We emigrated to Vancouver (I got PR and SIN), and landed last Oct 2009.

We still haven't been able to secure a permanent job other than some temp full time work with a recruitment company on contract to Vanoc (Vancouver Olympics). I started this job in Jan 2010 and it will end by the end of March 2010. We don't claim any benefits and have submitted the standard form for medical insurance for BC.

I have been informed by someone that we don't need to fill in the tax form which is due by everyone by the end of April 2010 and that it's next years tax form I need to fill in.

Is this true ?

Thanks for any answers.

If you had income from work, interest etc. you should file, also if you are a low income bracket you may be entitled to further benefits, such as reduced MSP, Pharmacare ,child tax benefit etc.which you don't get unless you file a return.

It is true that you do not need to file but it is bad advice. As noted, filing a return when you are low income establishes your eligibility for various federal and provincial benefit programs.

Yes but wouldn't my low income etc. all be included in the 2010 tax which is submitted in 2011 ? I was mainly in the UK in 2009 until Oct and haven't earned anything until I started this temp work in Jan 2010 therefore shouldn't it be under the tax for for 2011 ?

eg. If was lucky enough to get a job after my Vanoc temp work, say in June 2010 or anythime during that year, surely it would be put in the tax form for 2010 to be submitted at the end of April 2011 ?

If you have any money in savings you will have some interest income for 2009. If it is up around $2,000 or higher it may be taxable. In this case you must file a tax return.

Otherwise you probably don't need to file a tax return but, as others have said, it is to your advantage to do so.

If you are legally resident for tax purposes, definitely if you own property here, surely you're obliged to fill one in, regardless of whether you actually earnt any money in Canada in 2009 or not. Your local community advice centre probably runs free tax filling for those on low incomes. Well worth booking yourself in, they fill in everything for you, sorted - do go armed with bank interest totals, property taxes paid, any health insurance premiums.

Nobody has to file a tax return UNLESS they owe taxes or want a refund.
However I would advise you to file your return for tax year 2009.

Your first ever tax return in Canada is filed with the International Tax Office in Ottawa. The international office is slow, upto 5 months for refunds so it would be best to file a return with them now rather than next year as you've earned no real income and are not probably expecting a refund of any kind.

You will be in the system and next year you will automatically get a tax package and e-file number in the mail allowing you to file with your provinicial tax office directly in paper or online. Refunds are a lot quicker this way (less than 3 weeks sometimes) and seeing as you will have income for 2010 it would be better to avoid the international office for the 2010 tax year.

Eh? This is one of those posts which appears to come from who knows what they're talking about, but in reality haven't a clue.

Caveat emptor.

Well then please correct my post and help the OP rather than post OT remarks.

False information. You file in your province of residence as of the end of the year you became resident. However you adjust personal allowances etc for the number of days resident in Canada. You only file with the international office as a non-resident.

I have done this twice and will be doing it again this year. I have also filed as a non-resident.

My deckchair and popcorn is ready

There are other circumstances where you must file a tax return, but generally this is true. As others have said, many means tested benefits are calculated based on the income on your tax return so no tax return = no benefits.

Not true. You file your return at your local tax service centre. Your first return must be on paper.

As lmartin999 says above, the International Tax Services people deal with non-residents.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/cntct/t1ddr-eng.html

It is not the International office but yes, the CRA take a long time to process a first return. 4-5 months is typical. It is also not unknown for them to lose a return so keep copies of everything.

Except in Quebec you do not file at a provincial tax office. If you chose to continue to file on paper then you send the return to your local tax services centre. The access code they send you enables you to net-file your return using generally available software. Yes, refunds are a lot quicker.

Note that the public cannot E-File returns. E-filing is reserved for registered professional tax preparers - accountants, HR Block type organizations and so on.

Yes, it is better to get in the system now (but it has nothing to do with the International office.

I hope this saves Novo the bother.

Quite.