USA
Canada
US and Canada tax returns, one firm.
Buffalo sits right on the border, and cross-border tax is everyday work for us. Whether you are a Canadian who moved to the US, a dual citizen, or an American with a cottage, rental or pension in Canada, we prepare your US and Canadian returns in one place.
How we help
Both sides of the border, one firm.
No juggling a preparer in each country and no gaps between them.
Canada
Canadian returns for non-residents
Canadian filings for people who now live in the US but still have income, property or accounts in Canada.
United States
US returns with Canadian income
Your federal and state returns with Canadian income reported correctly, and credit taken for tax paid to Canada.
Registered plans
RRSP, RRIF and TFSA reporting
Canadian registered plans are treated differently on a US return. We report them correctly so nothing triggers a surprise.
Property
Canadian rental and vacation property
Renting out or selling a home or cottage in Canada, with the tax handled in both countries.
Retirement
Canadian pensions and benefits
CPP, OAS and workplace pensions on your US return, with the US-Canada treaty applied.
Moving
The year you cross the border
Moving between Canada and the US changes your residency in both countries. We handle the move year on both returns.
Who this is for
Living here, connected there.
- Canadians who have moved to Western New York or elsewhere in the US
- Dual US-Canadian citizens
- Americans with a cottage, rental or investment property in Canada
- Retirees receiving Canadian pensions, CPP or OAS while living in the US
- Professionals on a TN visa or green card with Canadian accounts
- Families moving across the border in either direction
Worth knowing
A few things that catch people out.
A TFSA is not tax-free in the US
Income inside a TFSA is tax-free in Canada, but the US does not recognize that. US residents generally report and pay US tax on it.
Your RRSP can keep its deferral
Under the treaty, an RRSP or RRIF generally keeps its tax deferral on your US return. It still needs to be reported correctly each year.
Leaving Canada can trigger tax
Canada can treat certain assets as sold on the day you stop being a resident. Planning the move ahead of time can make a real difference.
What to expect
Three steps, at your pace.
Tell us where things are
A short conversation about where you earn income, hold accounts and own property. There is no wrong amount to know at this stage.
We map what has to be filed
Which returns are needed in which country and when they are due, before any work starts.
We prepare and file everything
Your returns in both countries, prepared by one team and explained in plain English.
Common questions
US and Canada tax questions.
Do I need to file a Canadian tax return if I live in the US?
It depends on what you still have in Canada. Rental income, a property sale, some pensions and other Canadian income can each create filing requirements for non-residents. We review your situation and tell you exactly what is needed.
Is my TFSA taxable in the US?
Generally, yes. The US does not recognize the TFSA as tax-free, so US residents usually report its income and may have extra reporting requirements.
Do I have to report my Canadian accounts to the IRS?
US residents generally must report foreign financial accounts, including Canadian bank, investment and registered accounts, once total balances pass certain thresholds.
How are CPP and OAS taxed if I live in the US?
Under the US-Canada treaty, these benefits are generally taxed on your US return rather than in Canada. We make sure they are reported the right way.
Will I pay tax twice in the US and Canada?
Usually not, when the returns are prepared correctly. Foreign tax credits and the treaty are designed to prevent double taxation, but both returns have to line up.
Do I need to live near Buffalo to work with you?
No. Many clients work with us entirely online from anywhere in the US, and you are welcome at our offices in Orchard Park, West Seneca and East Aurora.
In-house expertise
A CPA who knows Canadian tax.
Our in-house CPA is experienced in Canadian taxation, so your US and Canadian returns are handled by people who understand how they fit together.
Have taxes in Canada and India both? See our US, Canada and India tax services.
Taxes on both sides of the border?
Book a consultation and we will tell you what has to be filed, where and when. Offices in Orchard Park, West Seneca and East Aurora, or entirely online.
The fine print
Sterling Tax & Accounting, Inc. prepares US and Canadian tax returns. We are not attorneys and nothing on this page is legal or immigration advice. Treaty benefits, residency and foreign reporting requirements depend on your specific facts.