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Moving to the U.S. From Canada, Part 4: Planning Your Future as a U.S. Resident

By Diane Amato

Published June 10, 2021 • 9 Min Read

For Canadians making the move to the U.S., getting settled takes time.

As you plan your future in the U.S. here are some financial tips to can help you make smart decisions and build a life south of the border.

1. It’s Possible to Finance a U.S. Home

Many Canadians still believe the only way to buy a U.S. property is to pay for it fully in cash. But the reality is that Canadians can finance1 a U.S. property — and in fact it can be a cost-effective way to buy a U.S. home.

RBC Bank uses your Canadian credit history to qualify you for a U.S. mortgage. Your Cross-Border Mortgage Advisor can also walk you through the differences between Canadian and U.S. mortgages and guide you throughout the process — from getting a pre-approval (to help you determine your budget), to arranging for appraisals and title search, through to closing the purchase on your new U.S. property.

Because of the differences that exist between securing a mortgage in the U.S. versus Canada, it’s a good idea to give yourself plenty of time to go through the home buying process. For example, while applying for and securing a mortgage in Canada can take just a few days, this process is typically 45-60 days in the U.S.

2. Investing in the U.S. Goes Beyond Saving Your U.S. Dollars

Once you move to the U.S., it’s important to keep up an investment plan that is properly designed, balanced and diversified, that’s built with your long-term goals in mind. Your financial objectives may have shifted since moving to the U.S., so you’ll want your investment plan to shift along with you. If you’re leaving investments in Canada (as many Canadians do), these investments ideally need to be integrated into your overall plan.

Working with a cross-border advisor will help ensure your investments are aligned with your goals, and that you’re taking advantage of U.S. investment opportunities.

3. You’ll Have to File Your Taxes Somewhere

You’re a Canadian citizen living in the U.S., so which country will you need to pay taxes in? Will you have a tax liability in both?

These are common questions for Canadians living across the border. The Canadian tax system is based on your residency status. Regardless of your Canadian citizenship, you may potentially cease Canadian residency for tax purposes, if you sever most if not all of your ties to Canada. This could mean selling or renting out your primary residence and having your spouse and children leave Canada with you or soon after. As a non-resident of Canada, you will pay tax on Canadian source income only.

  • You’ll be treated as a resident of the U.S. for tax purposes if you meet the Lawful Permanent Resident Test (which generally means you have a green card) or you pass the Substantial Presence Test. This is a calculation which will tell you, based on the amount of time you have spent in the U.S. over the last three years, whether you are in fact considered a U.S. resident for tax purposes.

  • If you leave Canada partway through the year and are considered to cease Canadian residency, you will likely have to file a resident Canadian tax return, reporting your worldwide income for the portion of the year that you were a resident of Canada. This is usually called your “part-year” tax return. You will be deemed to have disposed of many or all of your assets on the date you cease Canadian residency. Accrued gains will be included in your worldwide income. If you are not considered to cease Canadian residency, you will continue to file income tax returns in Canada pretty much as you have before your move.

  • If you’re considered a resident of the U.S., you will be taxed on worldwide income in the same way U.S. citizens are, and will be required to file a tax return by April 15th of each year (or the next business day). The Canada – U.S. Tax Treaty helps to reduce double taxation.

 
Taxes are complicated — managing them in two countries is even more so. Speak with a cross-border tax expert to ensure you make the best decisions.

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Making a Move to the U.S.?

We’re with you. Set up your U.S. banking and credit card before you move to make life simpler.

4. Think about Your Cross-Border Estate Plan

The U.S. has many things Canada doesn’t have — tropical beaches, Trader Joe’s, Sonic Burger … and Estate Tax. U.S. Estate Tax is a tax applied to the value of your assets after you pass away, and depending on the value of your estate, it could add up to a significant amount of money your estate could be responsible for paying out.

  • It is a good idea to figure out what your exposure is to U.S. Estate Tax and to calculate how much you might owe — but this isn’t always an easy task. U.S. Estate Tax is based on U.S. citizenship and domicile status. Canadians who establish domicile in the U.S. (which in order to establish you must be present in the U.S. with the intention to remain in the U.S. indefinitely) are exposed to U.S. estate tax on their worldwide assets.

  • Canadians living in Canada, and those who move to the U.S. but do not establish domicile in the U.S. are subject to U.S. Estate Tax on U.S. situs property only (property considered to have a U.S. connection or location, e.g., stock in a U.S. corporation, U.S. retirement plans and U.S. real estate).

  • If you find that you will be required to pay estate tax, there are strategies you can implement to reduce or avoid the amount you owe. It is essential to work with a cross-border professional who can review your estate and tax planning options with you, and determine the right opportunities for you and your family.

 
In addition to estate tax, you may need to update your Will and Power of Attorney documents or have separate ones in the U.S. to reflect your change in residency status. In the event your Canadian residency status does not change and you are a non-resident of the U.S., you may need a separate Will and Power of Attorney to deal with certain assets located in the U.S. It’s a good idea to have your Will and Power of Attorney documents reviewed by a U.S. legal advisor to ensure their validity in the U.S., as they may need to be revised or replaced to take your move into account.

5. You Can Still Save for Your Children’s Education

Your tax advisor may recommend that you collapse your RESP when you leave Canada — due to the potentially punitive U.S. taxation that applies to a subscriber who is a U.S. resident. However, you may still have an opportunity to save for your child’s education.

  • Many states offer 529 college savings plans, also known as Qualified Tuition Programs (QTP). Similar to an RESP, you invest after-tax dollars into the plan. The difference is that you can withdraw the funds (and any investment income you’ve earned) tax-free for use toward eligible education expenses, such as college tuition and books. Each state’s plan is different, with a range of investment options, contribution limits and fees.

  • You may be able to save for your child’s education through a Roth IRA. While this is best known as a tax-advantaged retirement savings account, it can also be used for college savings after five years. This dual-purpose feature makes this account flexible: If you’re child doesn’t go to college, you can still use the funds for your retirement!

  • Coverdell ESA is another tax-advantaged way to save for college in the U.S. Unlike a 529; however, Coverdell ESAs can be used to cover any educational expenses, including K-12 costs such as private school tuition.

 
There are a number of other ways to save for your child’s education, including pre-paid tuition plans and custodial accounts. Speak with your advisor about which way is best for you. When making these decisions its best to consider whether you and your children will be returning to Canada, as there may be negative Canadian tax implications to consider for Canadian residents owning these plans.

Building your future in the U.S. will be something you continue throughout your lifetime, so it’s always a great idea to work with a cross-border financial advisor to ensure you’re making the most of your money, reducing your tax liability and ensuring you’re following the rules set up by the CRA and IRS. And if you decide to move back to Canada? Definitely start discussing your return plans as early as possible.

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Brought to you by RBC Bank U.S. Cross-border banking for Canadians.

RBC Bank is RBC Bank (Georgia), National Association (“RBC Bank”), a wholly owned U.S. banking subsidiary of Royal Bank of Canada, and is a member of the U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”). U.S. deposit accounts are insured by the FDIC up to the maximum amount permissible by law. U.S. banking products and services are offered and provided by RBC Bank. Canadian banking products and services are offered and provided by Royal Bank of Canada. U.S. deposit accounts are not insured by the Canada Deposit Insurance Corporation (“CDIC”).

1 Mortgages are subject to approval, including verification of acceptable income, credit worthiness and property valuations. Minimum and maximum property values and maximum loan-to-value ratios apply. Homeowner’s insurance is required for all loans and lines of credit and flood insurance is required if the property is located in a Special Flood Hazard area. Escrows may be required on mortgages. There are closing costs associated with mortgage products.

This article is intended as general information only and is not to be relied upon as constituting legal, financial or other professional advice. A professional advisor should be consulted regarding your specific situation. Information presented is believed to be factual and up-to-date but we do not guarantee its accuracy and it should not be regarded as a complete analysis of the subjects discussed. All expressions of opinion reflect the judgment of the authors as of the date of publication and are subject to change. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its affiliates.

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