Filing Requirements and Due Dates

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Filing Requirements and Due Dates for U.S. Citizens Living in Canada

Written by Natalya Zamfes

CA, CPA

U.S. citizens and green card holders have annual U.S. filing requirement, regardless of their residency status.

As the tax season approaches, staying informed about critical tax filing deadlines is essential, especially for Individuals with filing requirements on both sides of the border.

Tax filing deadlines for 2024 tax year are as follows:

April 30, 2025: Deadline to pay any taxes owed to the CRA and the regular Canadian T1 income tax return filing deadline
April 15, 2025: deadline to pay any taxes owed to the IRS and the standard U.S. 1040 income tax return due date with extension available via form 4868
June 16, 2025: extended deadline for U.S. citizens living abroad to file a U.S. 1040 income tax return. This automatic two-month extension is specifically granted to taxpayers who qualify as U.S. citizens living outside of the U.S. No election is required for this automatic extension, however a statement should be included on your 1040 tax return to inform the IRS that you live abroad and are eligible for the automatic extension.

Please Note: While the tax filing deadline is extended to June 16, any taxes owed must still be paid by April 15, 2025.

October 15, 2025: final date to submit your U.S. 1040 income tax return (if extension request was filed via form 4868).

Important FBAR Filing Requirements

U.S. FBAR (Foreign Bank Account Reporting) forms require U.S. persons to report their non-U.S. banks and investment accounts. The FBAR forms are not filed with your U.S. tax return and are filed separately with the U.S. Treasury Department. Failure to report financial accounts on an FBAR could lead to significant penalties.

April 15, 2025: Due date for filing the FBAR (If you fail to meet the FBAR annual due date of April 15 you’re allowed an automatic extension to October 15)

Conclusion

Please note that filing of Canada / U.S. cross-border tax returns requires a deep knowledge of the Canadian and U.S. tax systems and the U.S. - Canada Tax Treaty.

The filing of U.S. and Canadian income tax returns for Americans in Canada is complex and incorrectly filed tax returns or missed forms can lead to expensive penalties. At Gem Solutions Professional Corporation, we specialize in cross-border tax compliance and are here to help you navigate the complexities of cross-border tax compliance.

If you need help with your cross - border filings please feel free to reach out to us at gemsolutions.ca or email at [email protected]

FAQ

I'm a U.S. citizen living in Calgary. Do I still have to file U.S. taxes?

Yes. U.S. citizens and green card holders file a U.S. return every year, wherever they live, even when no U.S. tax is owed. You also file a Canadian return as a resident of Canada.

Will I be taxed twice on the same income?

Usually not. The Canada–U.S. tax treaty and foreign tax credits are designed to prevent it, but only when both returns are prepared together so the credits line up.

What is an FBAR, and do I need one?

An FBAR reports your non-U.S. financial accounts to the U.S. Treasury. You need one if the combined value of your foreign accounts exceeded US$10,000 at any time during the year.

I haven't filed U.S. returns in years. What should I do?

You're not alone. If the missed filings weren't willful, the IRS Streamlined Foreign Offshore Procedures let you catch up, generally with no penalties.

Do you only work with clients in Calgary?

We're based in Calgary and work virtually with clients across Alberta, the rest of Canada and the U.S.