was able to claim the support payments he sent to me on his tax return. He had to present all the remittance receipts, to be on the safe side we sent both his copies (bank statements, as he made the transfers from his account) and mine (the actual remittance receipts from the agency, I sent these to him via email attachments.)

 

[Rob_TO]

You can enter your spouse as a dependent. This is a set amount to claim, and on the federal portion of taxes (T1-2012 Schedule 1) is entered on line 303 "Spouse or Common-Law Partner amount". This comes from Schedule 5, and the base amount you can claim is $10,822. From this amount you are supposed to deduct any income your spouse received.

You would then fill in the same Spouse/Common-Law amount on your provincial form.

These give you a deduction, but I don't think it matters how much you actually supported her, as the amounts are fixed.

As for tuition, I''m not sure if you can claim foreign tuition fees if you're not a Canadian resident for tax purposes. You should investigate more here, since typically in Canada a spouse can claim all the tuition/education expenses incurred by the other spouse.

 

[denis_mtrl]

Thank you all !!! Much appreciated!

One outstanding thing is, did you do it online or paper?
It doesnt let me file online without SIN for my spouse which she doesnt have....

 

[Mrs.]

Thank you all !!! Much appreciated!

One outstanding thing is, did you do it online or paper?
It doesnt let me file online without SIN for my spouse which she doesnt have....

Hi,

Am in the same situation with the SIN. The software does not allow me to continue for 2 reasons on the Quebec portion 1) no SIN for spouse and 2) I say that I live alone but I am married.

I called Revenu Quebec (side note...pressing 9 for English explains all the options in French, they actully "test" your understanding of French and if they deem that you understand it, no English Service!!!!!). Anyway, they said that if I fill out the paper version it will not be a problem. They also said that the software I am using is flawed. Anyhow, there is no way to claim a dependent on the Qc tax return if the spouse is living abroad. They will only accept the claim when your spouse is a resident.

Since I want to continue filing on line, I called CRA and they said I could file as single this year. When my husband arrives and has a SIN, i should submit a change of status form (RC 65). Then, next taxation year fill-in a T1 adjustment for 2012 and claim my husband as a dependent for both years. They also suggested I sign up for "My Account" on the CRA site and make the changes there as they arise.

So, this is what I decided to do, that way I can still file online as I have been doing for years.

Let me know if you get a different answer from Revenu Quebec.

 

[gsa77]

You can enter your spouse as a dependent. This is a set amount to claim, and on the federal portion of taxes (T1-2012 Schedule 1) is entered on line 303 "Spouse or Common-Law Partner amount". This comes from Schedule 5, and the base amount you can claim is $10,822. From this amount you are supposed to deduct any income your spouse received.

You would then fill in the same Spouse/Common-Law amount on your provincial form.

These give you a deduction, but I don't think it matters how much you actually supported her, as the amounts are fixed.

Is it still valid? Does anybody know?

I tried SimpleTax and H&R block online and they don't give an option to put it anywhere.

 

[gsa77]

found this

https://turbotax.community.intuit.ca/questions/1708503-how-to-claim-the-spouse-or-common-law-partner-amount-in-turbo-tax-the-software-is-not-allowing-me-to-add-my-spouse-as-a-dependant-please-help

if they don't let us be together at least I will make them bastards pay for it.

 

[MaryL]

found this

https://turbotax.community.intuit.ca/questions/1708503-how-to-claim-the-spouse-or-common-law-partner-amount-in-turbo-tax-the-software-is-not-allowing-me-to-add-my-spouse-as-a-dependant-please-help

if they don't let us be together at least I will make them bastards pay for it.

I have claimed my husband for two or 3 years. But I also travelled alot and sent him money in the last year he was there. I have all those receipts if they ever ask. I went into H&R and they did it up. But after I did it myself. You just leave sin number blank I believe. It should ask if spouse is in or out of country.