Guides

Straight answers, written by the people who’d file it.

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.

Capital gains RRSP TFSA Departure tax Estate tax FBAR LLC Principal residence

CROSS-BORDER A Canadian Corporation With a U.S. Shareholder

What applies to you
What it costs if you wait
What to do next

Fairlight Accounting · US + Canadian Tax Desks

1,423 guides

Cross-Border Tax (U.S.–Canada)

U.S. LLCs for Latin American Entrepreneurs: What You Actually Owe the IRS

June 22, 2026

A U.S. LLC owned from Latin America isn't automatically tax-free — and Form 5472 carries a $25,000 penalty for getting it wrong. What you actually owe the IRS, and why your entity and your personal U.S. residency are two separate questions.

Bookkeeping

When Should a Miami Business Hire a Bookkeeper? The Honest Answer

June 22, 2026

Most Miami owners do their own books until it quietly costs more than it saves. The real signs you've outgrown DIY bookkeeping, the difference between a bookkeeper, an accountant, and a CFO, and how to switch without overpaying.

Cross-Border Tax (U.S.–Canada)

Should a Canadian Own a U.S. LLC? Usually Not — Here's Why

June 15, 2026

The LLC is America's favorite business structure — which is exactly why so many Canadians get talked into one. For a Canadian owner, an LLC can create double taxation the U.S. and Canada were supposed to prevent. Here's the trap.

Cross-Border Tax (U.S.–Canada)

U.S. Citizen in Canada and Haven't Filed in Years? The Streamlined Path Back

June 15, 2026

If you're a U.S. citizen or green card holder living in Canada who didn't realize you still had to file U.S. taxes, you're not alone — and you're probably less trapped than you fear. The IRS Streamlined program is the way back.

Cross-Border Tax (U.S.–Canada)

Form 8840 for Snowbirds — The Closer Connection Exception, Explained

June 12, 2026

Form 8840 is the one-page filing that lets Canadian snowbirds spend winters in the U.S. without becoming U.S. tax residents. Here's who qualifies, what "closer connection" actually means, the deadline, and the mistakes that void it.

Cross-Border Tax (U.S.–Canada)

The Substantial Presence Test Explained — How Many U.S. Days Is Too Many?

June 12, 2026

Canadian snowbirds often believe 182 days in the U.S. is the magic number. It isn't. The IRS counts your days with a weighted three-year formula — and many snowbirds cross the line at about 120 days a year without knowing it.

Cross-Border Tax (U.S.–Canada)

I Moved From Canada to the U.S. — How Do I File My Taxes?

June 11, 2026

Moving from Canada to the United States triggers tax obligations in both countries in your year of arrival. Here's a plain-English guide to what you file, where, and in what order — so nothing slips through the cracks.

The content on this page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional tax, accounting, or legal advice. See our full legal disclaimer.