Digger

A question about Quebec and Canadian tax liability:

My wife and I lived in Montreal throughout 2003.
I legally worked at a software company while holding a one year temporary
work visa.
My wife had a one year temporary work visa but was unable to find work.
We are not citizens of Canada (we are US citizens) and did not have
permanent resident status during 2003.
We were issued a temporary Social Insurance Number (SIN) and temporary
health card ( la carte maladie). However, we were not permitted to
participate in the prescription drug program available to citizens and
permanent residents. We paid full price for our prescription drugs.

My question is whether we pay full fare income tax in Quebec and federal
Canada.
My income was from Canada and my wife had income from the United States.
I began to question whether we should pay full fare income tax in Canada
because the Quebec form requires that everyone pay about $500 for the
prescription drug program in which we could not participate.
The exemptions to paying this fee listed on the back of the income tax form
did not mention temporary residents living in Canada who can not
participate.
I am confused as to what taxes to pay here in Canada and whether I need to
pay this prescription drug program fee specified on the Quebec tax form.

Thanks for your ideas and advice!

iaink

As a temporary resident living in Quebec for the whole year, YES, you are liable to all the taxes that a permanent resident or Citizen has to pay.

Your wifes income from the States may complicate things a bit, so maybe it is worth letting H&R Block, or some other firm take a look at the situation, you are more likely to find an expert there than on the immigration newsgroup here!

Seems unfair to not benefit from the drug program in Quebec. In Ontario, after the 3 month waiting period, all the usual OHIP benefits applied to me as a "Temporary" resident.

Iain