Advance planning in order to get non-resident status

[robdclarke]

thanks agnelson, and yes i meant the NR73.

[Reba]

You don't "apply to become a non-resident". You just *are* a non-resident after you leave and break all ties to Canada.

And just because you break ties, doesn't mean you can't go back at any time. And you're still eligible to continue to renew your Canadian passport from whereever it is you're living.

As for getting US credit cards, if you currently have an AMEX card in Canada, you can transfer it to a US account. Or you can get an account with RBC Centra in the US, they are usually kind to Canadian ex-pats and will check your Canadian credit history, whereas most US banks will not. Not because they can't, but because they're too lazy too All the 3 credit bureaus are the same, and it is possible to check Canadian credit in the US, but they'll tell you it isn't.

[robdclarke]

Can anyone suggest a cheap tax accountant in the Toronto area?

thanks

[dannykool]

By saying "tick the box" I assume you mean the NR73 form from CRA? Don't file this form! Look it over, ditch all of the ties you feel comfortable with (your DL is no good to you, lose it, so is ohip), and file as a departing resident, departure date when you leave (see Emigrants guide), file thereturn next spring. With no property and no dependents in canada, if you keep only a bank account and a memebership, you are probably

Only file NR73 if asked by CRA, some time next year.

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Some excellent posts here by agnelson for people who work in non treaty countries (tax).