Bird Talk » Politics & Gov't

Posted date : Aug 9, 2019.

There are two issues raised in the Bird Talk of the spring issue on page 8, where I am questioning your response: (1) There is no withholding tax on a U.S. sale of less than $250,000. (2) In Canada, we are required to report any real estate transaction of more than $100,000 at purchase.

Posted date : May 14, 2019.

I found out recently that I need to submit an 8840 from July 2015 to current. Should I still file, even though it’s past the June 15 deadline? Or wait until next year? Is there a penalty or consequence for late filing? Thomas Phillips Vancouver, BC Response : Ed.: File it now. There are no […]

Posted date : May 14, 2019.

A further question about your response in the winter 2017 issue: “if you earn ANY income in the United States, you are required to file a U.S. tax return. This includes rental income for leasing your condo or park model as well.” Does this apply to income earned from investments in the stock market – […]

Posted date : May 14, 2019.

If you have a U.S. Individual Taxpayer ID number but have not filed a U.S. tax return for three years, the Tax ID number will expire. Can you confirm that filing Form 8840 – Closer Connection form does NOT constitute filing a U.S. tax return? Bob Bovaird Response : Ed.: Filing the Form 8840 does […]

Posted date : May 13, 2019.

Re: your fall 2017 issue, a reader was concerned that no receipt was confirmed or received when they submitted Form 8840. We have been completing this form for several years and, when sending in the form, we pay an extra $5 to have a receipt mailed back to us confirming that the government has received […]

Posted date : May 13, 2019.

The information in this section of CSANews is always very useful to snowbirds and others with some connection to the U.S. Could you please clarify your response to a recent letter in which you state that, “if you earn income in the U.S. you do have to file a U.S. tax return.” According to the […]

Posted date : Nov 13, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, We returned to Canada on April 7 after our winter in Arizona, crossing at the Coutts, Alberta/Sweetgrass, Montana border station. We were instructed to put all poultry products, specifically chicken (fresh, frozen, or cooked), eggs and pet food products in garbage containers at the border. We were not allowed to bring these […]

Posted date : Nov 13, 2017.

If Canadian snowbirds can’t deduct their “allowed days” during short times back in Canada (i.e. for Christmas) unless the visit lasts for 30 days or longer…do the U.S. regulations also state for any SHORT trips by Canadians INTO the U.S. (say for taking a seven-day cruise out of a U.S. port and then returning to […]

Posted date : Nov 13, 2017.

I would like our president and the board of directors to get a suggestion to Mr. Trump’s negotiators that the easiest way to level the playing field between Canada and the U.S. on trade would be to peg the CDN $ and the US $ at even par. This would make for fair trade and […]

Posted date : Nov 13, 2017.

In your answer to David Smith, you mention that returning to Canada for a week over Christmas or for a few days in Mexico should not be deducted from the six months…this may not be correct. I thought the same thing, that it had to be more than 30 days before not counting as time […]