What I have to pay taxes when I get back!!??

So call me naive or just plain dumb but why did I not realize that I will have to pay taxes on all that money I could be earning in UAE?

I'm at a bit of a loss. I am just working on gaining employment in Abu Dhabi with the lure of a great tax free salary but now I'm starting to wonder what the point would be if I have to pay tax on all that money?

So if I live in Abu Dhabi and make approximately $42,000 per year am I going to have to pay the same amount of tax that I would on my regular Canadian salary at the same $40,000 per year?

And, No, I'm not willing to give-up Canadian residence status. I am assuming that I would want to come back one day. I mean how could you not with all this great weather, and the great taxes.

I'm starting... really re-considering moving now.
Thank you if you can give me a definite answer.

If you're living in Dubai, why on earth would you want to be a deemed resident of Canada ?

If you're a landed immigrant (but not a citizen) and are trying to use residency for tax purposes as a way to retain your status, it won't work - because physical presence is usually required to maintain status (your scenario doesn't seem to fit one of the exception categories).

If you're a citizen, Canadian residency will do nothing for you except subject you to Canadian tax. There are no advantages to it. All the federal programs (EI, CPP) require that you and your Canadian employer contribute into the fund in order to receive benefits - so unless you're self employed and want to pay $10 to get $1 back out of the system, it's a losing proposition. PROVINCIAL residency is required to avail yourself of public health insurance and other provincial-level programs, but these have their own residency tests that you wouldn't pass (... legally, anyway).

Canadian citizens have the automatic right of abode in Canada - which means you can always come back whenever you want.

Why are you against non-residency ?

Hi,
I am Canadian living outside Canada for the past 5 years and my daughter intends to study in a Candian university in a couple of years.
Is there a connection between taxes, residency and eligibilty to study and applying for a student loan and not to be treated as a foreign student

I suppose my only reason for wanting to keep a canadian residency status is to keep a foot holder somewhere I feel a little security. Really, I know it won't offer me anything monetarily.

I'm also worried that four years from now I'll find out I owe the canadian government loads of money in back taxes.

It's all very silly I know but I'm just trying to cover all my bases.

When you change what you make in AED into Canadian dollars, the amount is actually low. Furthermore, the only way for the Canadian government to know how much you made is by you presenting a letter from your employer here in the UAE telling them how much you made; and for that i suggest that you either 1) work for small companies that will 'customize' the letter for you or 2) start buying coffee for the HR manager if u work for a big company.

either way, i do not see any point in continuing to have residency in Canada if u are living abroad.

The CRA determines residential status for tax purposes based on residential ties to Canada while working abroad:
The following are primary residential ties which would result in your worldly income being taxed by the CRA:
-own property (house) in Canada
-spouse or common-law partner living in Canada
-a blood child or dependent child under the age of 18 living in Canada
-property left in Canada, furniture, car, personal posessions
The following are secondary residential ties which the CRA would look at collectively to determine your residential status for tax purposes:
-active bank accounts in Canada
-provincial health card/insurance
-provincial driver's licence
-Canadian Passport
-social ties: club memberships, professional memberships/licences
Look at the CRA website for more information.