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Hello, I was previously on an F-1 visa (wife on F2) in the United States, but moved to Canada in March 2025 and joined a new employer here. I qualified as a U.S. tax resident under the Substantial Presence Test, having lived in the U.S. since 2019 on an F1. After relocating to Canada, I sold stocks in August 2025, resulting in long-term capital gains (greater than the income I earned for 2.5 months).
Could you please advise on how I should file my U.S. tax return in this situation? Will submitting Dual Status return ideal? I am not a citizen of either the U.S. or Canada. Additionally, I would appreciate an estimate of your fees if I decide to proceed with your firm.
Hi,
Thank you for your message.
Based on the facts you shared, it appears that you may need to file both a Canadian tax return and a U.S. tax return for 2025.
Since you moved to Canada in March 2025 after living in the U.S. since 2019, the key issue will be determining your tax residency status in each country for 2025 and how the stock sale in August 2025 should be reported. In many cases like this, a dual-status U.S. return may need to be considered, but the correct filing position depends on a few additional details, including:
- Your exact date of arrival in Canada
- Your immigration status in Canada
- Whether your wife also moved to Canada in March 2025
- Whether either of you kept a home, lease, bank accounts, or other residential ties in the U.S. after moving
- Whether the stocks were sold while you were already a Canadian tax resident
- Whether any U.S. tax was withheld on the stock sale
- Whether you had any other U.S. income after moving to Canada
- The total value of your foreign assets after becoming a resident of Canada
As a preliminary estimate, our fees would likely be as follows:
- Canadian T1 return: $270 per person
- U.S. 1040 or dual-status return: starting at $450 per person
- Form T2209 foreign tax credit: $165
- Form T1135 foreign income verification statement: $250, if required
- FBAR + Form 8938: $250 total, if required
Disbursements and HST are extra.
If you would like, we can review your situation in more detail through a 30-minute paid consultation for $140 + HST, and then confirm the exact filing approach and final fee quote.
You can book here:
https://calendly.com/allanmadancpa
Thank you,