Couple moving to the USA from Canada
Jan 12th 2003, 3:43 pm
#1
Guest
Posts: n/a
Couple moving to the USA from Canada
Jan. 12/03
I've scanned this forum / topic for a while now... and have finally
come up with some questions of my own.
Brief background...
I'm an American with a Birth Cert. / Social Security # and Passport.
My wife is 100% Canadian. I was born to Canadian parents in Hawaii
and have always lived here in Canada. We've both paid Canadian taxes
and every investment has been Canadian.
My Objective...
I would like to move both myself, wife and child to Seattle in a year,
how do I prepare?
1) I've never filed US income tax in my life.
2) I'm in the process of filing my first US tax return.
3) When we do move to the US, I plan to be the only one working.
4) Is this a permanent move? We're not sure yet, we'll try it out.
Questions...
US Income Tax? Can anyone tell me about this and how it will affect
me. Can I claim both my wife and child as a dependant and get a tax
break like in Canada. Will I be penalized for never paying US tax? I
recently found out that in order to maintain my citizenship I have to
pay US tax.
IRS? How long would we have to live in the USA in order for me to
sponsor my wife. What about my child, how would it (unborn) qualify
to be an American.
Any help on this would be muchly appreciated.
Thanks,
Reuben
I've scanned this forum / topic for a while now... and have finally
come up with some questions of my own.
Brief background...
I'm an American with a Birth Cert. / Social Security # and Passport.
My wife is 100% Canadian. I was born to Canadian parents in Hawaii
and have always lived here in Canada. We've both paid Canadian taxes
and every investment has been Canadian.
My Objective...
I would like to move both myself, wife and child to Seattle in a year,
how do I prepare?
1) I've never filed US income tax in my life.
2) I'm in the process of filing my first US tax return.
3) When we do move to the US, I plan to be the only one working.
4) Is this a permanent move? We're not sure yet, we'll try it out.
Questions...
US Income Tax? Can anyone tell me about this and how it will affect
me. Can I claim both my wife and child as a dependant and get a tax
break like in Canada. Will I be penalized for never paying US tax? I
recently found out that in order to maintain my citizenship I have to
pay US tax.
IRS? How long would we have to live in the USA in order for me to
sponsor my wife. What about my child, how would it (unborn) qualify
to be an American.
Any help on this would be muchly appreciated.
Thanks,
Reuben
Jan 13th 2003, 3:29 pm
#2
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: Couple moving to the USA from Canada
[email protected] (Reuben) wrote in news:74f4c1f7.0301122043.7b5a8d74
@posting.google.com:
> 1) I've never filed US income tax in my life.
You could find yourself in a boat of trouble. US citizens are taxed on
CITIZENSHIP and you must file back taxes. If you have been paying Canadian,
chances are you wont owe US taxes, but you still have to file!
> 2) I'm in the process of filing my first US tax return.
By doing so they will likely "notice" you have never filed before and you
will get a "letter". You should contact a competent accountant (maybe even
laywer) immediately and before filing your return.
> US Income Tax? Can anyone tell me about this and how it will affect
> me. Can I claim both my wife and child as a dependant and get a tax
If they live in the US and have green cards. In other cases as well, but it
depends in those cases.
> break like in Canada. Will I be penalized for never paying US tax? I
You might be.
> recently found out that in order to maintain my citizenship I have to
> pay US tax.
Not true! However to keep yourself out of jail, you need to file and possibly
pay US tax.
> IRS? How long would we have to live in the USA in order for me to
> sponsor my wife. What about my child, how would it (unborn) qualify
It doesnt matter where you live. US sponsorship does not work that way. If
she is Canadian, she can get US citizenship after 6 years of marriage IIRC.
> to be an American.
All you need to do is file the paperwork when he's born and he's a US citizen
because you are his parent.
--
Chad Z. Hower (a.k.a. Kudzu) - http://www.hower.org/Kudzu/
"Programming is an art form that fights back"
ELKNews - Get your free copy at http://www.atozedsoftware.com
@posting.google.com:
> 1) I've never filed US income tax in my life.
You could find yourself in a boat of trouble. US citizens are taxed on
CITIZENSHIP and you must file back taxes. If you have been paying Canadian,
chances are you wont owe US taxes, but you still have to file!
> 2) I'm in the process of filing my first US tax return.
By doing so they will likely "notice" you have never filed before and you
will get a "letter". You should contact a competent accountant (maybe even
laywer) immediately and before filing your return.
> US Income Tax? Can anyone tell me about this and how it will affect
> me. Can I claim both my wife and child as a dependant and get a tax
If they live in the US and have green cards. In other cases as well, but it
depends in those cases.
> break like in Canada. Will I be penalized for never paying US tax? I
You might be.
> recently found out that in order to maintain my citizenship I have to
> pay US tax.
Not true! However to keep yourself out of jail, you need to file and possibly
pay US tax.
> IRS? How long would we have to live in the USA in order for me to
> sponsor my wife. What about my child, how would it (unborn) qualify
It doesnt matter where you live. US sponsorship does not work that way. If
she is Canadian, she can get US citizenship after 6 years of marriage IIRC.
> to be an American.
All you need to do is file the paperwork when he's born and he's a US citizen
because you are his parent.
--
Chad Z. Hower (a.k.a. Kudzu) - http://www.hower.org/Kudzu/
"Programming is an art form that fights back"
ELKNews - Get your free copy at http://www.atozedsoftware.com
