Tax Question Citizenship

[circuit]

My wife recently applied for citizenship. There was a question whether she filed taxes in the last 5 years. She did for 2017, 2018 and 2019 and she marked as yes for both required to file and taxes filed. This was done with help from CRA. However did she also have to mention 2016 and 2015. She immigrated to Canada in August of 2017. Was never in Canada before that. So she only mentioned those 3 years.

 

[Naush4]

My wife recently applied for citizenship. There was a question whether she filed taxes in the last 5 years. She did for 2017, 2018 and 2019 and she marked as yes for both required to file and taxes filed. This was done with help from CRA. However did she also have to mention 2016 and 2015. She immigrated to Canada in August of 2017. Was never in Canada before that. So she only mentioned those 3 years.

Need to mention all taxes filed during the 5 year eligibility period..You can choose "No" as an option if you were not required to file tax in any of those years.

 

[circuit]

Need to mention all taxes filed during the 5 year eligibility period..You can choose "No" as an option if you were not required to file tax in any of those years.

The form seems to be asking with CRA. She has filed taxes in the previous years too. Just not with CRA. And yes she was required to file in her country of origin. This question seems very vague. She called CIC once and they told her they do not care about taxes in India. But did not mention if she should put those years down. Also as a side note, she got her SIN in late 2017. CRA would not even have a record of the previous years.

 

[Naush4]

The form seems to be asking with CRA. She has filed taxes in the previous years too. Just not with CRA. And yes she was required to file in her country of origin. This question seems very vague. She called CIC once and they told her they do not care about taxes in India. But did not mention if she should put those years down. Also as a side note, she got her SIN in late 2017. CRA would not even have a record of the previous years.

I started filing my taxes since 2016 (as I landed in 2016 December) but I did check "No" for the year 2015 as it was within my eligibility period. I was in my country of origin in 2015 where I filed my taxes and that is not CIC's concern obviously.

 

[circuit]

1. filed income taxes (if required by the Income Tax Act) for any three taxation years that are fully or partially within the five years before you apply

This is from: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/application-canadian-citizenship-adults.html

 

[circuit]

I started filing my taxes since 2016 (as I landed in 2016 December) but I did check "No" for the year 2015 as it was within my eligibility period. I was in my country of origin in 2015 where I filed my taxes and that is not CIC's concern obviously.

Not sure if they actually care. Its a vague question. She could tell that she filed in 2016. But those were taxes in India and not Canada. Was she required to file those? Yes, but not in Canada. Answering 'No' would probably raise doubts as she was working as mentioned in Work/Education history of the application. This would probably just create more confusion with the applicant and the officer. Also if they care, it is mentioned in the application that she first landed in August 2017 and had no status and was not present in Canada before the date. Any competent officer should be able to understand that she was not here hence she only mentioned 3 years.

 

[rafzy]

My wife recently applied for citizenship. There was a question whether she filed taxes in the last 5 years. She did for 2017, 2018 and 2019 and she marked as yes for both required to file and taxes filed. This was done with help from CRA. However did she also have to mention 2016 and 2015. She immigrated to Canada in August of 2017. Was never in Canada before that. So she only mentioned those 3 years.

You can leave 2016 & 2015 out as she became PR in 2017. I did it myself and got AOR.

 

[Naush4]

Not sure if they actually care. Its a vague question. She could tell that she filed in 2016. But those were taxes in India and not Canada. Was she required to file those? Yes, but not in Canada. Answering 'No' would probably raise doubts as she was working as mentioned in Work/Education history of the application. This would probably just create more confusion with the applicant and the officer. Also if they care, it is mentioned in the application that she first landed in August 2017 and had no status and was not present in Canada before the date. Any competent officer should be able to understand that she was not here hence she only mentioned 3 years.

I told you what I filled and other members of my family who were tax filers did the same.
We all got AORs, but it can vary case to case. In our case we landed in 2016 and got PR in 2016 as well, eligibility period was 2015 to 2020, so technically we were not required to file tax nor we were physically present in Canada in 2015 so we marked "No" for that year.
And that is how it had to be filled for our application.

 

[circuit]

You can leave 2016 & 2015 out as she became PR in 2017. I did it myself and got AOR.

Thanks. I can calm down now.

 

[circuit]

I was wondering if anyone else had the same experience as my wife. Not having all 5 years and got the AOR.

 

[circuit]

Bump

 

[deadbird]

Bump

As others have said, your wife's application is ok. Please calm down.

 

[circuit]

As others have said, your wife's application is ok. Please calm down.

Thanks Deadbird

Its just that I was going through the forum and came across this:

Q12 (b): Tell us when you filed your income taxes in the last five (5) years using the chart below.

• Enter the tax year and indicate:
  • If you were required to file for the particular year AND
  • If you actually filed the taxes
• NOTE: DO NOT leave a blank box here. You MUST mention all 5 years in your eligibility period even if you were not present in Canada for a part of those 5 years.

 

[deadbird]

Thanks Deadbird

Its just that I was going through the forum and came across this:

Q12 (b): Tell us when you filed your income taxes in the last five (5) years using the chart below.

• Enter the tax year and indicate:
  • If you were required to file for the particular year AND
  • If you actually filed the taxes
• NOTE: DO NOT leave a blank box here. You MUST mention all 5 years in your eligibility period even if you were not present in Canada for a part of those 5 years.

The "Not present" part is meant for those who became Canadian PRs and left Canada/did not move to Canada after they did their landing. Since your wife became a PR in 2017, it does not apply. To ease your anxiety you can simply mention in your application for 2015/2016 - "Does not apply - Prior to acquiring Canadian PR or moving to Canada - Resident of India".

 

[cuteNaush]

Thanks Deadbird

Its just that I was going through the forum and came across this:

Q12 (b): Tell us when you filed your income taxes in the last five (5) years using the chart below.

• Enter the tax year and indicate:
  • If you were required to file for the particular year AND
  • If you actually filed the taxes
• NOTE: DO NOT leave a blank box here. You MUST mention all 5 years in your eligibility period even if you were not present in Canada for a part of those 5 years.

Yes, that's what I told you