Filing taxes for 0 income?

[automaton82]

I'm a Canadian citizen, so I have to file taxes every year regardless of whether or not I make income.

My spouse, however, was here in 2012 on a work/study visa (she does not have PR yet), and did not work. Does she still have to legally file a 0 income return for 2012? She did file in 2011 with a T4.

I was considering filing for 2012 just to get the GST rebates anyways.. but I'm not sure if it's mandatory.

Thanks!

 

[guri3577]

I'm a Canadian citizen, so I have to file taxes every year regardless of whether or not I make income.

My spouse, however, was here in 2012 on a work/study visa (she does not have PR yet), and did not work. Does she still have to legally file a 0 income return for 2012? She did file in 2011 with a T4.

I was considering filing for 2012 just to get the GST rebates anyways.. but I'm not sure if it's mandatory.

Thanks!

Since, your spouse had no income in 2012 there won't be any penalty but, she might be eligible for GST credit depending if they consider her a resident in that year. Were you guys married in 2012?
Yes, it is mandatory to file taxes. I didn't file mine in the beginning thinking, since I am not working I don't need to. But, when I did file, I ended up getting a lot of GST/HST credit back
If your spouse was a student she should also include her T2202 tuition credit form which will be really beneficial. You guys can deduct your income against this credit.

 

[automaton82]

Since, your spouse had no income in 2012 there won't be any penalty but, she might be eligible for GST credit depending if they consider her a resident in that year. Were you guys married in 2012?
Yes, it is mandatory to file taxes. I didn't file mine in the beginning thinking, since I am not working I don't need to. But, when I did file, I ended up getting a lot of GST/HST credit back
If your spouse was a student she should also include her T2202 tuition credit form which will be really beneficial. You guys can deduct your income against this credit.

Thanks for the reply! No, we didn't get married until last month, so there's no real benefit aside from the GST rebates if I file 2012 for her.

So just to confirm: there's no penalty for her not to file for 2012, but she might get GST rebate? If I want to go ahead and file for 2012 for her, can I use QuickTax 2012 version and NetFile, or is that not possible? If not, how do I file (I've never done it another way for myself)? Thanks!

 

[guri3577]

Thanks for the reply! No, we didn't get married until last month, so there's no real benefit aside from the GST rebates if I file 2012 for her.

So just to confirm: there's no penalty for her not to file for 2012, but she might get GST rebate? If I want to go ahead and file for 2012 for her, can I use QuickTax 2012 version and NetFile, or is that not possible? If not, how do I file (I've never done it another way for myself)? Thanks!

You can use the software but will have to send her tax forms via mail since, it is her first time filing taxes in Canada and the new rules which state that newcomers can file taxes electronically are from year 2013 and on wards ( you may wanna confirm this). I used a tax consultant for mine.
Hope this helps!

 

[Amadan123]

Hello,

I hope you are all well.

Just for your information, you have to file taxes if you meet a few criteria, including, but not limited to:

• you have to paytax
• the CRA requested you to file
• you sold capital property

If you did not earn income, then you don't have to file your tax return, per se. However, it is a good idea to file them, even if you are not required to, to earn credits and rebates such as the GST/HST credit, WITB, UCCB, CCTB and others.

I hope that helps.

Madan Chartered Accountant team
madanca.com

 

[keesio]

Note that the new tabled Citizenship bill requires PRs to file taxes for all years they will count towards their residency. So it may be a good idea to file, even if you have no income, if your wife wishes to become a citizen

 

[guri3577]

Yes, it is mandatory to file taxes.

Correction, it is not mandatory to file if you have no income, but, a good idea if you want to receive all the credits since, some are not given after a certain period of time.