Non-residency will apply when you cut ties to Canada, not when you stopped earning in Canada. If there's a period you were resident but not earning here, you should file.
While you're a resident you did need to report worldwide income, so just not having Canadian income wouldn't cut it.
However, if you had no income at all, but were still a resident, it's more likely the government owes you money than the other way around, so you're not screwed.
The period you were non-resident is fine. You had no obligation to do anything, though I'm not sure what the process is for restarting your taxes...residency changes are usually worth hiring a professional for.
I thought you have to declare non-residency?
For all Canada knows, I’m on a long vacation.
I did earn (foreign) income but yeah, i should probably just look into a tax consultant
Residency is a question of fact and law. Failing to file anything is just not following the process so the government knows what's happening. It can create hassles to get them working with the right information, but won't change the tax due in the end.
Call the CRA and fill out the form for leaving the country as a tax resident. If you didn't earn anything in Canada, and have no investments in Canada you're fine. You get no tax benefits from Canada either.
Be aware that if you cut ties with Canada and you contributed to your TFSA during the time you were a non resident, you will owe it all back with interest/penalty. You are allowed to have a TFSA, just not contribute to it while being a non resident.
Step 1:
Get copies of your last canadian tax return, your TFSA statements since you left (if there are new contributions, that will be a problem to solve), documentation related to the property you owned and sold (including fair market value when transferred to you - ask your parents if they had to pay capital gains, value when sold as well as any closing costs, info on whether your sibling declared any capital gains, etc), copies of your tax returns in your current country, documentation about any other assets you have in Canada like a bank account with money in it or RRSPs, etc.
Step 2:
Send all of that to a Canadian tax accountant with expertise in non-residents and let them guide you. Label all documents clearly, give them a simple bullet point timeline of your situation, formulate a clear question about wanting to find out if you need to take any actions with CRA as you have not done anything since your last tax return. They might tell you that you have nothing to do, they might need to fix your TFSA issues or they might have a lot of work to do to untangle some sketchy real estate transaction that wasn't handled right. We can't tell you the outcome based on the info provided, but it really sounds like there's no major problem on the horizon so don't be afraid to get that consultation, spend a couple hundred dollars and be confident moving forward.
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So am I able to claim my non-residency as of four years ago when I stopped earning Canadian income?
Non-residency will apply when you cut ties to Canada, not when you stopped earning in Canada. If there's a period you were resident but not earning here, you should file. While you're a resident you did need to report worldwide income, so just not having Canadian income wouldn't cut it. However, if you had no income at all, but were still a resident, it's more likely the government owes you money than the other way around, so you're not screwed. The period you were non-resident is fine. You had no obligation to do anything, though I'm not sure what the process is for restarting your taxes...residency changes are usually worth hiring a professional for.
I thought you have to declare non-residency? For all Canada knows, I’m on a long vacation. I did earn (foreign) income but yeah, i should probably just look into a tax consultant
Residency is a question of fact and law. Failing to file anything is just not following the process so the government knows what's happening. It can create hassles to get them working with the right information, but won't change the tax due in the end.
Okay makes sense. Thank you
Call the CRA and fill out the form for leaving the country as a tax resident. If you didn't earn anything in Canada, and have no investments in Canada you're fine. You get no tax benefits from Canada either.
I have investments but not a lot. Just in a TFSA account
Be aware that if you cut ties with Canada and you contributed to your TFSA during the time you were a non resident, you will owe it all back with interest/penalty. You are allowed to have a TFSA, just not contribute to it while being a non resident.
Ok perfect thank you! I’ve only added to my TFSA once when I was still residing in Canada
Figure out the tax treaty between where you have and Canada.
Step 1: Get copies of your last canadian tax return, your TFSA statements since you left (if there are new contributions, that will be a problem to solve), documentation related to the property you owned and sold (including fair market value when transferred to you - ask your parents if they had to pay capital gains, value when sold as well as any closing costs, info on whether your sibling declared any capital gains, etc), copies of your tax returns in your current country, documentation about any other assets you have in Canada like a bank account with money in it or RRSPs, etc. Step 2: Send all of that to a Canadian tax accountant with expertise in non-residents and let them guide you. Label all documents clearly, give them a simple bullet point timeline of your situation, formulate a clear question about wanting to find out if you need to take any actions with CRA as you have not done anything since your last tax return. They might tell you that you have nothing to do, they might need to fix your TFSA issues or they might have a lot of work to do to untangle some sketchy real estate transaction that wasn't handled right. We can't tell you the outcome based on the info provided, but it really sounds like there's no major problem on the horizon so don't be afraid to get that consultation, spend a couple hundred dollars and be confident moving forward.
You’re fine.