When a person ceases to be a Canadian resident
for for tax purposes, that person will no longer be subject
Canadian tax on that person's world income. Rather, after
that time, that person will generally only be subject to Canadian
tax on Canadian-source income. This will be true even if that
person is an individual who maintains Canadian citizenship-unlike
the United States, Canada does not tax based upon citizenship.
In the case of an individual, the taxation year of emigration
is, in effect, divided into two parts: the part during which
the individual was a Canadian resident; and the part during
which the individual was a non-resident. It is only the worldwide
income that is earned during the first part that is subject
to Canadian tax. Income earned during the second part of that
year will generally only be subject to Canadian tax if it
is derived from Canadian sources.
During the year of emigration, normal personal tax credits
allowed ("personal amounts") are pro-rated based upon the
portion of the calendar year during which the individual was
resident in Canada.
Capital property owned at the time of emigration is generally
deemed to have been disposed of at fair market value. This
deemed disposition will generally apply to all forms of property
other than direct interests in Canadian real property. Emigrants
may be allowed to post security, in lieu of payment of tax,
to cover the tax liability resulting from such deemed disposition.
For Canadian residents with significant wealth and/or sources
of income it is generally advisable to seek Canadian tax advice
before emigration from Canada in order to take steps to minimize
the impact of Canadian taxation resulting from or arising
after emigration.
A former Canadian resident may be subject to Canadian tax
on capital gains realized on the disposition of "Taxable Canadian
Property" ("TCP") after emigration from Canada.
The most common forms of TCP are:
- Interests in Canadian real property,
- Shares in corporations resident in Canada that are not
listed on a prescribed stock exchange, and
- Other property with respect to which an election was filed
to avoid a deemed disposition, where emigration occurred
before October 2, 1996.
In this regard, even if the Canadian resident emigrates
to a country with respect to which Canada has a tax treaty,
such treaty may not provide protection from Canadian taxation
of post-emigration capital gains.
In connection with capital gains derived from the disposition
of interests in Canadian real property (including indirect
interests held through corporations, partnerships, or trusts)
such treaties generally provide no protection from Canadian
taxation.
In connection with gains from the dispositions of most other
forms of capital property, Canada's right to tax former residents
is preserved under such treaties for limited periods of time
providing requisite previous residency requirements were met.
The rules in this respect are summarized below in relation
to several major countries: |