“I’ve plenty of latest shoppers who’re U.S. residents, and so they moved to Canada as a result of they’ve a companion right here,” she says. “Earlier than Covid, it was comparatively easy for one individual to hop on a aircraft and go to the opposite. However that modified when the pandemic struck, in order that they made the choice to be with their companion long-term.”
Every planning state of affairs is totally different, however Wilson sees some recurring challenges throughout tax season. For instance, whereas the principal residence exemption shields Canadians from having to pay tax on the elevated worth of their major residence after they promote it, the identical could not apply for twin residents which have tax submitting necessities within the U.S.
“The U.S. doesn’t acknowledge our tax exemptions, so for these shoppers, promoting their major residence in Canada might not be tax-free,” she says. “Within the U.S., the primary $250,000 of the expansion within the worth of their residence could possibly be exempt from tax. However the remaining development could also be taxable, and it’s a lesson many twin residents be taught the onerous means when promoting their residence in Canada.”
One other widespread wrinkle, she says, has to do with investments. Broadly talking, U.S. residents who personal Canadian mutual funds and Canadian funding accounts might find yourself triggering extra reporting necessities to the U.S. tax service, which can view these funds and accounts as passive overseas funding firms.
From a bigger planning perspective, she says loads of difficulties come up when shoppers have property on either side of the border, and have a separate advisor for every half of their portfolio. What typically outcomes, she says, is that the shopper will get disjointed monetary planning and might find yourself following misguided recommendation.