Bird Talk

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, My husband and I are retiring this January and are planning to spend our winters in either Arizona or Texas. Is there a U.S. bank that is a better choice for Canadians? We are heading to Arizona for February and to Texas in March and would like to open a chequing account […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, Please advise all our members of a very dishonest policy the Toronto Star has installed without any notice to their readers. No credit will be permitted to your account when you leave for your annual trip (meaning, do not pay in advance or better still, CANCEL prior to new billing that would […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, In your always informative Editor’s notes in the Summer 2013 issue, you mentioned that snowbird visitors are not allowed to work in the U.S. Is this different than for any other Canadian? For example, what about Canadians who give the occasional speech or lead a workshop at a conference in the U.S., […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, We recently bought a manufactured home in Florida. We have heard that if we sell this unit down the road, we will be taxed by the U.S. government. There are many different opinions on this. Can you advise us of the drawbacks of a Canadian selling mobile homes in Florida? Lorraine Hoculik […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, We recently bought a manufactured home in Florida. We have heard that if we sell this unit down the road, we will be taxed by the U.S. government. There are many different opinions on this. Can you advise us of the drawbacks of a Canadian selling mobile homes in Florida? Lorraine Hoculik […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, I read with interest the Bird Talk in Summer 2013 issue of CSA News; in particular, page 9. I receive acknowledgement for my annual filings (of Form 8840) by making sure my filing is done with an AR “Advice of Receipt Registered International” which I purchase at my local Canada Post office […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, Per page 37 from Border Guide, and confirmed by Regional Consultant, Investigative Services, Belleville, Ont., it is illegal for Canadians to give their SIN # to any U.S. entity. But get an IRS-ITIN # to use when you have to pay tax or do banking in the U.S. Go to a U.S. […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, I always enjoy the articles and timely tips, but must admit that one article in the recent Bird Talk section raised huge red flags. I refer specifically to the one from V.C. in Lloydminster, AB, where he suggested how to adapt your SIN to facilitate a U.S. credit card application. Having been […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, I have read with interest your previous exchanges on the difficulty of obtaining a U.S. $ bank credit card. Last summer, the solution seemed to be to get a U.S. tax ID number. That option won’t work anymore, as the IRS will not issue one unless you will be filing a U.S. […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, When calculating days spent in the U.S. on the form 8840, if a person returns to Canada for two weeks at Christmastime and then returns to the U.S., or if a person is going on a cruise for two weeks on the Panama Canal while they are staying in the U.S., are […]