Bird Talk » Politics & Gov't

Posted date : May 14, 2019.

If you have a U.S. Individual Taxpayer ID number but have not filed a U.S. tax return for three years, the Tax ID number will expire. Can you confirm that filing Form 8840 – Closer Connection form does NOT constitute filing a U.S. tax return? Bob Bovaird Response : Ed.: Filing the Form 8840 does […]

Posted date : May 13, 2019.

Re: your fall 2017 issue, a reader was concerned that no receipt was confirmed or received when they submitted Form 8840. We have been completing this form for several years and, when sending in the form, we pay an extra $5 to have a receipt mailed back to us confirming that the government has received […]

Posted date : May 13, 2019.

The information in this section of CSANews is always very useful to snowbirds and others with some connection to the U.S. Could you please clarify your response to a recent letter in which you state that, “if you earn income in the U.S. you do have to file a U.S. tax return.” According to the […]

Posted date : Nov 13, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, We returned to Canada on April 7 after our winter in Arizona, crossing at the Coutts, Alberta/Sweetgrass, Montana border station. We were instructed to put all poultry products, specifically chicken (fresh, frozen, or cooked), eggs and pet food products in garbage containers at the border. We were not allowed to bring these […]

Posted date : Nov 13, 2017.

If Canadian snowbirds can’t deduct their “allowed days” during short times back in Canada (i.e. for Christmas) unless the visit lasts for 30 days or longer…do the U.S. regulations also state for any SHORT trips by Canadians INTO the U.S. (say for taking a seven-day cruise out of a U.S. port and then returning to […]

Posted date : Nov 13, 2017.

I would like our president and the board of directors to get a suggestion to Mr. Trump’s negotiators that the easiest way to level the playing field between Canada and the U.S. on trade would be to peg the CDN $ and the US $ at even par. This would make for fair trade and […]

Posted date : Nov 13, 2017.

In your answer to David Smith, you mention that returning to Canada for a week over Christmas or for a few days in Mexico should not be deducted from the six months…this may not be correct. I thought the same thing, that it had to be more than 30 days before not counting as time […]

Posted date : Nov 13, 2017.

Just trying to understand the Form 8840 submission requirements. We’re first-time snowbirds and will be spending several months in the U.S. this fall and winter. Is there a submission requirement prior to leaving, or will we just have to file in 2017 for the 2016 U.S. tax year? Karl P Newfoundland Response: Ed.: Congratulations! You […]

Posted date : Nov 13, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, Here’s another question about the 182-day issue. We live in Vancouver and have a vacation home in Washington State. Unlike true snowbirds, we use it on many weekends through the year and most of the summer. I keep track of our days (for example, if we go down on Friday afternoon and […]

Posted date : Nov 13, 2017.

Dear Bird Talk, I’ve read with interest the various letters to Bird Talk in issue 94 of CSANews. The clear, definitive answers to the various questions are very helpful…almost. I say almost, because I wonder if you’re doing members a disservice with such emphatic answers without stating upon which rules you are basing your answers. […]