Taxes and WP

[Lady_Ashka]

I am wondering about something. I just hit common law with my BF. I am on a temporary work permit here, working at U of T, but I am paid by an institution from my home country and I get no money from Canada in any form. I pay taxes in my home country, which has a tax agreement with Canada. Now, when my BF notified CRA that his marital status has changed they told him I should have an account with them. Can anyone explain what that meant and whether I overlooked something important? I assumed that since I do not get a Canadian salary I do not pay taxes here (also because my country has a tax agreement with Canada). Is it obligatory for me to set up such an account? (I've already been here just over a year).

Also, CRA informed my BF that we should go to Service Canada and inform them about our common law status. Is there a deadline for that and is it obligatory? We hit CL on Sept 4th, informed CRA on Sept 28th or thereabouts, but did not get a chance to go to SC yet and I suddenly got worried we are doing something wrong.

Could anyone help me with this?

 

[Lammawitch]

If you are resident in Canada, even on a twp, yes you should submit a tax return to cra. HOWEVER, don't worry/panic; you can do this now, and if, as you say, there's a tax treaty with your home country, you probably won't owe here, but you need to do this.

Secondly, CRA's definition of "common-law" is not the same as CIC's definition of "common-law". So you've probably been "common-law" in CRA's eyes for longer than you think - but again, don't worry! If you've been asked to go to Service Canada to sort this out, do so.

 

[Lady_Ashka]

Ok thanks! So i will go to service canada and ask about the common law and taxes, do you think they will be able to help me on both issues? Also, if i need to submit some kind of tax info, and i can do it now, does that mean there are some deadlines for this,,or i can submit anytime/until a certain time,etc? My work permit currently expired and i am on implied status waiting for an extension...