US citizens and green card holders living in Canada
Yearly US Tax Package for Americans in Canada
If you are a US citizen or green card holder in Canada, your US filings come back every year, with your accounts, your investments and any company you own. We look after them year after year, from one file that carries forward. Our office is in Surrey, BC, and we work with clients across Greater Vancouver and remotely. Work is led by Gurleen Kaur, CPA licensed in British Columbia and Washington State.
Quick answer
What do Americans in Canada file with the US each year?
Usually a Form 1040 reporting worldwide income, with credits or an exclusion to reduce double tax. Add an FBAR if your foreign accounts together were over US$10,000 at any time in the year (IRS), and a Form 8938 if your foreign assets pass its thresholds (IRS). A corporation, Canadian mutual funds or a foreign trust or large gift can each add a form. Our yearly package covers what applies to you, with a written scope and fixed quote after we review your last returns.
At a glance
- Form 1040
- Due April 15, with an automatic extension to June 15 if you live abroad; interest runs from April 15
- FBAR
- Over US$10,000 in total at any time; due April 15, automatic extension to October 15
- Form 8938
- Living abroad: over US$200,000 at year end or US$300,000 at any time, double if filing jointly
- Our fee
- A written scope and fixed quote, after we review your last returns
- Source
- IRS, Form 8938 instructions, checked November 1, 2026
What is included
Each year starts from last year's file, so we can spot what changed.
| Form | What it is for | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Form 1040 | Your yearly return, with the foreign tax credit or foreign earned income exclusion | Americans abroad |
| FBAR | Reporting accounts in Canada, including RRSPs, TFSAs and joint accounts where required | FBAR requirements |
| Form 8938 | Reporting foreign financial assets above the thresholds | FBAR and FATCA |
| Form 1116 | Credit for Canadian tax | Form 1116 |
Added when they apply
| Form | When | Read more |
|---|---|---|
| Form 5471 | You own or control a Canadian corporation | Form 5471 service |
| Form 8621 | You hold Canadian mutual funds or ETFs | Canadian ETFs and PFIC |
| Form 3520 | A large gift or inheritance, or a foreign trust | Form 3520 service |
| Treaty positions | Where a treaty position has to be disclosed | The treaty in plain English |
Why yearly rather than one-off
- Carry-forwards. Foreign tax credits and other amounts carry from year to year, so one file keeps them straight.
- Fewer surprises. We can see a new account, a new company or a sale before the filing date.
- Both sides of the border. We can also prepare your Canadian T1 and T2, or work with your Canadian accountant, so that the two returns match.
- A plan for changes. A move, a sale, a divorce or an inheritance gets looked at in time.
If you are behind
Many Americans in Canada find out years late. The IRS has routes for that. See IRS Streamlined filing and behind on US filings. Catching up is scoped separately, and then the yearly package takes over.
How it works
- Send your request. Tell us about your situation, using the form below.
- Review and fixed quote. We review your last returns and account list, and give you a written scope and fee.
- Preparation and review. We prepare your forms and go through them with you.
- Filing. Your forms are filed, and your file carries forward to next year.
What we need from you
- Your last US and Canadian returns
- T4s, T5s, T3s and other slips
- Year-end statements and highest balances for each account
- Details of any company, rental property or trust
- Any IRS or CRA letters
Please do not send tax IDs or statements through the website form. If we work together, documents come in through our secure client portal.
Common questions
How much does the yearly package cost?
We give a written scope and fixed quote after reviewing your last returns. It depends on your income types, accounts and any extra forms.
Do I really have to file if I owe no US tax?
Filing depends on your income and status, not on whether tax is due. Many Americans in Canada owe little or no US tax after credits, but still have to file.
When is my US return due?
It is due April 15, with an automatic extension to June 15 if you live outside the US. Interest on any tax runs from April 15, and a further extension is possible on request.
Does an RRSP or TFSA go on the FBAR?
Accounts at financial institutions outside the US generally count, and whether an account produces taxable income does not change that.
Will you work with my Canadian accountant?
Yes. We prepare your US returns and coordinate with your Canadian accountant, so that the two returns match. If you prefer, we can also prepare your Canadian T1 and T2.
I have not filed for years. Can I still start?
Yes, though catching up comes first. See our guides to the IRS Streamlined procedures and to being behind on US filings.
Sources
Every rule and figure on this page links to the IRS, CRA or other official source it comes from. Amounts change; we re-check them before each engagement.
- IRS: Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR)
- IRS: Instructions for Form 8938
- IRS: US citizens and residents abroad, filing requirements (reviewed September 28, 2026)
- IRS: Publication 597, Information on the US-Canada Income Tax Treaty
Gurleen Kaur, CPA licensed in British Columbia and Washington State. Last updated November 1, 2026. This page is general information, not tax or legal advice for your situation.
Related guides: US tax accountant in Surrey and Greater Vancouver, Americans abroad, FBAR and FATCA, Form 5471 service, Form 3520 service, Filing checker.
Request a quote for your yearly US taxes
Tell us your situation in a few lines. We confirm whether we can help, what records matter and the next step. Substantive advice begins under a paid diagnostic or signed engagement.
Prepared and signed by a licensed US CPA who can represent you before the IRS. Verify Gurleen Kaur's Washington licence (#41150) on CPAverify