File taxes? PR, 7 month in Canada without work, now in US

[danhass]

Sorry if this has been asked before.

I lived in Canada in year 2013 for 7 months. Did not earn any money. Now back in US.

I have filed US taxes. (Note: US has tax treaty with Canada). Do I need to file Canada taxes as well?

(If yes, is it any easier for people like me to just send an email to Canada tax agency or something instead doing the detailed paperwork?)

 

[steerpike]

Technically i think you are supposed to, but i wouldn't worry about it if you don't. No you can't just just pop them an email and tell them you didnt earn any money so you're not filing. Either fill in the proper forms and send it in, or just skip it.

 

[jatt-going-canada]

dude just file it! it only takes like 5 minutes to do it..
just download the snaptax app on your smartphone and file for free..
or just do it with free version of turbotax on your computer..
Not filing tax is an offence

 

[danhass]

dude just file it! it only takes like 5 minutes to do it..
just download the snaptax app on your smartphone and file for free..
or just do it with free version of turbotax on your computer..
Not filing tax is an offence

If it's that easy then I am more than willing to file it.

Do I have to file two taxes? federal and province (I lived in Ontario)? or just one?

 

[canuck_in_uk]

Not filing tax is an offence

It's not automatically an offence. Unless one of the situations listed by CRA applies, as found here http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/ndvdls/tpcs/ncm-tx/flng-blgtns/menu-eng.html, a person is not legally obligated to file taxes.

In the case of the OP, with no taxable income earned in Canada in 2013, s/he isn't required to file a return unless any of those other reasons apply to them.

 

[jatt-going-canada]

you only have to file once...
It might not be an offence but i am pretty sure that if in future you need access to any govt services in canada for eg healthcare , student loans etc you are better off filing tax

 

[on-hold]

file it -- under bill C-24, in the future citizenship applications will have to be supported with tax returns, might as well get started if there's a chance you'll want to do this in the future.

Also, CRA has very complicated procedures for figuring out if you're a resident or not, I suggest you talk to them before you blithely choose 'nonresident'. I did that, and it's caused no end of trouble for me.

 

[BZ Mom]

Sorry if this has been asked before.

I lived in Canada in year 2013 for 7 months. Did not earn any money. Now back in US.

I have filed US taxes. (Note: US has tax treaty with Canada). Do I need to file Canada taxes as well?

(If yes, is it any easier for people like me to just send an email to Canada tax agency or something instead doing the detailed paperwork?)

Canadian taxes is based on residency. Since you are a permanent resident of Canada, you should file your Canadian taxes based on your worldwide income. So any income you earned outside of Canada should be reported. You can claim credits for tha taxes you paid in the US. I suggest you visit/consult a tax preparer (e.g., H&R Block).