Hi,

I am new to the States and having some trouble understanding how to file my taxes.

In Canada, I was a Permanent Resident (for immigration purposes) and a Resident for Tax purposes. Last April, I relocated from my company's Canadian branch to its' US branch on an L1 visa.

Since I was in the US for over 183 days last year, I pass the Substantial Presence Test.

I have a W2 from the US and a T4 from Canada, for the 4 months that I worked there.

How should I file my taxes ?
Am I considered a resident alien for tax purposes in the US ?
What tax forms should I use ?

Any help, and clear instructions/explanations would be much appreciated.
Thank you.

I assume you are single.

If so, you need to file a dual-status return, paying taxes on the income earned in the United States and excluding the Canadian income. Your Canadian income tax return should do the reverse.


The dual-status return is NOT for amateurs; get professional help from someone who has experience filing dual-status return.

If you believe that you will need professional help filing this year, this IS what I do. Please double-click on my name (Atlanta Tax Expert) above to access my profile. You will find my email address in the signature portion of the profile (scroll down to the BOTTOM of the page).