USA / CANADA Taxes, Residency, Spouses - all so confusing

[Steven]

Yes that's a very good point actually which is worth emphasizing - being self-employed in the US or having your own small company is not necessarily as practical as it is in Canada because of the healthcare costs. One of the ways the US makes themselves uncompetitive in the world by throttling small businesses with healthcare costs.

[Jessibobessy]

Flames Fan, I am also in Calgary and looking to relocate to the US. I will need a credit card in the US for work expenses. What bank did you use to transfer your credit within the bank?

Also with regards to your comment about financed vehicles - I spoke with my lender about this and was told it didn't matter if I took it to the US as long as I keep up with my monthly balance. I do not want to import the vehicle, but I will have to register it in the state I move to. Is this where the problems are?

[Steven]

Yep as I explained in the other thread. If you don't have proof of ownership it cannot be registered in your name. You need to pay off the loan. Either by getting another loan to pay it off or finding the cash I guess, or you get rid of the car and get another one in the US.

Under US federal law you can take your car into the US for up to a year without formally importing it, so one plan would be to pay it off within that year then re-enter and import it at that point. The snag with that plan is that it depends on State law, which usually (but not always) says that as soon as you start work in that State you have to register your vehicle there. You'd have to check the State law of wherever you're going to.