Hello,

I am living in USA for 5 years on H1B visa and paying taxes here. Last year in 2009 I became Canadian PR as my wife is a Canadian Citizen.

But we are not living in Canada as my wife is living in Chicago as a Student and I am working here on H1B visa.

We both have no income in Canada but we have bank account, healthcard.

Question 1
Do I need to pay taxes in Canada or I need to file tax return with my wife in Canada.(She is filing Zero Tax Return as she is living in USA as a Student)

Question 2
It is possible to pay only for healthcard tax portion?

Thanks

1. If you are not a "tax resident" of canada, then you need not pay or file taxes in Canada. You will have to research the tax website to determine whether you will be considered a tax resident or not. Generally, if you have no ties to canada (home, healthcard, etc, etc, etc), you may not be a tax resident.


2. The health premium (this is only Ontario, I'm talking about) amount is based on the income. If you do not have income and if you are not a tax resident, then you will not pay any health premium. There is no provision to pay them separately.

Adding: if you are deemed a tax resident, then you will have to file taxes based on your worldwide income which includes your US earnings.

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Dimple2001