Korean Job Discussion Forums

phaedrus · Joined: 13 Nov 2003 Location: I'm comin' to get ya.

What happens when you return after being away for seven years?

I don't need to file tax returns now because I haven't paid taxes. When I return to Canada and have an income in Canada I will pay tax and need to file.

They can't change their mind about seven years in the past and say that since I came back I never really intended to not be a resident and should therefore pay back tax can they?

It is scary because the amount of money for seven years of taxes is significant.

chachee99 · Joined: 20 Oct 2004 Location: Seoul Korea

You're telling me that the Canadian Government actually expects me to file my taxes and them how much I made while teaching English overseas at a lower tax rate so they can adjust it can send me a bill stating how much tax owed them if I made the same amount in Canada? Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. That's a good one. Does the government think we are that stupid to just throw money in the toilet? Oh yeah regarding the citizenship. I was born in Canada; therefore I am a Canadian citizen for life!!! No government official not even the Prime Minister can ever take that away, unless he burns the constitution.

To put in short, if the Canadian government thinks for one brief second I will be giving them a portion of my gross income made overseas they have another thing coming. If they even try and force me to do so I will return back home and go on welfare. I have the right to do so being I will always be a Canadian citizen.

Remember the Canadian government says every citizen has the right basic necessities of life, that being food, water, and shelter. End of story.

redd · Joined: 08 Nov 2004

I know this is a long time since the last post, but....

I did the work-holiday visa thing in Australia a couple of years ago and had the same questions regarding filing when i got back. Basically what it came down to was that having a work visa in Australia made me a "deemed resident" of Australia and since i paid taxes while in Oz, I wasn't required to file again at home. They told me at the time that i could file because I might get more money back but i didn't really want to take my chances on having to pay them since i got a return in Oz that i was pretty happy with. At the time, I only had the usual secondary ties of a student loan, bank accounts, and license (i'd cancelled my OHIP before leaving).
When I filed for the year that i was away, i just put "0" in the "how much money did you make in Canada XX year" box. Never had any problems and that was something like 5yrs ago. I'm a little sketchy on my income anyway since i tend to take off every few years to travel and have had some pretty crappy-paying jobs. I've also lived in 3 different provinces in that time, but somehow i think if the government wanted to track me down for payments, they'd look me up.

I figure that working in Korea on an E2 visa has got to be similar to the work-holiday visa i had. Assuming i file for my Korean income in Korea.

I'm no expert, that's just my experience.

Daechidong Waygookin · Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2004 4:46 am Post subject:

just sever your significant ties with Canada, that should be enough. I have that covered plus I have established significant ties with Korea. I will never file any canadian taxes as long as I live in Korea.

canadian_in_korea · Joined: 20 Jun 2004 Location: South Korea

I called revenue canada a few days ago....it seems that I do have to file my income tax from Korea...if I supply a form showing how much I paid here in tax they will deduct it from the canadian taxes I owe. BUT...My husband and I just got married the beginning of December....and I have to claim his income...it doesn't matter that he isn't a canadian citizen....he doesn't have permanent residence yet....I STILL have to claim his korean income....(sigh)...the canadian government sucks... Razz

turtlepi1 · Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Location: Abu Dhabi, UAE

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

sprite · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: canuckville

first hand experience:
after my fourth year away, i filed for non-res, filling out info (not tax) forms for each of the previous 4 yrs..
after a year of no news, i called. imagine my surprise to learn that i was a deemed res of canada! (they had sent the info to the address of my first job on leaving canada, despite me sending them paperwork to show i was no longer there, and despite a signed letter offering them three addresses they could use to contact me. frick.)

they had counted my korean ties against my canadian ties, which included bank account, credit card, driver's, renewed drivers, passport, renewed passport, CHURCH MEMBERSHIP. (which, unbeknownst to me, i had lost 6 months after leaving anyway.)

the nice man at international tax (honest, they aren't ugly, you don't have to id yourself) told me to contest it, and ask to have my license and passport renewals dropped as 'ties.'

i never did, and actually did file taxes for that year, in quebec. the only downside was not getting a gst cheque, because i didn't provide income proof for the first months of the year while outside.
but so far, no nasty letters two years on.

now--here's a thought. every year, you are allowed to contribute a certain amount to an RRSP, which lowers your taxable income. if you don't contribute the full amount one year, you can carry it forward 7 years.
if you don't file taxes (even as a non-resident) you don't have access to this. so if you do plan to go back to canada, it might be nice to have this amount open to you, on the off chance you make a crap load of money on your return. double check with the tax wo/man. seriously. they have to help you, and you don't have to give your name.

DirtySanchez · Joined: 26 Mar 2004 Location: Neither here nor there

That time of yeara,
tax time is hera,
mucho lira disapeara

No deductions,
don't get discourgy,
I found out you can write off 976-ORGY

(operaman)

I went to the revenue canada site, read a lot of info. none too helpful. anyone know what I should do?
I've been in korea for a year and a couple months, declared non-residency when I initially left canada. what should I file for (if at all)?
If I file, will I really have to pay the remaining canadian tax percentage when I return to canada?

canadian_in_korea · Joined: 20 Jun 2004 Location: South Korea

I think if you have approved non-residency ...then you don't have to file canadian taxes.

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

brento1138 · Joined: 17 Nov 2004

You know, I have looked into this, and looked into this... and there's absolutely no truly reliable source of info I've found. The best I can get is "my friend told me this" or "this accountant I know said this" or what not. Can't there be an actual source, reliable, lawful, etc, that cannot be argued???

The Canadian government hasn't made it too easy-looking on their website, and how can you trust them with your money anyhow. They'll just answer in the way that serves em best. Arg. Rolling Eyes

But the one thing I keep hearing is : don't worry about it, nothing will happen. So, as of now, I'm joining this crowd. Cool

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

Plutocracy · Joined: 01 Feb 2005

So the provincial health card is considered a secondary tie. Its it important to actively cancel the health care or is simply not accessing it for the duration of non-residency sufficient to eliminate it as a secondary tie?

And for the drivers license, is it okay to simply let it expire, or must you actively cancel it?

Thnx.