Finding a specialist to help file taxes?

[rsibley]

Sorry if this post is answered somewhere else, but I did search and couldn't find anything.

I am in the situation where I moved to the US in October 2008, so I will be a non-resident alien in the US for 2008. I understand I have to file US taxes for the income I earned in the US, and then file taxes in Canada using my "worldy income" and using the taxes I pay in the US as "foreign tax credits" for my Canadian taxes.

There are few other small things like: the company paid to relocate me (which I believe counts as income for me for filing taxes), I put money into a 401k as well as RRSPs last year, shipped my car to the US, etc, etc.

I can't help but wonder if a professional tax person would be able to save me some money here and there if they were experienced in filing both US and Canadian taxes.

Does anyone have any recommendations? Would a well known big company like HR block be well equipped to help me? Or would a self-help software program like turbo-tax do a good job? Or would I be best to try and phone some private people? ...

If anyone had specific recommendations that would also be welcome - I live in the San Jose, California area.

Thanks for any help!
Richard

[Reba]

H

[rsibley]

H?

[Steven]

Just answered an almost identical question: canadian-on-tn-visa-first-time-filing-in-us-vt6056.html

I'm sure there's some software somewhere that can do it, but the general guide for the T1 and the instructions for 1040NR are relatively straightforward.

[Reba]

H?

BAH! the stupid forum keeps eating posts

There's a cross border accounting firm called Serbinsky & Asscociates. Google them or even just google "cross border tax accountants"

[mgedeon]

Originally from Toronto, I am a Los Angeles based Attorney and CPA who handles cross-border tax matters. Feel free to reach me at (818) 544-0446 if you need assistance with your US and Canadian tax filings.