Emigration from canada

Just because you are moving out of Canada does not automatically mean that you will become non-resident.

First, you have to establish that you have taken up residency somewhere else. Canadian courts have held that you have to be resident somewhere. Generally, you are considered resident in the place where you regularly, normally or customarily live in the settled routine of your life. There are no precise rules to be applied; each case depends on its facts.

Second, since it is possible to be resident in more than one country at the same time, you must establish that you have “cut your residential ties” with Canada. Those ties are evidenced by such things as:

“Significant” residential ties

• keeping a home in Canada
• having your spouse remain in Canada
• supporting dependent children who remain in Canada

“Secondary” residential ties

• keeping personal property such as furniture, clothing, and automobiles in Canada
• having bank accounts with Canadian banks
• having credit cards issued by Canadian financial institutions
• social ties such as memberships in Canadian clubs and religious organizations (on a resident basis)
• maintaining provincial health care coverage
• keeping a Canadian driver’s licence, or a vehicle registered in Canada
• professional memberships in Canada (on a resident basis)

“Minor” residential ties

• having a seasonal residence in Canada
• renting a safety deposit box in Canada
• renting a post office box in Canada
• keeping a telephone listing in Canada
• continuing to use stationery and business cards with a Canadian address

No one factor is conclusive, but in the CRA’s view all of the “significant” ties and most of the “secondary” ties must be cut to establish non-residence. The CRA will also look at your general mode and routine of life, and whether you are making regular or extended visits to Canada.

Note that certain people are deemed to be resident in Canada even though they are working abroad. This includes members of the Canadian Forces and Canadian diplomats posted outside Canada, as well as their spouses if the spouse was ever resident in Canada for tax purposes.

Tax treaty “tie-breaker” rules

Canada has tax treaties with over 90 countries, including of course the United States and all of our significant trading partners other than tax havens. The tax treaties provide tie-breaker rules for determining residence, if a person would otherwise be considered resident in both countries under the domestic laws of each country. Most tax treaties follow the same model, though there are minor differences among them. (Tax Information Exchange Agreements that Canada has with many tax havens are not tax treaties, and the paragraphs below do not apply to them.)

If you are resident in another country under a “treaty tie-breaker” rule, then you are deemed by the Income Tax Act (subsection 250(5)) not to be resident in Canada, even if you have not cut your ties with Canada.

Thus, if you move to a country with which Canada has a tax treaty, it is easier to become non-resident, by means of a “permanent home” or having your “personal and economic relations” stronger in the other country.

Departure tax payable if you become non-resident

If you become non-resident for Canadian tax purposes (including due to a treaty tie-breaker rule as per above), you may be required to pay tax as a result. This is sometimes called the “departure tax”. In fact, it is ordinary income tax payable on capital gains that are deemed to be triggered when you become non-resident.

On becoming non-resident, you are deemed to dispose of much of your property at its fair market value. Thus, capital gains may be triggered, depending on your cost base in each property. However, this rule generally does not apply to certain property, including:

• real property (e.g., land and buildings) in Canada, which will instead be taxed when you eventually sell it
• interests you have in RRSPs, RRIFs, RESPs, RDSPs, TFSAs and a whole alphabet soup of other plans and arrangements
• various rights you may have, such as under an employee stock option agreement
• property used in carrying on an active business through a permanent establishment in Canada.

This is only a very general overview; the departure tax has many complications, and you should obtain professional advice relating to your specific situation.

Note that if you do not pay your Canadian tax liability, the CRA can, under Canada’s tax treaties with some countries, arrange for the local tax authority to enforce collection of the Canadian tax you owe. This can happen in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway, and will be possible in New Zealand and Spain once pending amendments to Canada’s tax treaties with those countries come into force.

Passive income — withholding taxes

Once you are non-resident, Canada will impose a withholding tax on most kinds of “passive” income,  other than interest (which since 2008 is taxed to nonresidents only in limited circumstances). This includes:

• dividends from Canadian corporations
• rent on real estate in Canada
• royalties paid from Canada
• pension income, including OAS and CPP/QPP payments
• RRSP/RRIF withdrawals

The withholding tax rate is 25%. However, if you are resident in a country with which Canada has a tax treaty, the rate may be reduced to 15%, 10%, 5% or even zero. The tax on interest, dividends and some royalties is generally reduced by treaty; the tax on other amounts may not be. In each case you must check the details of the particular tax treaty as it applies to that kind of income. Note that, in many cases, the Canadian withholding tax will be allowed as a foreign tax credit in the country of which you are resident, so the withholding tax will not represent a real cost to you.