Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dereklee003]

I actually tried to use the h&r block free file and Turbo Tax free online to do my taxes. My efile was rejected twice. Not sure why. They emailed me a super long list of tax jargon I don't understand and when I logged in to fix it, they said I have to send it by mail?

So...what if I was just to file my taxes but report no income for both U.S. and Foreign?

[Hokie21]

If you ever get audited you'd probably face criminal prosecution.

[12ax7]

I can't believe they make you guys file even if you don't have any taxable income.

The process is much more logical for us Canadian non-residents. No need to file an income tax return if we don't have any revenue in Canada, and if we have revenue there that falls within a certain category (pension, interest on bank deposits, etc.), the taxes are automatically deducted. Since that is non-refundable, we still don't need to file a tax return.

http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/tx/nnrsdnts/ndvdls/nnrs-eng.html

[lowpo]

When you start filing againg, you will have to explain the year or years you didn't file.

[ttompatz]

[pkang0202]

Also, you don't file say goodbye to your credit rating.

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

My dad's accountant at H&R does mine for $150 every year. I never owe the US or NY anything, because I make under $90k, but it's worth spending the money to make sure that everything is done properly.

Be careful and file or have it done professionally if you can afford it.

[12ax7]

150$? That seems like a lot...Then again, I've seen your income tax booklets...Insane. Private interest groups sure have made a job out of your tax code.

In Canada, you can now file your income tax returns over the phone. They do all the calculations for you. Takes 10 minutes, I've heard.

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

Is that a lot for taxes? NYC prices, perhaps. Either way, I'd rather pay that for peace of mind once a year. The guy talks to me over the phone, but my parents are authorized to sign for me.

[12ax7]

In Canada, people usually buy software (40$) and do their taxes at home. It really doesn't take a long time, 30 minutes or so.

Doing taxes is a lot simpler in Canada. Like I was saying, you can call the government and do it over the phone.

I don't need to fill out an income tax return since I'm a non-resident and taxes are automatically deducted from my only source of revenue in Canada. The government already knows how many taxes I've paid, so there's no need to fill out a form to remind them of it. Logical, isn't it?

You see, in Canada, for most people it's not so much for telling the government how much you've earned as it's for asking for a return because you've paid too many taxes. Some people chose to pay more taxes than they need (it's an option). My father, for example, gets a large tax return because he's paying more than he needs. He likes the fact that he's got cash coming in just in time to pay for his property taxes.

[alongway]

I haven't filed in Canada for about 3 years since I last had some taxable income there. I've maintained a Canadian credit card, and they continue to offer me limit increases, so it doesn't seem to be hurting my rating at all.

[detonate]

In the US? I've always reported mine and never paid any taxes on it... why not just report it?

[allovertheplace]

I didn't report for two years. No problem at all. You might get a stern talking to but you are not hiding taxable income. You are simply not reporting non taxable income.

I filed last year and nothing bad happened at all.

[nate1983]

I believe you are exempt from reporting if you had no tax liability the previous fiscal year and you have none for the year for which you're filing.

There's some rule like that, but I'm not totally sure it applies to the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion. Regardless, tax evasion is not something you wanna mess around with.

[Swampfox10mm]