Tax preparation when your life crosses the US–Canada border
Moving, commuting or earning income in both countries can create different residency, income-tax and reporting questions. Bluewings Tax helps you assess your US–Canada filing needs and coordinate the services agreed for your case.
Discuss your US–Canada filingStart with your cross-border situation
Moving between countries
Arrival and departure years, time spent in each country, homes and family ties, and income earned before and after a move.
Working across the border
Commuters, remote workers and people with employers or clients in the other country who need their employment and filing circumstances assessed.
Income, investments and ownership
People with investments, pensions, rental property or business interests on both sides of the border. Tell us the account and entity types before requesting a quote.
Residency comes before the return
Canadian tax residency considers the relevant facts, including residential ties; a move date alone does not answer every case. US residency uses different rules, and treaty provisions may matter where both countries treat someone as resident. Start with the CRA residency guidance and the IRS explanation of tax and immigration status.
Before preparation, we assess the relevant US federal/state and Canadian return scope, income categories, taxes already paid and possible additional reporting. Confirm the returns and any cross-border analysis included in your engagement.
Questions to flag at the start
- Did you arrive in or leave either country during the tax year?
- Where did you physically perform employment or self-employment work?
- Do you have pensions, retirement accounts or other investment accounts in the other country?
- Do you own rental property or an interest in a business outside your country of residence?
- Have you received a notice or missed a return or information-reporting requirement?
The IRS US–Canada treaty publication and CRA treaty guidance are useful starting references. Treaty relief, pension treatment and foreign tax credits depend on the applicable rules; do not assume that an account’s treatment in one country automatically carries over to the other.
Documents for an initial review
- Prior US and Canadian returns and relevant tax notices.
- Move/travel dates and information about homes and family ties.
- US W-2/1099 documents and Canadian income slips, as applicable.
- Employment location details, rental records, investment and pension statements, and taxes paid.
- Foreign-account details and business ownership/accounting information where relevant.
FBAR and Form 8938 have separate rules. Neither filing automatically replaces the other. Consult the IRS comparison; your case determines which reporting is needed.
How cross-border work is priced
Basic US federal preparation starts at $79 and each state return at $89. US business filing starts at $350; eligible zero-activity business filing is $199. These are USD starting rates for the stated US services, not a combined US–Canada package.
Canadian preparation and additional cross-border analysis must be included explicitly in your quote, with the currency stated. Final fees depend on forms, records, tax years and complexity. FBAR and FATCA services are excluded from discounts.
US–Canada filing questions
Does moving to the US automatically end Canadian residency?
No. Review your residential ties and all relevant circumstances. Treaty provisions may also affect the result. See the CRA guidance for people leaving Canada.
Can I use the same income figures on both returns?
Do not simply copy a return from one country to the other. The reporting period, residency, currency conversion and treatment of particular income may differ. Provide source documents for coordinated preparation.
Can you assess a previous year or a tax notice?
Include the year and a brief description in your enquiry. We will confirm whether the work is within scope and quote it separately where needed. Upload sensitive documents through the portal when requested.
Explore cross-border filing guides
How to get started
- Tell us your situation. Start with the countries involved, the tax years you need help with and whether you are filing as an individual or business.
- Confirm the scope and quote. We assess the forms and documents involved before confirming the work and fee.
- Provide documents through the client portal. Follow the checklist for your case and review the prepared return before filing.
Bluewings Tax’s review team includes Aditya and Soumya. Ask who will handle your case and which services are included in your engagement.
Request a cross-border consultationView starting pricesGeneral service information, updated 29 September 2026. Requirements depend on your facts and the applicable tax year.