Residency and move timing
We review your planned move, homes, family ties, employment and time spent in each country. This helps establish the Canadian tax residency questions to resolve and the period covered by each return.
ARRIVAL PLANNING · U.S. ASSETS · CANADIAN RESIDENCY
Moving to Canada from the U.S.—Tax Consultation
Understand how your U.S. assets and income may be treated once you become a Canadian tax resident. We help individuals and families identify the tax questions to address before and after their move.
Enquire about an arrival consultationBring the two tax systems into your moving plan.
A move involves more than the first Canadian return. We help you connect residency timing, asset records and ongoing filing obligations to the decisions you are making now.
HOW WE CAN HELP
Plan around the assets and income you already have.
Investments and property
We review brokerage accounts, real estate and ownership interests, identify valuation records to retain, and discuss the Canadian treatment of income and future sales.
U.S. retirement and savings accounts
Bring your IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), HSA and other plan details. We review the account types, intended contributions or withdrawals, and any treaty elections or reporting issues that need attention.
Business interests and both countries’ filings
We can assess the tax questions raised by U.S. companies, LLCs or trusts and define any additional work. We also coordinate Canadian and U.S. return preparation when included in the engagement.
We confirm the scope, required documents and fee before work begins.
Why an arrival-date asset review matters.
Canada generally requires worldwide income reporting for the period you are a Canadian tax resident. Certain property is treated as reacquired at fair market value when residency begins, which can affect the Canadian cost used for a later sale. Different rules and exceptions apply to some assets.
Keep cost records and arrival-date valuations rather than assuming every U.S. asset receives the same Canadian treatment. We can help identify which records matter for your portfolio.
A Roth IRA deserves specific attention. CRA guidance discusses a treaty election to defer Canadian tax on accrued income and the consequences of contributions made while resident in Canada. We review your account history before recommending a course of action.
Make the consultation useful from the start.
Bring your intended move date, citizenship and immigration details, recent tax returns, and a list of assets, accounts, businesses and trusts. Include any planned sale, rollover, conversion or retirement withdrawal.
For example, a family moving with a U.S. brokerage account and a Roth IRA may need both arrival-date valuation records and an account-specific treaty review. Those are different questions, even though both accounts hold investments.
We agree on the consultation scope and fee before work begins. Return preparation and any follow-up analysis are identified separately so you know what is included.
Questions before you get started.
Should I speak with you before moving?
Yes. Contacting us while the move is still being planned gives us time to identify decisions, records and filing steps to consider before your circumstances change.
Does becoming a Canadian tax resident mean selling my U.S. investments?
Not automatically. We review your holdings and planned transactions before discussing possible changes. Tax treatment, account restrictions and your wider financial plans may require coordination with your other advisers.
Is a U.S. tax-free account automatically tax-free in Canada?
No. Canadian treatment depends on the arrangement and any applicable treaty provisions. A U.S. account label alone is not enough to determine the result.
Can you help if I have already moved?
Yes. Tell us when you moved and what has happened since, including contributions, withdrawals, sales and any returns already filed.
Can you prepare the Canadian and U.S. returns afterward?
Yes. We can quote for the required filings alongside the consultation or as a separate engagement.
Official guidance
CRA residency guidance · CRA newcomer returns · CRA Roth IRA guidance
This page provides general information. Your filing requirements and tax treatment depend on your circumstances and the rules for the relevant year.
CONTACT US
Let's talk about
what you need.
Tell us a little about your situation and the services you're looking for.
CUC Cross Border CPA
info@cpacuc.com
Based in Vancouver BCServing all of Canada and the United States
Send your inquiry here and include your email address so we can get back to you.