“I’ve a lot of latest purchasers who’re U.S. residents, they usually moved to Canada as a result of they’ve a accomplice right here,” she says. “Earlier than Covid, it was comparatively easy for one individual to hop on a airplane and go to the opposite. However that modified when the pandemic struck, so that they made the choice to be with their accomplice long-term.”
Every planning state of affairs is completely 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 main residence once they promote it, the identical might 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 purchasers, promoting their main 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 may very well be exempt from tax. However the remaining development could also be taxable, and it’s a lesson many twin residents study the onerous approach when promoting their house in Canada.”
One other frequent 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 further reporting necessities to the U.S. tax service, which can view these funds and accounts as passive international funding corporations.
From a bigger planning perspective, she says loads of difficulties come up when purchasers have belongings on each side of the border, and have a separate advisor for every half of their portfolio. What typically outcomes, she says, is that the consumer will get disjointed monetary planning and might find yourself following misguided recommendation.