Tax Issues For Investors And Canadian Immigrants

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By Stephanie Brown


Taxation obligations in Canada are not determined by your citizenship status. Rather, the country has adopted a system where you are taxed based on your worldwide income. This demands that immigrants and investors minimize their burden as much as possible. This can be done by considering the tax issues for investors and Canadian immigrants.

While the economy of Canada is considerably stable and rewarding, it does not always offer the promises some people expect. Upon taking citizenship or residency, you may decide to return to your country of origin while you leave your family behind. This enters you into the bracket of residential obligations that have to be met. The family is already considered significantly residing in Canada.

A tax resident of Canada is exposed to greater taxation obligations than it appears from outside. The official declarations made are based on worldwide income and not the income you make while in Canada. Many people would trick the system by not declaring income earned elsewhere. However, today there is seamless sharing of information between institutions and governments. This makes it easier for your other income sources to be traced.

It is illegal to fail to declare income obtained while abroad if you are considered a resident. With stringent rules governing immigration and acquisition of permanent residence, you risk losing that status. Many people have in fact lost this status on the basis of undeclared income. The revenue authority further commences audit issues that will result into criminal proceedings. This can be avoided by understanding the issues affecting your unique status.

Your residency status will give an indication of your obligations. To minimize your exposure, it is advisable that you minimize your links with Canada. Between your country of investment and Canada, find the one that offers the best rates but do not fail to declare your income. Will such steps affect granting of permanent resident status? The answer is a straight no. Each of these issues is handled separately.

Tax residency and permanent residency are two separate issues. A person can attain one status and not the other. One way to minimize taxation obligations is through formation of Immigration Trust. This will qualify you for taxation amnesty that lasts for five years. The benefits will depend on your obligations in the country of residence or origin.

When all is said and done, is chasing residency important? A clause that gave special status to workers employed by Canadian firms and spouses living or touring with Canadian citizens for 730 days in five years residency provides an answer. This clause is an easy and legal way to live and work in Canada without having dealing with tax burdens.

The introduction of the super visa and the multiple entry visa made it easy for spouses and families of immigrants or Canadian citizens to visit easily and reside in Canada for up to two straight years. This enables a person to have a family and easily visit them and still explore the option of settling there after making money elsewhere. This makes it easy to navigate taxation laws without losing permanent residency for you or your family.




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