US tax filing for Canadians
US Tax Filing for Canadians and Cross-Border Clients
Navigate US filing requirements with organized preparation, clear explanations, and support tailored to your personal or business circumstances.
US filing obligations follow the person, not the address. US citizens and green card holders living in Canada must file a US return every year even when all of their income is Canadian, and Canadians with US rental property, US employment or a US business may also have filings on both sides of the border.
Wall Tax Pro prepares Canadian and US returns together from our Mississauga office, so treaty positions, foreign tax credits and currency conversions line up across both filings instead of being handled by two firms who never speak to each other.
What this service includes
US individual returns (Form 1040 / 1040-NR)
Annual federal filing for US citizens, green card holders and non-residents with US-source income.
Foreign income and asset reporting
FBAR (FinCEN 114) and FATCA Form 8938 reporting for Canadian bank, investment and registered accounts.
Foreign tax credits and treaty positions
Coordinating the Canada–US tax treaty so the same income is not effectively taxed twice.
US business filings
Returns and information reporting for US entities, LLC members and Canadians operating in the United States.
Catch-up and late filings
Bringing multiple missed years current, including streamlined-style catch-up planning.
Cross-border document review
Reviewing W-2, 1099, K-1 and Canadian slips together before either return is prepared.
Who this service is for
US citizens living in Canada
Dual citizens and accidental Americans in the GTA who need both a T1 and a 1040 each year.
Green card holders
Permanent residents of the US who have relocated to Ontario but still carry US filing duties.
Canadians with US income
Owners of US rental property, snowbirds, and people with US employment or investment income.
Businesses operating across the border
Canadian companies with US customers, staff or subsidiaries needing coordinated reporting.
Our process
- 01
Cross-border assessment
We establish your residency and citizenship position, which years are outstanding, and which reporting forms apply.
- 02
Document gathering
A single checklist covering both countries so Canadian and US information is collected once.
- 03
Coordinated preparation
Canadian and US returns are prepared together, with treaty relief and foreign tax credits applied consistently.
- 04
Review and filing
Both filings are reviewed before submission, with FBAR and information returns filed on the correct schedule.
- 05
Forward planning
We explain what will change next year, including instalments, exchange-rate handling and reporting thresholds.
Why work with Wall Tax Pro
- One team handles both the Canadian and the US side, reducing the risk of mismatched positions.
- Experience with catch-up filings where several years have been missed.
- Clear explanation of exposure before you commit to a filing approach.
- Mississauga office for in-person meetings, with secure remote service across Canada and the US.
- Fixed fees quoted after reviewing the scope of filings required.
Reviewed by Tosif Hanif, CPA, ACCA, ACFE, MSc, Director of Accounting and Finance at Wall Tax Pro, Mississauga, Ontario.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to file a US tax return if I live in Canada?
If you are a US citizen or green card holder, yes. The United States taxes on citizenship, so an annual federal return is required regardless of where you live, even if you owe nothing after foreign tax credits or the foreign earned income exclusion.
Will I be taxed twice on the same income?
Usually not. The Canada–US tax treaty, foreign tax credits and exclusions are designed to prevent double taxation. The result depends on the type of income and where it was earned, which is why the two returns should be prepared together.
What is FBAR and does it apply to my Canadian accounts?
FBAR is an annual report of foreign financial accounts filed with FinCEN. If the combined highest balance of your non-US accounts exceeded US$10,000 at any point in the year, the report is generally required — including chequing, savings, TFSA, RRSP and investment accounts.
I have not filed US returns in several years. What now?
Catch-up filing is common and usually best handled proactively. We review how many years are outstanding, whether tax would actually be owing, and which catch-up route fits your circumstances before anything is filed.
Do you handle US rental property owned by Canadians?
Yes. That typically means a US non-resident return reporting the rental activity, plus reporting the same income on your Canadian return with a foreign tax credit, and planning for withholding on an eventual sale.
Can this be done remotely?
Yes. Most cross-border clients work with us entirely through secure document exchange, email and video calls, though our Mississauga office is available for in-person meetings.
Related services
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