Please note that the following document, although believed to be correct at the time of issue, may not represent the current position of the CRA.
Prenez note que ce document, bien qu'exact au moment émis, peut ne pas représenter la position actuelle de l'ARC.
Principal Issues: Why a mariner who routinely leaves Canadian waters is required to pay income tax in Canada?
Position: Factual residents must report worldwide income for the entire year. General comments provided.
February 7, 2018
XXXXXXXXXX
Dear XXXXXXXXXX:
Thank you for your correspondence asking why a mariner who routinely leaves Canadian waters is required to pay income tax in Canada. Thank you also for your understanding regarding the delay of this response.
Under Canada’s tax system, income tax obligations to Canada are based on residency status. From the limited information you have provided, it appears that you are considered a factual resident of Canada for income tax purposes. The term factual resident means that, although you left Canada for a period of time, you are still considered to be a resident of Canada for income tax purposes. This could include when you work temporarily outside of Canada.
If you are a factual resident, you must report your worldwide income, that is to say, your income from all sources both inside and outside Canada, for the entire tax year. Your income is taxed as if you never left Canada. You can also claim all deductions and federal, provincial, or territorial non-refundable and refundable tax credits that apply to you. You may also be able to claim a foreign tax credit for income taxes that you paid to a foreign government.
For more information about residency status, go to canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/international-non-residents/information-been-moved/determining-your-residency-status or refer to Income Tax Folio S5-F1-C1, Determining an Individual’s Residence Status, at canada.ca/en/revenue-agency/services/tax/technical-information/income-tax/income-tax-folios-index/series-5-international-residency/folio-1-residency/income-tax-folio-s5-f1-c1-determining-individual-s-residence-status.
I appreciate the opportunity to respond to your concerns and trust the information I have provided is helpful.
Sincerely,
The Honourable Diane Lebouthillier
Minister of National Revenue
Eric Wirag
2017-073668
All rights reserved. Permission is granted to electronically copy and to print in hard copy for internal use only. No part of this information may be reproduced, modified, transmitted or redistributed in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, or stored in a retrieval system for any purpose other than noted above (including sales), without prior written permission of Canada Revenue Agency, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0L5
© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada, 2018
Tous droits réservés. Il est permis de copier sous forme électronique ou d'imprimer pour un usage interne seulement. Toutefois, il est interdit de reproduire, de modifier, de transmettre ou de redistributer de l'information, sous quelque forme ou par quelque moyen que ce soit, de facon électronique, méchanique, photocopies ou autre, ou par stockage dans des systèmes d'extraction ou pour tout usage autre que ceux susmentionnés (incluant pour fin commerciale), sans l'autorisation écrite préalable de l'Agence du revenu du Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0L5.
© Sa Majesté la Reine du Chef du Canada, 2018