Search Results

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017

We have filed 8840 forms for a number of years now, having no U.S. income to declare. In Dec. 2016, my lucky wife won a jackpot in a Nevada casino and, of course, they withheld 30%. In Jan. 2017, she filed a U.S. tax return with an ITIN number, again with no other U.S. income […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017

From time to time, I see articles in Bird Talk regarding questions on telephone services between Canada & U.S. Prior to departing Canada in 2016, I signed up with a company called Comwave which was advertising a six-month promotional deal for unlimited Canada & U.S. long distance for $19.95 per month. Sounded like a no-brainer, […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017

We recently used our Canadian credit card to pay for a meal in a U.S. restaurant. The total was $22.15 before tip, so I left a $4 tip for a total of $26.15. I noticed a few days later that my credit card was charged $ 53.15 Canadian…I know our dollar is low, but not […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017

Dear Bird Talk, Snowbirds who are looking at renting a house in Florida that uses propane for heating a pool should be very careful. Although some people claim that heating a pool with propane is similar in cost to that for hydro, propane rates from propane suppliers vary widely based on a home’s annual usage […]

Posted date : Nov 4, 2017

Dear Bird Talk, In your winter 2014, Issue 93, you advised Linda Johnson of Vancouver B.C. that the sale of her current home “would be subject to capital gains tax on the difference between the sale price and the purchase price you paid, less improvements. Ten per cent of the sale price is required to […]

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, 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, This year will be our first snowbird year. We will enter the U.S. on Dec. 28th. Do we have to fill out the 8840 for 2013? If yes, when do we send it in? Othello Jones Sauble Beach, ON Response: Ed.: If you are staying for less than three months, every year, […]