Americans from Alaska moving to Canada - IMPORTING CAR -

David,
My husband, myself and our xx year old son just received our Visa Permits.  We have until Aug 2008 to land in
Canada.  We live in Alaska.  
Our tax situation is as follows:
My husband is xx and I am xx
We have significant IRA and Roth IRA accounts for both of us
We have a house in Alaska we plan to sell, but may not sell before Aug 2008
We have recreational land we don't plan to sell, which we may put a small cabin on after we sell the house.
We know we have to land at the border no later than August, but wanted to delay actually residing in Canada
until 2009
1.  Can we land in Canada, give them a list of goods to follow in 2009, but not move until 2009?
2.  We plan to travel through Canada in Feb on our way to Oregon to spend a month vacation - is there anything
we need to be alert to?
3.  Do we have to file Canadian taxes if we are not physically there more than say 30 days in 2007?
4.  What do you charge per hour to do some indepth planning for us?
Thanks,
  ----------------------------------------------------------------david ingram replies:1. Yes. to maintain your PR status you must be physically present in Canada for 24 out of any 60 month period.  If you landed in February on  your way through, you would theoretically have until Feb 2011 to actually move.  However, if you left it to the last moment, you would have to stay in Canada for the next 24 months without leaving.2.   If you were to land on your way through, it would be interesting and likley the logical time to do it.  Too bad the Top of the World Highway is closed between Chicken and Dawson City.  It would be a cool challenge to 'land' at the Chicken Poker Creek. Alaska  / Little Gold Creek Yukon crossing which has a wonderful new Combined US / Canada facility which replaced the old quaint crossing buildings.http://explorenorth.com/library/communities/images/poker2.jpg3.   The answer is that you will not file if you are not living here or at least physically present in a residence.  4.   I charge $400 an hour.5.   Something to be aware of.  If you have $100,000 worth of furniture and a $2,000 car and show up at the border, the car can NOT enter without a US export stamp on the Original Official State Title.  If you do not have the stamp, Canada Customs will  send you back.  Usually, you have to have sent the US Customs office you are leaving through a copy of the title and fill out a one page export sheet.  The export sheet has differences for every crossing.  In your case, if you are driving, it would be the official ALCAN CROSSING at http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/toolbox/contacts/ports/ak/3104.xmlCall the POE at ALCAN at (907) 774-2252 to get their regulations at the time you intend to export the car.  They will send you their export form by fax or mail (by then it might even be a pdf by email) and make sure you fax back a copy of the car title(s) to 907-774-2020.within their time limits.  Also be aware that some of the crossings will only deal with you certain hours of the day.  For instance, if you were moving fropm Seattle to Vancouver, the Blaine Crossing is only open for this between about 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM Monday to Friday  and is absolutrely closed Saturday, Sunday and all Holidays.Others, like Pembina North Dakota will export 24 hours a day and I expect that the ALCAN POE (Port of Entry - Port of EXIT) will be a 24 hour opne as well.I just got through to the ALCAN crossing - Officer Carlson assured me that they do not have an input form or letter.  They require a faxed copy of the title and registration 72 hours before you show up.  Then you have to have the originals for them to seal/stamp for the Canada Customs office.  some vehicles  do NOT qualify for imoportation and licencing in Canada (or California for that matter) becasue of Motor Vehicle Safety standards and Emmission rules.  Even a Chrysler magic Wagon built in Canada may not qualify if it was built for the US or export market.  Go to http://www.tc.gc.ca/roadsafety/importation/VAFUS/list/menu.htmFor an uptodate list of motorhomes, motorcycles, and autos that can be imported in to Canada on a permanent basis.  (I have also reproduced it below.)There is, of course, no problem if you are just on your way through Canada or not bringing your goods at that time.Hope this helps.  The following will explain why I this took so long.  I stuck it aside intending to answer and then it just got lost in over 2,000 emails i had saved to maybe answer.  I have actually cleaned out over 1,000 in the last three days in this little lull before tax season starts in ernest.-----------------------------------------------------------         . Road Safety's Main Menu       . Importation     Importing a Vehicle into Canada     TABLE OF CONTENTS VERY IMPORTANT VERY IMPORTANT VERY IMPORTANT TRANSPORT CANADA OR THE REGISTRAR OF IMPORTED VEHICLES CANNOT GUARANTEE THE ACCURACY OF THE INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THIS LIST. THE INFORMATION IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.THIS LIST IS BASED ON INFORMATION SUPPLIED TO TRANSPORT CANADA AND THE REGISTRAR OF IMPORTED VEHICLES BY THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURERS ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS. ITS ACCURACY CANNOT BE GUARANTEED. THERE IS ALSO NO GUARANTEE THAT ANY VEHICLE DEEMED ADMISSIBLE CAN BE SUCCESSFULLY MODIFIED TO MEET CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS. PLEASE CONTACT THE REGISTRAR OF IMPORTED VEHICLES (WWW.RIV.CA)TO OBTAIN DETAILED INFORMATION ON THE PROCESS THAT MUST BE FOLLOWED FOR THE IMPORTATION OF VEHICLES PURCHASED AT THE RETAIL LEVEL IN THE UNITED STATES.            EXPLANATIONS       SECTION (1)   THE REGISTRAR OF IMPORTED VEHICLES       SECTION (2)   GENERAL       SECTION (3)   PASSENGER CARS       SECTION (4)   LIMOUSINES AND FUNERAL VEHICLES       SECTION (5.1)   MOTORHOMES CLASS A AND C       SECTION (5.2)   MOTORHOME - CLASS B       SECTION (5.3)   MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES(MPV)MANUFACTURED BEFORE SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2007 (such as vans, mini-vans, sport utility vehicles, etc. but does not include pick-up trucks and trucks / see section 12)        SECTION (5.4)   MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES (MPV) MANUFACTURED AFTER SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2007 (vans, mini-vans, sport utility vehicles, etc. but does not include pick-up trucks and trucks / see section 12)        SECTION (5.5)   DISABLED ACCESS VEHICLE CONVERSION       SECTION (5.6)   TRAVEL VAN CONVERSION       SECTION (6)   BUSES       SECTION (7)   SCHOOL BUSES       SECTION (8)   MOTORCYCLES       SECTION (9)   RESTRICTED USE MOTORCYCLES       SECTION (10)   AMBULANCE VEHICLES       SECTION (11)   TRAILERS       SECTION (12)   TRUCKS WITH GVWR LESS THAN 4536 KG, MANUFACTURED AFTER SEPTEMBER 1ST, 2007       SECTION (13)   SNOWMOBILES       SECTION (14)   LOW SPEED VEHICLES       SECTION (15)   WRECKED VEHICLES           FURTHER INFORMATION  ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
On December 25, 2007, David Ingram wrote: 
It is very unlikely that blind or unexpected email to me will be answered.  I receive anywhere from 100 to 700  unsolicited emails a day and usually answer anywhere from 2 to 20 if they are not from existing clients.  Existing clients are advised to put their 'name and PAYING CUSTOMER' in the subject line and get answered first.  I also refuse to be a slave to email and do not look at it every day and have never ever looked at it when I am out of town.  e bankruptcy expert  US Canada Canadian American  Mexican Income Tax  service and help
However, I regularly search for the words"PAYING CUSTOMER" and always answer them first if they did not get spammed out. For the last two weeks, I have just found out that my own email notes to myself have been spammed out and as an example, as I write this on Dec 25, 2007 since June 16th, my 'spammed out' box has 47,941 unread messages, my deleted box has 16645 I have actually looked at and deleted and I have actually answered 1234 email questions for clients and strangers without sending a bill.  I have also put aside 847 messages that I am maybe going to try and answer because they look interesting. -e bankruptcy expert  US Canada Canadian American  Mexican Income Tax service and  help 
Therefore, if an email is not answered in 24 to 36 hours, it is likely lost in space.  You can try and resend it but if important AND YOU TRULY WANT OR NEED AN ANSWER from 'me', you will have to phone to make an appointment.  Gillian Bryan generally accepts appointment requests for me between 10:30 AM and 4:00 PM Monday to Friday VANCOUVER (Seattle, Portland, Los Angeles) time at (604) 980-0321.  david ingram expert  US Canada Canadian American  Mexican Income Tax  service and help.
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.
 email to taxman at centa.com
www.centa.com www.david-ingram.com
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. If you forward this message, this disclaimer must be included." e bankruptcy expert  US Canada Canadian American  Mexican Income Tax  service and help.
David Ingram gives expert income tax & 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.
Phone consultations are $400 for 15 minutes to 50 minutes (professional hour). Please note that GST is added if product remains in Canada or is to be returned to Canada or a phone consultation is in Canada. expert  US Canada Canadian American  Mexican Income Tax  service and help.
This is not intended to be definitive but in general I am quoting $900 to $2,900 for a dual country tax return.
$900 would be one T4 slip one W2 slip one or two interest slips and you lived in one country only (but were filing both countries) - no self employment or rentals or capital gains - you did not move into or out of the country in this year.
$1,100 would be the same with one rental 
$1,300 would be the same with one business no rental
$1,300 would be the minimum with a move in or out of the country. These are complicated because of the back and forth foreign tax credits. - The IRS says a foreign tax credit takes 1 hour and 53 minutes.
$1,600 would be the minimum with a rental or two in the country you do not live in or a rental and a business and foreign tax credits  no move in or out 
$1,700 would be for two people with income from two countries
$2,900 would be all of the above and you moved in and out of the country.
This is just a guideline for US / Canadian returns
We will still prepare Canadian only (lives in Canada, no US connection period) with two or three slips and no capital gains, etc. for $200.00 up.
With a Rental for $400, two or three rentals for $550 to $700 (i.e. $150 per rental) First year Rental - plus $250.
A Business for $400 - Rental and business likely $550 to $700
And an American only (lives in the US with no Canadian income or filing period) with about the same things in the same range with a little bit more if there is a state return.
Moving in or out of the country or part year earnings in the US will ALWAYS be $900 and up.
TDF 90-22.1 forms are $50 for the first and $25.00 each after that when part of a tax return.
8891 forms are generally $50.00 to $100.00 each.
18 RRSPs would be $900.00 - (maybe amalgamate a couple)
Capital gains *sales)  are likely $50.00 for the first and $20.00 each after that.
Catch - up returns for the US where we use the Canadian return as a guide for seven years at a time will be $150 to $500.00 per year depending upon numbers of bank accounts, RRSP's, existence of rental houses, self employment, etc.
Just a guideline not etched in stone. 
This from "ask an income trusts tax service and immigration expert" from www.centa.com or www.jurock.com or www.featureweb.com. David Ingram deals on a daily basis with expatriate tax returns with multi jurisdictional cross and trans border expatriate problems  for the United States, Canada, Mexico, Great Britain, United Kingdom, Kuwait, Dubai, Saudi Arabia, Thailand, Indonesia, Japan, China, New Zealand, France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Russia, Georgia, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Bolivia, Scotland, Ireland, Hawaii, Florida, Montana, Morocco, Israel, Iraq, Iran, India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Mali, Bangkok, Greenland, Iceland, Cuba, Bahamas, Bermuda, Barbados, St Vincent, Grenada,, Virgin Islands, US, UK, GB, and any of the 43 states with state tax returns, etc. Rockwall, Dallas, San Antonio Houston, Denmark, Finland, Sweden Norway Bulgaria Croatia Income Tax and Immigration Tips, Income Tax  Immigration Wizard Antarctica Rwanda Guru  Consultant Specialist Section 216(4) 216(1) NR6 NR-6 NR 6 Non-Resident Real Estate tax specialist expert preparer expatriate anti money laundering money seasoning FINTRAC E677 E667 105 106 TDF-90 Reporting $10,000 cross border transactions Grand Cayman Aruba Zimbabwe South Africa Namibia help USA US Income Tax Convention. Advice on bankruptcy  e bankruptcy expert  US Canada Canadian American  Mexican Income Tax service and help . 
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