Countdown for receiving child care benefits !

[Hasni]

Hello Amadan, Rosie , steaky and seniors,

I am a new immigrant, landed in Nov'13 for 15 days and came back. Since I intend to move for goods in near future, so one of my friends advised me to submit my tax returns online right now. I just have to put zero income and that's all, no big maths involved. Should I do it as advised, or better to submit return through some tax expert while I am physically present in Canada. Will filing returns now on line will make my countdown (of 90 days for receiving the child care benefits) start now itself ! Thanks

 

[Rosie1957]

Hasni, it's not clear to me from your post that you've established significant residential ties in Canada yet. Being a PR for immigration purposes is different from being a resident for tax purposes. Had you actually established a home here by the end of 2013, i.e., rented or purchased a place to live?

Also be aware that while you may have zero Canadian-source income for the year:
1) If you tell the CRA that you became a resident on 28-Nov-2013, then your world income (from all countries) from Nov 28 to Dec 31 is taxable in Canada.
2) Your GST credit and Child Tax Benefits will be based on your world income for all of 2013, not just on your income from Nov 28 to Dec 31.

You might want to have a look at form RC66 Schedule E on the CRA site before proceeding further.

 

[Hasni]

Hasni, it's not clear to me from your post that you've established significant residential ties in Canada yet. Being a PR for immigration purposes is different from being a resident for tax purposes. Had you actually established a home here by the end of 2013, i.e., rented or purchased a place to live?

Also be aware that while you may have zero Canadian-source income for the year:
1) If you tell the CRA that you became a resident on 28-Nov-2013, then your world income (from all countries) from Nov 28 to Dec 31 is taxable in Canada.
2) Your GST credit and Child Tax Benefits will be based on your world income for all of 2013, not just on your income from Nov 28 to Dec 31.

You might want to have a look at form RC66 Schedule E on the CRA site before proceeding further.

thanks for the reply. NO I haven't established any residential ties with Canada yet. Just landed for 15 days and came back. Now about my worldwide income, I guess it will also come under tax net once I establish residential ties with Canada, correct me if I am wrong. However I do have some money lying in my account in Canada and offcourse do intend to transfer / carry my savings to my bank account in Canada once I go for goods in near future. So what about that money which I will carry now as being an individual who is a permanent resident but has not established its residential ties with Canada yet. Thanks

 

[Rosie1957]

Having money in a bank account in Canada is a secondary tie. It doesn't make you a resident for tax purposes in and of itself. If the account earns interest, then you owe Canada taxes on that interest via a non-resident return.

 

[Hasni]

Thanks Rosie. Got a question connected to the topic. Can we claim / get back all the GST / HST which is charged on items purchased till the time we fall under the low income category or till the time we continue to receive child care benefit! Thanks

 

[Suin]

Having money in a bank account in Canada is a secondary tie. It doesn't make you a resident for tax purposes in and of itself. If the account earns interest, then you owe Canada taxes on that interest via a non-resident return.

Could you please give us more information about a non-resident return? Is it possible to file it without Canadian SIN#?

 

[steaky]

Is it possible to file it without Canadian SIN#?

Non-residents can get a temporary tax number from CRA which can be used instead of the Canadian SIN#. They can file the NR tax return with the temporary tax number or TTN.

 

[Suin]

Non-residents can get a temporary tax number from CRA which can be used instead of the Canadian SIN#. They can file the NR tax return with the temporary tax number or TTN.

Thank you for your reply. We have a relative here who has a saving account that generates some interest income. The bank never sent him any T5 for filing and at the same time when he tried to apply for SIN#, he was refused on the reason that he is here on a visitor's status.

 

[steaky]

Thank you for your reply. We have a relative here who has a saving account that generates some interest income. The bank never sent him any T5 for filing and at the same time when he tried to apply for SIN#, he was refused on the reason that he is here on a visitor's status.

That's why he need to get a TTN from the CRA, instead of applying the SIN#.

 

[Suin]

That's why he need to get a TTN from the CRA, instead of applying the SIN#.

What is TTN? And how to apply for it?

 

[steaky]

What is TTN? And how to apply for it?

Read my previous reply. I'm not gonna to repeat again.

 

[Hasni]

What is TTN? And how to apply for it?

temporary tax number