namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" 
name="country-region">
Hi Gillian (and David!!),
 
I 
just got my tax forms from you—I’m so happy you’re there again!  I have no 
idea exactly what my questions to David were and couldn’t even trace them back 
in my “Sent” box!
 
At a guess, though, one would have been, is there anything deductible 
about getting a “new” car that cost a bit over $3,000 once it was repaired per 
CAA instructions?
The second is a new question for me.  I am job-hunting in the 
Pacific Northwest and am not sure which side of 
the border I might fetch up, pension/social security-wise, etc. I have been 
working in the U.S. for 8 years, so don’t have 
enough points for probably another five years. Am I going to shoot myself in the 
foot if I accept any job offers from Canada, or am I actually better off 
there than here for the next few years?  I have, as you saw, a minute 401K 
and an equally minute superannuation in BC from working for the Provincial govt 
for several years. Clearly not even close to being able to retire before I’m 80 
even if I knew what I was doing with money, which I don’t—and don’t have any to 
do it with, in any case!  So, is there anything I should consider before 
focusing my search on one side of the border or the other. Preference-wise, I’m 
leaning towards the Portland area for somewhere new to live, but I 
may not entirely have control over where the jobs and offers are.  What do 
you (plural) think?
 
Glad I get a refund, though—enough to pay off the credit cards, add a bit 
to the “moving fund” and then only have to focus on paying off the huge student 
line of credit (ugh!)  Maybe I’ll go ahead and get that netbook I’ve been 
wanting, though! (Samsung NC10). It’s hard drive is twice the size of my current 
laptop!
 
Hope you have some thoughts for me about the moving between countries 
thing—it’s the kind of thing that’s too complicated for my pea brain to figure 
out!
 
 
-----------------------------------------------------------
david ingram replies:
 
You 
are not the only one.  So many Canadians are being laid off in the US with 
their job loss problems that I have even be asked to write about it by Stockwell 
Day.
 
Job hunting expenses are deductible AS IN:
 
If you travel to an area to look for work in your current occupation or 
attend an interview you can generally deduct the ordinary and necessary travel 
costs. The purpose of the trip must be considered. Trips that are primarily 
personal are not deductible. For more information on how to compute your travel 
expenses, see Publication 463, Travel, Entertainment, Gifts and 
Car Expense.
 
Some moving 
expenses are deductible. 
The following is from the IRS.gov site.
 
See form 
3903 for an example of what you need.  Generally it is the cost of a moving 
company and travel costs and  lodging for you to get there.  Unlike 
Canada, the US does NOT allow the deduction of real estate commissions to sell 
your old house of meals on the way.
 
However, 
Canada does NOT allow moving in or out of the country in general and neither 
country allows moving expenses for exempted income.  
So unless you are still a full time student who has just graduated in 
the US and  are moving back to Canada or a member of the armed 
forces, etc. your move to Canda would not be deductible.
 
A move to 
Seattle would be:
 
Topic 455 - Moving 
Expenses
If you moved due to a change in your job or business location, 
or because you started a new job or business, you may be able to deduct your 
moving expenses. To qualify for the moving expense deduction, you must satisfy 
two tests. Under the first test, the "distance test", your new job must be at 
least 50 miles farther from your old home than your old job location was from 
your old home. If you had no previous workplace, your new job must be at least 
50 miles from your old home. 
The second test is the "time test". If you are an employee, you 
must work full-time for at least 39 weeks during the first 12 months right after 
you arrive in the general area of your new job. If you are self-employed, you 
must work full time for at least 39 weeks during the first 12 months and for a 
total of at least 78 weeks during the first 24 months after you arrive in the 
general area of your new work location. There are exceptions to the time test in 
case of death, disability and involuntary separation, among other things. 
If you are a member of the armed forces and your move was due to 
a permanent change of station, you do not have to satisfy the "distance or time 
tests". 
Moving expenses are figured on Form 
3903 (PDF) and deducted as an adjustment to income on 
Form 
1040 (PDF). You cannot deduct any moving expenses that 
were reimbursed by your employer. 
For more information on deductible moving expenses, please refer to Publication 521, Moving 
Expenses. 
  
 
NOTHING IS DEDUCTIBLE IN BUYING A NEW CAR UNLESS IT IS ONE USED IN 
BUSINESS.
 
To ensure your receiving Social Security in the future, you need 40 
credits but you can transfer some of your Canadian years of working under CPP to 
the FICA calculation.
 
 
However, to get the full US 
MEDICARE benefits, you do need 40 credits (10 years) to qualify at the cheapest 
rates.  It is possible to get it with 28 31, 37, etc. credits but the fees 
are up to 3 times higher.
 
My advice would be for you to 
work the full 10 years before returning to Canada.  I think you have a 
green card and if so and you want to keep it, you MUST file form I-131 BEFORE 
you leave the USA.
 
------------------------------------------------------
david ingram's US / Canada Services
US / 
Canada / Mexico tax, Immigration and working Visa Specialists
US / Canada 
Real Estate Specialists
My Home office is at:
4466 Prospect Road
North Vancouver,  BC, CANADA, V7N 
3L7
Cell (604) 657-8451 - 
(604) 
980-0321 Fax (604) 980-0325
Calls welcomed from 10 AM to 9 PM 7 days a week  
Vancouver (LA) time -  (please do not fax or phone 
outside of those hours as this is a home office) expert  US Canada Canadian American  Mexican Income 
Tax  service help.
 
pert  US Canada Canadian American  
Mexican Income Tax  service and 
help.
David Ingram gives expert income 
tax service & immigration help to non-resident Americans & 
Canadians from New York to California to Mexico  family, 
estate, income trust trusts Cross border, dual citizen - out of 
country investments are all handled with competence & 
authority.
 
IRS Circular 230 
Disclosure:  To ensure 
compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS, please be advised that any U.S. 
tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not 
intended or written to be used or relied upon, and cannot be used or relied 
upon, for the purpose of (i) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code, 
or (ii) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any transaction or 
matter addressed herein.
Disclaimer:  This question has been 
answered without detailed information or consultation and is to be regarded only 
as general comment.   Nothing in this message is or should be 
construed as advice in any particular circumstances. No contract exists between 
the reader and the author and any and all non-contractual duties are expressly 
denied. All readers should obtain formal advice from a competent and 
appropriately qualified legal practitioner or tax specialist 
for expert help, assistance, preparation, 
or consultation  in connection with personal or 
business affairs such as at www.centa.com or www.garygauvin.com.  If you forward this 
message, this disclaimer must be included." 
 
             
 
 
“Not 
everything that can be counted counts, 
and not 
everything that counts can be counted.” 
                                              
-- Albert Einstein
 
 
	    
What's Related