Canadian Living In The US? Get A CPA Who's Licensed In Both Countries.
US and Canadian tax preparation for Canadians living, working, or spending winters in America. RRSP treaty elections, departure returns, T1 and 1040 filing — coordinated by a CPA licensed in both the US and Canada.
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Canadian In The US Faces Unique Tax Challenges Most Accountants Miss
Cross-border tax law is complex. Most US accountants don't know Canadian tax rules, and most Canadian accountants don't know US rules. The result is costly errors, missed elections, and unexpected tax bills.
RRSP & TFSA confusion
The US doesn't automatically recognize Canadian retirement accounts. Without proper treaty elections and FBAR/FATCA reporting, you face penalties and double taxation on accounts you already paid Canadian tax on.
Departure return complexity
When you left Canada, you triggered a departure tax return. If it wasn't filed correctly — or at all — you may have unresolved Canadian tax obligations following you into your US life.
Snowbird residency risk
Spend more than 182 days in the US and you may be considered a US tax resident. Even under the threshold, the substantial presence test can surprise Canadians who winter in the US every year.
Dual filing obligations
As a Canadian living in the US, you may need to file both a US 1040 and a Canadian T1, plus FBAR, FATCA, and provincial returns. Without coordination, you overpay or miss critical credits and deductions.
If any of this sounds familiar, you're not alone — and you don't have to keep doing it this way.
Everything Coordinated Across Both Tax Systems
We handle your complete Canadian-in-US tax picture — both sides of the border, fully coordinated.
Canadian-In-US Tax Assessment
This is a mandatory first step — every engagement starts here
credited to any service, mandatory first step,
every engagement starts here
How it works:
1. You pay $395 for assessment
2. We analyze your situation (1-2 business days)
3. We recommend the right package or build you the right one based on your specific needs
4. Full $395 credit applied to services engaged within 60 days
Result: You know exactly what you need and
what it costs before committing to full service and you do not pay for what you do not need
Expat Tax Packages
Choose the service that matches your situation. All packages include dual-country coordination and ongoing support.
Perfect for: Canadian citizens living and working in the US
Perfect for: Canadians spending 4-6 months in the US every winter
Perfect for: Canadians with complex US situations — multiple states, business income, or significant Canadian assets
From Two Confused Accountants To One CPA Who Handles Both Countries
No more coordinating between firms. No more hoping the numbers line up. One CPA, both countries, everything coordinated from day one.
Free Strategy Session
20-minute call to understand your situation — your visa status, how long you've been in the US, what ties you still have in Canada, and what you've been filing in both countries. We'll identify gaps and recommend the right package. No pressure, no sales pitch.
Assessment & Preparation
You start with the $395 Tax Assessment. We determine your residency status, analyze your RRSP/TFSA situation, and prepare your US and Canadian returns together. You upload documents once — we coordinate everything across both countries.
Filing & Ongoing Support
Both returns are filed on time in both countries. Your RRSP treaty elections are made. Your foreign reporting is current. And you have a CPA who answers questions year-round — not just during filing season.
Canadians In The US Who Finally Got Both Countries Right
I moved from Toronto to Miami on a TN visa and had no idea how to handle my RRSP. My US accountant had never heard of a treaty election and my Canadian accountant didn't know how US residency worked. Blue Cloud handled both returns, made the RRSP election, and I stopped paying tax on it in both countries. Saved me over $6,000 in year one.
My wife and I are snowbirds — four months in Florida every winter. We had no idea we were close to triggering US tax obligations until Blue Cloud ran the substantial presence test. They file our Form 8840 every year now and monitor our day count. Total peace of mind that we're not accidentally becoming US tax residents.
I have a business in Canada and rental properties in the US. I was using two separate firms and they kept giving me conflicting advice. Blue Cloud consolidated everything — Canadian T2, US 1040, FBAR, the rental income allocation — and my total tax bill dropped by $22K. One firm that actually understands both countries makes all the difference.
Everything you're wondering (but haven't asked yet)
I'm A Canadian Working In The US — Do I Still File In Canada?
It depends on your residency status. If you've formally emigrated from Canada (cut significant residential ties), you file a Canadian departure return for the year you left and then only file Canadian returns on Canadian-source income going forward. If you maintain significant ties — home, spouse, dependants, bank accounts, driver's license — the CRA may still consider you a Canadian tax resident, which means worldwide filing in both countries. We'll determine your exact status during the assessment.
What Happens To My RRSP When I Move To The US?
Your RRSP continues to grow tax-deferred in Canada, but the US doesn't automatically recognize the deferral. Without a proper treaty election (made annually on your US return), the US could tax the growth inside your RRSP each year. We make this election as part of every Canadian-in-US engagement. For TFSAs, the news is worse — the US treats them as taxable foreign trusts. We'll advise on whether to keep or collapse your TFSA based on your specific situation.
I'm A Snowbird — Do I Need To File US Taxes?
If you spend more than 183 days in the US in a calendar year, or if you meet the substantial presence test (a weighted calculation using this year plus the two prior years), you could be treated as a US tax resident. Most snowbirds spending 4-6 months per winter are close to or over the threshold. Filing Form 8840 (Closer Connection Statement) annually is critical — it asserts that despite your physical presence, your closer connection is to Canada. We handle this annually and track your days to keep you safe.
What's A Departure Return And Did I Need To File One?
When a Canadian resident emigrates, the CRA requires a departure return that includes a deemed disposition — essentially a "pretend" sale of most of your assets at fair market value on the date you left. Capital gains are calculated and taxed. If you left Canada without filing this, you have an outstanding CRA obligation that's accumulating interest. We can prepare late departure returns and work with the CRA on penalty relief. This is one of the most common issues we see with Canadians who moved to the US.
Do I Need To Report My Canadian Bank Accounts To The IRS?
Yes. If your combined Canadian (and other foreign) bank and financial accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during the year, you must file an FBAR (FinCEN 114). If your foreign financial assets exceed $50,000 on the last day of the year or $75,000 at any point (thresholds for US residents), you also file Form 8938 (FATCA). Penalties for non-filing are $10,000+ per form, per year. We handle all foreign reporting as part of your engagement — it's not an add-on or an afterthought.
Can I Keep Contributing To My RRSP From The US?
Technically yes, if you have RRSP contribution room from prior Canadian earned income. But it gets complicated — US-source income doesn't generate new RRSP room, and the US tax treatment of new contributions depends on the treaty election and your employment situation. In most cases, contributing to a US 401(k) or IRA makes more sense once you're living and working in the US. We'll model both options during your assessment and show you which path saves more.
How Much Does This Cost And How Do I Get Started?
Every engagement starts with a $395 Tax Assessment — we analyze your full situation and recommend the right package. Canadian In US Compliance starts at $1,495 for full-time residents. The Snowbirds Annual Package is $1,495 for seasonal visitors. Cross-Border Executive for complex situations with investments in both countries starts at $2,495. The $395 assessment fee credits toward any package. Book a free strategy session and we'll determine which one fits.
Ready To Get Both Countries Right
(With One CPA Who Handles Both)?
Book a free 20-minute strategy session. We'll review your US and Canadian filing obligations, check your RRSP treaty status, and map a clear plan for both countries. No surprises.
Get Your Canadian-In-US Tax Situation Mapped In 20 Minutes
Tell us about your situation — when you moved, your visa status, and what you've been filing in each country. We'll review your obligations on both sides of the border and map the fastest path to coordinated, compliant filing.
