
Do you dream about a retirement where you can swap the cold and snow for sunshine and sandy beaches? We hear you. Whether you opt to spend your winters in Florida or another sunshine destination in the U.S., here's what you should know before leaving. When it comes to health and finances, a snowbird forewarned is a snowbird forearmed.
Summary:
There's no maximum, as such. But if you exceed a certain number of days, you could be subject to tax as a resident of the United States. You might also lose certain privileges in Canada. Depending on the length of your stay, it's possible that you may:
As a snowbird, it's best not to spend more than 182 days in the United States over a three-year period. How the 182 days is calculated, however, is rather unusual. Here's how the U.S. government does the calculation:
Here's how to calculate the 3-year total for someone who spends
about 4 months a year in the United States:
Total: about 180 days. This falls just below the 182-day limit.
Advice for Canadian snowbirds: If you're close to the 182-day limit, bear in mind that every day you're on U.S. soil is included in the calculation. Even if you're only there for part of a day on the day you fly home, it's still counted as a full day.
If you exceed the 182-day limit, you can request an exemption.
Complete form 8840 from the IRS (Internal Revenue
Service).
The goal of the Closer Connection Exception Statement for Aliens form is to inform U.S. authorities that your stays in the U.S. are temporary, that you have a closer connection to a foreign country, and your residence for tax purposes is outside the U.S. The decision is based on each person's individual circumstances, including:
It all depends on the specifics of the public health insurance in
your province or territory and the duration of your stay outside
Canada.
Also, keep in mind that even if you retain your
coverage, certain medications or medical procedures may not be covered
or only be partially covered.
Yes, definitely. Your Canadian public health insurance doesn't cover everything and the cost of health care south of the border is very high. It's not uncommon for an emergency hospitalization to set someone back tens of thousands of dollars.
Expert advice: Make sure you have sufficient medical coverage before you head to Florida or any other place in the United States.
Savings
Your travel credit card may have emergency medical
care coverage or offer travel assistance when you're outside Canada.
Contact your card issuer to learn more.
You don't have to, but if you spend your winters in Florida, you may find it's easier on your wallet. Opening a U.S. dollar bank account could:
Did you know that National Bank has a presence in the south?
Like many other Canadian financial institutions, we have a subsidiary in the U.S. Natbank in Florida, offers a wide range of banking services for individuals (like snowbirds) and businesses. This can be very practical if you plan to buy a car or winter home there.
A warning for snowbirds buying a rental property in Florida: You'll
likely have taxes, including income tax, to pay.
General rule: There will be a withholding tax of about 30% of the gross rental amount. This even applies if you rent your Florida condo to family members, even your favourite sibling.
This option allows you to deduct certain expenses, like mortgage interest and property taxes, from your rental income. You'll also have to declare this income in Canada, but there are tax credits that could help you avoid being taxed twice.
Tax specialists can help you make the best choice based on your situation.
Many of us dream about spending our winters down south when we retire. No matter where you decide to go, be it Florida or another sunshine destination, you'll need to do a lot of thinking and preparing. Once you have all the information you need, you can leave without any worries. We’re here to answer your questions.
Our team will be happy to assist you, in person or remotely.
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