Please help,
I was on a J1 visa in the USA for 6 months of 2010, and now live and work in Canada. I am a national of Brazil.
I can not understand how to file taxes in both countries jointly or how I go about disclosing my canada wages to the IRS, or if I even need to since it was after I left the country. I will return to the US later this year so want to make sure I get my taxes done properly!

Thanks.

If you worked while on the J-1 visa, you will file as a non-resident alien, probably filing Form 1040NR plus Form 2106 to claim daily living expenses, plus Forms 8843 and a state tax return.

You will NOT report your Canadian wages on this non-resident return to the U.S.

You will NOT report the U.S. wages on your Canadian return, because the wages were NOT earned while living and working in Canada.

I cannot help you file the Canadian return, but I CAN help you file the U.S. return. If you need professional help filing your U.S. return, email me at [email protected] or [email protected].