Thursday, December 7, 2017

An Introduction To Tax Issues For Investors And Canadian Immigrants

By Scott Wallace


When moving to a new nation either for investment purposes or due to permanent immigration, one of the key challenges that you are bound to experience is getting a grasp of the local tax laws. All countries have their own rules, so fitting in may take some time and a bit of research. The insights below cover common tax issues for investors and Canadian immigrants and may help you understand the local laws better.

Under Canadian law, an individual becomes eligible to pay tax based on what his residency status is. As such, you should know where you stand in terms of immigration paperwork from the word go. If the authorities have already issued you with your residency documentation and you have started running your business locally, it is mandatory to register with the taxman in order to avoid breaking the law.

In general, the date that you become mandated to start paying tax is the day the government officially recognizes your residency status in Canada. This can happen as soon as you land at the airport or it may take years if you have issues with the immigration department. Other things that the government looks at include property ownership within the country or if you are married to a Canadian.

Once you get the green light to live and work in Canada, the law dictates that you pay up on time and file your returns each year. Income that the taxman regards as taxable includes any money originating from both foreign and local sources. This essentially means that any cash you raise from your business ventures overseas will be considered taxable. Nonetheless, a citizen who resides overseas is only taxed for money generated from sources within his mother country.

One factor that most immigrants often overlook when relocating is analyzing the difference between their new levy rates and what they are accustomed to paying. As your overseas income will be levied, you may be surprised to get a higher or lower levy rate depending on what your parent country used to charge. If you avoid analyzing this before your move, you may end up with very little at the end of the month and regret your move. Do whatever is necessary to find out about this beforehand.

Just like in many countries, the sources of income recognizable under the local law are many. There is employment income and income from investments such as dividends and royalties. Investment income is usually classified as either being from businesses located within or outside the country. Regardless of where it comes from, the bottom line is that it will be taxed as long as you are eligible for taxation.

In case you have been transferred by your employer to the country, make sure you avoid being taxed excessively. The date your employer posts you matters a lot as the government will use it to determine the amount that you ought to pay. Ensure your travel log and employment letters indicate when you got posted in detail.

Before you begin paying up, apply for a tax ID number. Without one, the state may find you culpable of evading payment in its subsequent audits. The deadline for filing returns is the thirtieth of April each year.




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