1. Why early tax conversations matter

Tax rules influence when you move, how you structure employment, and what you do with property and investments in Canada. Decisions made without tax input can be hard or costly to unwind later.

2. Typical topics to raise with cross-border professionals

Rather than asking open-ended questions about optimisation, it is helpful to provide a factual picture and ask specific, time-bound questions.

• When you are likely to become tax resident in the USA and what that implies.
• How employment income will be reported and taxed in each jurisdiction.
• Implications for Canadian property, including potential future sales.
• Treatment of RRSPs, TFSAs, pensions, and other registered accounts.
• Any business interests or self-employment activities you maintain.

3. Records and documents to organise

Cross-border professionals can usually work more efficiently when you arrive with a basic package of information.

• Recent Canadian tax returns and notices, to the extent you are comfortable sharing.
• Summaries of income sources, assets, and liabilities by country.
• Information about planned transactions such as property sales or share disposals.
• Rough timelines for your move and expected changes in income patterns.

4. Staying within your lane

This page cannot tell you what is optimal from a tax perspective. Its purpose is to help you approach professionals with enough structure that they can focus on analysis instead of basic fact-finding.

In many cases, the most valuable outcome from a tax consultation is a short list of “do this, avoid that, and revisit this later” based on your specific situation.

This page is for general information only and does not provide legal, immigration, tax, or financial advice. Always confirm details with qualified professionals before making decisions.