1,423 plain-English guides on cross-border moves, US and Canadian returns, and small-business money. Each one ends in what to do next, and says when a written Position Check is the smarter first step.
October 1, 2026
Factual residency in Canada explained: how the CRA decides whether someone is a Canadian tax resident from residential ties — home, spouse, dependants, and secondary ties — why there's no day-count rule, how it applies to people who move or split time, and the treaty tie-breaker.
Read more →October 1, 2026
Foreign accrual property income explained: Canada's rule that taxes Canadian shareholders currently on the passive income of their controlled foreign affiliates, why a U.S. LLC holding rental property triggers it, the foreign accrual tax deduction, and how it mirrors the U.S. subpart F rules.
Read more →October 1, 2026
The first home savings account explained for U.S. citizens living in Canada: the FHSA's Canadian deduction and tax-free withdrawal, why the United States doesn't recognize it, the U.S. tax on its income and on the withdrawal, possible foreign trust reporting, and whether it still makes sense.
Read more →October 1, 2026
FIRPTA withholding explained: the 15 percent buyer withholding when a foreign person sells U.S. real estate, the 10 percent and zero exceptions for residences, the withholding certificate on Form 8288-B, the seller's U.S. return, and how the withholding is refunded.
Read more →October 1, 2026
The first-year FBAR and Form 8938 for Canadians who become U.S. residents explained: which accounts count from the residency start date, the US$10,000 FBAR threshold, the Form 8938 thresholds for U.S. residents, RRSPs and TFSAs, and the dual-status year's special rules.
Read more →October 1, 2026
The Florida declaration of domicile explained: the sworn statement filed with the county clerk under section 222.17, what it proves and what it doesn't, how it fits with the homestead exemption, driver's licence, and voter registration, and why your former state looks past it.
Read more →October 1, 2026
The Florida homestead exemption explained for Canadians: the up-to-US$51,411 (2026) exemption and the Save Our Homes 3 percent cap require permanent Florida residence — snowbirds and non-immigrant visa holders generally can't claim it — the March 1 deadline, and what it means for a Canadian's property tax bill.
Read more →October 1, 2026
The Florida intangibles tax explained: the annual intangible personal property tax on stocks, bonds, and other investments was repealed effective January 1, 2007 — but the nonrecurring intangible tax of 2 mills on mortgages and liens on Florida real property still applies.
Read more →October 1, 2026
The foreign earned income exclusion explained: how U.S. citizens in Canada exclude wages and self-employment income up to the annual limit, the bona fide residence and physical presence tests, the housing exclusion, and why the foreign tax credit is usually better in Canada.
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Form 1040-NR explained: who files the U.S. nonresident return, effectively connected income versus fixed income taxed at 30 percent, the net-basis election for rental property, deductions a nonresident can and can't take, treaty claims, and the June 15 deadline.
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Form 1042-S explained: the U.S. information slip foreign persons — including Canadians — receive for U.S.-source income such as dividends, interest, royalties, scholarships, and pensions, the income and exemption codes, the tax withheld, and how it's used on U.S. and Canadian returns.
Read more →October 1, 2026
Form 1116 explained: how individuals credit Canadian income tax against U.S. tax on the same income, the general and passive categories, the limitation formula, the carryback and carryforward, the re-sourcing rule under the treaty, and when the simplified election avoids the form.
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Form 3520 explained: who files it, the three things it reports — transactions with foreign trusts, ownership of foreign trusts, and large gifts or bequests from foreign persons — the thresholds, the due date, and the penalties that make it one of the IRS's most enforced information returns.
Read more →October 1, 2026
Form 5471 explained: who files it (the five filer categories), what it reports about a foreign corporation, how it connects to subpart F and GILTI, the US$10,000 penalty, and the open statute of limitations that makes a missed form costly.
Read more →October 1, 2026
Form 5472 explained: which foreign-owned U.S. corporations and single-member LLCs must file it, the reportable transactions with related parties, the pro forma Form 1120 for a disregarded LLC, and the US$25,000 penalty most foreign owners have never heard of.
Read more →October 1, 2026
Form 8833 explained: when a taxpayer must disclose a position that a tax treaty overrides U.S. law, the common Canada–U.S. positions (the residency tie-breaker, business profits without a permanent establishment, the basis election), the exceptions, and the US$1,000 and US$10,000 penalties.
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Form 8840 explained: how Canadian snowbirds who meet the substantial presence test stay nonresidents of the United States, the three conditions, the June 15 deadline, what counts as a closer connection, and what happens if you miss it.
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Form 8843 explained: how Canadian students on F-1 or J-1 status, teachers, trainees, and people stuck in the U.S. for medical reasons exclude days from the substantial presence test, who must file, the June 15 deadline, and what happens if it's missed.
Read more →October 1, 2026
Form 8938 explained: the FATCA statement of specified foreign financial assets, the higher thresholds for people living abroad, how it differs from the FBAR, what counts (accounts, foreign stocks, interests in foreign entities), and the US$10,000 penalty.
Read more →October 1, 2026
Form NR6 explained: how a non-resident landlord of Canadian property has the agent withhold 25 percent of net rent instead of gross, the January 1 timing, the Canadian agent's role, and the section 216 return that must follow by June 30.
Read more →October 1, 2026
Form T106 explained: the CRA information return reporting transactions between a Canadian taxpayer and non-arm's-length non-residents — such as a U.S. parent or subsidiary — the C$1 million threshold, what's reported, the deadline, and the transfer pricing link.
Read more →October 1, 2026
Form T1134 explained: the CRA information return Canadian residents file for foreign affiliates — such as a U.S. subsidiary or a U.S. LLC Canada treats as a corporation — the controlled and not-controlled versions, the 10-month deadline, and the penalties.
Read more →October 1, 2026
Form T2091 explained: how Canadians designate a principal residence when selling a home, the one-plus formula, choosing between a home and a cottage, the required reporting of every sale, the penalty for not designating, and what it means for a U.S. vacation property.
Read more →October 1, 2026
Form T2125 explained: how Canadian self-employed people and partners report business and professional income, the expenses and capital cost allowance, the home office and vehicle rules, the fiscal period, and how a U.S. citizen's T2125 lines up with Schedule C.
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