Bird Talk

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, My wife and I own a home in Arizona. Can you give guidance concerning the estate tax? Specifically, circumventing it. Should we have a separate will for the U.S.? Should we have our children’s names on the title? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. W Delorme Calgary, AB Response: Ed.: For persons […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, We are Canadian with a vacation home in Arizona. Our AZ builder offers a trade-in program, so we are using this and building a larger home. Our current home gets listed by a realtor which they use for their trade-in business and they pay 1/2 his commission. We pay the balance and […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, My question is about defining working in the U.S. I could ask at the border, but I’m afraid that asking will bring attention to my situation with potential negative fallout. I am a contractor for a Canadian education company providing services to Canadian businesses only. Within this role, I provide course facilitation […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, I think it important to warn other snowbirds about my unfortunate experience with Bell Canada. For two years, I requested temporary suspension of my satellite dish for the TV while I was in Florida. This was done…and I was charged a minimal amount. This past October 2013, I phoned them as usual. […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, Like many snowbirds, we do our banking online while in Florida. While away from home, we use Kathy’s debit card information to access our company and personal bank accounts but, last winter, we discovered that her card was about to expire while we were away. It had a November expiry date. According […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, Having recently purchased condos in both Ontario and Florida, we are just about to join the ranks of the snowbirds. Is it necessary to set up a bank account in the U.S., or have you found it possible to get along with just a Canadian bank and a VISA card? Arthur Wenk, […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, I recently found out about the 180-day time permitted in the U.S. We are Canadian citizens who own property in the U.S. and we spend an average of about six months per year (three winter, three summer). However, we were unaware of this Form 8840 Closer Connection to Canada until two weeks […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, Reading your article on Jim Flaherty makes me ask you, “Can we claim our premium for travel insurance policy on our income tax? I have paid premiums for three years now and didn’t realize that we could claim them. Also, can I claim out-of-pocket medical expenses for dentist bills which we incurred […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, I have struggled with this form (8840) for a while now. Here’s the reason why. I have sold my home in Canada. I have a permanent address in Canada inasmuch as my wife’s sister and brother-in-law have a complete suite furnished in their basement and said that we have a bona fide […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, Re: letter from Ken Perry. I checked my Star bill for the last two months and, sure enough, they charged me for the paper during my vacation stop. I have now cancelled my subscription. Neil Fenton, Ontario Response: Ed.: All of the newspapers are having financial difficulties as advertising dollars migrate to […]