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US Gift Tax Exposure on Joint Ownership of Property

The most common way spouses hold property in Canada is joint tenancy with right of survivorship. Joint ownership provides each joint tenant an undivided interest in the property and when one spouse dies, the property immediately passes to the surviving spouse without probate. In the case where one spouse is a U.S. citizen and the […]

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Married Couples – When to Consider Filing Separately

February 8, 2013

Many married U.S. citizen and/or U.S. resident couples file a joint US income tax return. It is convenient, allows taxation of income at potentially lower tax rates compared to filing separately and may save a small amount of preparation time and professional fees. However, in some situations, filing a joint US income tax return may […]

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Low Risk U.S. Tax Compliance

January 4, 2013

On June 26, 2012 the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) announced new streamlined filing procedures (“SFP”) for non-resident U.S. taxpayers to go into effect September 1, 2012. SFP is available to U.S. persons and dual citizens living outside the US who have failed to timely file U.S. federal income tax returns or disclose their non-U.S. bank […]

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US Federal Income Tax – Gains on Sale of your Home Part 1

December 14, 2012

Generally, Canadians living in Canada are not subject to tax on gains from the sale of their principal residence. However, for a Canadian resident who is also a U.S. citizen or resident (including permanent resident or “green-card” holder and those meeting the “substantial presence” test), the same capital gain may be taxable on his or […]

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