RetireJapan

Hi Everyone,

I sold my mutual funds in Canada thinking the bubble was going to burst. Now I need an accountant in Canada that handles the taxes of non-residents. I was wondering if any Canadians can recommend a good accountant?

I’m finding it difficult to find an accountant!

Any answers/advice appreciated.

Jo-Ann Zelen CPA, CA│Principal
Cameron Izard Snell
Chartered Professional Accountants
www.cistax.ca

I have used this lady for 4 years. She clearly understands and has experience working with non-residents. It was a relief to find her after going through 3 other accountants over the years who claimed to know non-resident issues but clearly didn't.

By the way, if you sold your Canadian mutual funds and got capital gains (made profits), you do not need to (nor should you) declare and/or file a tax form as a non-resident. You are actually supposed to report those gains to the Japanese government, and pay taxes here. The only taxes you are supposed to pay in Canada on funds/stocks are taxes on the dividends, and your bank should do that for you automatically if they have you down as a non-resident account.

I use the above accountant for rental income profit only, as that is required as a non-resident.

Greatpowers - I got all my paperwork from CRA today that outlines what taxes were held by the bank (on dividends) and my capital gains, and it contained a reminder about a couple things that might pertain to you: If your mutual funds were a sort of income trust and/or held a high amount of property within the fund, you do declare/pay taxes in Canada. I have avoided those types of funds for that reason for the past few years, after I got some special paperwork requirements from an income trust fund I held. (I ignored it).

Great thread. I'm just about to sell my mutual funds in Canada. I assume that since it's just a matter of paying the Japanese authorities the capital gains tax, it doesn't matter how much I sell? I can just do it all as a lump sum, right?