Parents coming back after a long stay out of Canada

[Ponga]

Hi Again,

My parents were admitted back here in May with no issue. Unfortunately, they've decided to leave Canada for good this month. They've availed the healthcare benefits (check ups) and also receive GST benefits (They file their taxes yearly even when they're back home).

Since they have no plans of coming back and for sure they won't be admitted because their PR expired in August, do we have to do anything? Should we be worried about the benefits they've received and will be receiving (GST) from the government? Thanks!

Their PR did not expire in August. PR status never expires, only the PR card expires. I can't offer an opinion regarding the benefits they're receiving, but I'm sure others will.

Regarding PR status, they have two choices:
1. Do nothing.

2. Voluntarily renounce their PR status

With #1, they would still be allowed to enter Canada (even with an expired PR card), but may not be able to fly commercially unless they have a PRTD (if needed).

 

[armoured]

Since they have no plans of coming back and for sure they won't be admitted because their PR expired in August, do we have to do anything? Should we be worried about the benefits they've received and will be receiving (GST) from the government? Thanks!

Yes, they should contac tCRA to stop receiving GST rebates.

 

[canuck78]

Hi Again,

My parents were admitted back here in May with no issue. Unfortunately, they've decided to leave Canada for good this month. They've availed the healthcare benefits (check ups) and also receive GST benefits (They file their taxes yearly even when they're back home).

Since they have no plans of coming back and for sure they won't be admitted because their PR expired in August, do we have to do anything? Should we be worried about the benefits they've received and will be receiving (GST) from the government? Thanks!

Did they inform CRA that they were non residents when they left Canada? They were required no notify CRA and their provincial healthcare authority when they left Canada. They should not have been receiving benefits while they were non-residents. They could file taxes as non-residents but would not qualify for things like GST benefits while abroad. Did they file taxes using your address or did they clearly indicate they lived abroad on their taxes although they also needed to inform CRA. They will need to repay any benefit they received incorrectly. They only qualified to use healthcare if they planned on meeting the residency requirement to receive healthcare in the province they live in. That is living in Canada for the next 6-12 months depending on the province. They can be asked to repay any of the healthcare they used (doctor visit and subsidized medication) if they don’t meet the RO. Your mother had to reapply for her health card on arrival as well and she will have to meet the residency requirements of a new applicant. If she did not reapply she was not using a valid health card and could be asked to repay any healthcare expenses because of this. How long were they in Canada before leaving? It doesn’t look like they stayed for over 6 months so would not qualify to access “free” healthcare in any province or being residents of Canada this year so wouldn’t qualify for GST benefits either.

 

[canuck78]

Yes, they should contac tCRA to stop receiving GST rebates.

Thry also needed to contact CRA the first time they left to be declared as non-residents at that point. They shouldn’t have been receiving GST benefits while away either. They will likely be asked to repay GST benefits they received incorrectly at a certain point. Always boggles my mind when people think they should receive benefits while not living in Canada. The mother was the only one who was likely a tax resident and for only her initial stay of over a year.