Maroof HS CPA Professional Corporation, Toronto

Moving from Canada & Principal Residence Exemption

What to do with the Principal Residence when you move to U.S. from Canada

A lot of taxpayers emigrate from Canada every year, some to the south of the border and others beyond. In Canada, generally, the owners of the residential property are exempt from the taxes on capital gains if they use it as a principal residence. At emigration, a taxpayer can shelter the capital gains on the principal residence up to that point, or may extend it in a few cases. 

This post is for general informational purposes only. The readers must exercise caution while making any decision. You should consult your professional income tax accountant in Canada, and the one in your new country of residence. 

We have published another post specifically on the Principal residence exemption, we encourage the readers to read it in order to understand Principal residence and change of use rules. For the purpose of this article, the focus is on the taxpayers who are moving out of Canada. 

Principal Residence Exemption at Emigration

When you are moving out of Canada, you can take advantage of the principal residence exemption. At the time of emigration, there is a deemed disposition of Principal Residence, if you are converting it to a rental property. You must report this deemed disposition on your emigrant tax return. 

If you are moving temporarily out of Canada, you are still a factual resident of Canada. Deemed disposition happens only when you become a resident of Canada. Factual residents of Canada are treated as residents of Canada. Many taxpayers worry so much about the principal residence exemption that they keep on reporting as factual residents of Canada.

Deemed disposition means that your residence is not actually sold or disposed of but is considered to be sold for tax purposes. Your residence is considered to be sold at Fair market value as of the date of emigration and immediately re-acquired. The capital gains are reported and sheltered up to that date. The fair market value on that day becomes a new cost basis for the property. 

Read: Departure tax at emigration

Can I still keep my principal residence in Canada even if I move to another country?

This is a question about which we receive a lot of inquiries. The answer is a yes and no!

Yes, if you meet the Section 54 definition of Principal residence! However, this is only possible if your spouse lives in it afterwards so that ordinarily inhabited requirement of the law is met. In case, if your spouse also moves with you, you cannot claim principal residence exemption. A non-resident’s principal residence exemption is limited up to the years when she was a resident of Canada. 

If you are converting the property to an income-producing property or your spouse becomes a non-resident of Canada as well, no, you cannot avoid capital gains. 

Moving to United States & Principal Residence

There is Section 121 of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States that allows U.S. taxpayers to exclude up to US$250,000 (US$500,000 for married joint filers) of Capital gain on the sale of a principal residence if the taxpayer meets certain conditions. 

One common misconception by taxpayers we have seen in recent years is that think IRC Sec 121 is applicable to them when they become U.S. tax residents. To much of their relief, and by extension to the readers of this article, the U.S. Canada Tax treaty provides relief in terms of re-setting the cost basis for Canadian residents emigrating to the U.S. 

As per the U.S. Canada Tax Treaty, Article XIII and Para 6, when a taxpayer who was a resident of Canada and moved to the U.S. while owning a principal residence in Canada gets a set-up of basis. As per the treaty, the adjusted cost basis cannot be less than the Fair market value on the date of emigration. In other words, at the date of emigration, the cost basis in the property is reset to fair market value on that date for both U.S. and Canada. 

Some taxpayers also keep on filing taxes as Canadian tax residents just to avoid capital gains taxes in Canada by utilizing principal residence. While doing so they are relying on 4-year rules. They may need to take a closer look at their tax costs. 

Also remember that Capital gains of real properties are sourced to the country where the property is located, and the other country has the right to tax (and allow foreign tax credit) these gains as well. 

FINAL WORD

The final word is that it is not possible to take advantage of the principal residence exemption to shelter gains if you were a non-resident of Canada. This provision is meant for Canadian taxpayers only. If you are moving to another country, other than the United States, you must check the treaty between Canada and that country. Some countries may not agree to the step-up of basis in the property and that can result in additional taxes in your new host country. You can find this information under “Gains” in the tax treaties. 

If you are moving from Canada to the U.S., please click here for a more detailed post. 

Nothing can replace the advice of a professional income tax accountant. If you are moving out of Canada, get in touch with us to optimize your taxes at the exit! 

Maroof Hussain Sabri

Maroof Hussain Sabri

Maroof is a CPA, CA in the province of Ontario and Alberta in Canada. He is also a licensed CPA from New York & North Dakota in the United States. He lives in Toronto.

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Maroof Hussain Sabri

Maroof Hussain Sabri

Maroof is a CPA, CA in the province of Ontario and Alberta in Canada. He is also a licensed CPA from New York & North Dakota in the United States. He lives in Toronto.

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22 thoughts on “Moving from Canada & Principal Residence Exemption”

  1. Hi Maroof,
    We have the following situation. Both of us are Canadian citizens and US Green Card holders (I applied for US citizenship but will not get it until much later this year). We have a house in Canada (both of us are on the title), as well as another one in California (only I am on the title). I spend most of my time in California and a couple of months in Canada, while my wife is the opposite: most of the year in Canada and a few months in California. My wife files Canadian taxes as a resident (her employer is in Canada) while I file a non-resident return in Canada. In the US, we file a joint return, including her Canadian income and claiming the Treaty deduction for Canadian taxes paid. My wife purchased a pre-construction condo (only she is on the contract), and we are thinking of selling our Canadian house at some point after the completion of the condo. Question: what are the tax implications of such a sale in both Canada and the US?
    Reading your article, it sounds like we should be able to claim the Principal Residence Exemption in Canada, while in the US we might pay the tax if the capital gain (calculated as a sale price – fair market value as of the year of immigrating to the US) is higher than the $500 exemption. Am I missing something?
    Thank you so much!

    1. Hi Dmyto, it looks like your wife is not relying on the treaty to determine correct residency status. For principal residence exemption, in Canada, at least one spouse must ordinarily inhabit in it. Now using FMV at emigration is bit tricky. Your wife did not emigrate so why do you want a step up of basis? I believe you need to untangle this first. Also, note down that though a Canadian real property can be a principal residence of a nonresident of Canada if one spouse keeps on living there but the gains on the non-resident spouse’s portion of capital gains during the nonresidency period are not sheltered.

  2. Hi. Thank you for this article. I have this situation.
    My ex husband and I are both Canadian Citizen, and we both owned a residential property in Alberta. When we separated and divorced, we rented it out in 2018. I moved out of Canada to work in the US. in 2020. I still filed my tax for that year. But I did not file tax year 2021 since I emigrated. I came back to Canada in August 2022, immigrated back, and filed my tax for year 2022 using my world wide income. I am still currently working in the US. We are planning on selling the house this year if possible. I have credit cards still in Canada. My drivers license expired. Am I considered non resident?

    1. Maroof Hussain Sabri

      Hello, sorry for the delayed response. We had a very busy run up to now. It is very hard to give a definitive answer here. Your Canadian tax residency status will also depend on your U.S. tax residency status. I assume you must be filing taxes as a U.S. tax resident over there. So, you should rely on the treaty tie breaker rules to determine correct residency status. Tie breaker rules are listed in Article IV, para 2 for the individuals like you. Just read them and apply them in order to determine the status. Tread careful though, as residency status is going to impact both reporting and tax payments on both sides of borders.

  3. I have a dilemma. I am a Canadian citizen, own a home in Florida – I have been here for two years on an F1 visa and will have lived here for more than 2 years constantly by the time I sell my home and have lived here. I have to sell due to extenuating circumstances – will I have to pay the 15% when I sell …I have no home in Canada and my home in Florida has been my primary residence for more than 2 years and owned for over 4 (but I am on an F1 Visa)

    1. Maroof Hussain Sabri

      Dear Connie

      F1 Visa holders are exempt individuals for substantial presence test for certain number of years, hence, nonresident aliens for U.S. tax purposes. Primary residence exclusion in the U.S. and Principal residence exemption in Canada are two different things. You might be referring to FIRTPA withholding in your comment. That’s something your lawyer can determine at time of closing. If you are a U.S. nonresident alien due to F1 visa, you are a Canadian factual resident that may enable you to claim principal residence exemption.

  4. Hi Maroof,
    I am a non-resident of Canada and I rented my house when I left Canada. In the future, If I return to Canada and live in my home for few years, then will my home be deemed primary residence? Will I be able to avoid capital gains tax?
    Thanks in advance.

    1. Maroof Hussain Sabri

      Dear Krishnan
      When you moved out of Canada, ideally you should have elected deemed disposition and claimed principal residence exemption for the capital gains accrued until then. When you move back, yes, you can file for a change of use. The gains accrued during the non-residency part are not sheltered.

  5. Hi Maroof,
    I am a non resident Canadian currently working in the US. When I left for USA, I rented my home in Toronto.

    In the Future, When I come back to Canada in a few years and stay in my home, will the home become a primary residence?

    1. Maroof Hussain Sabri

      The gains accrued during the non-residency part are not sheltered under Principal residence exemption.

  6. Hi Maroof,
    We are Canadian citizens and in the green card process stage to the US. We, me and my wife, have a house in Canada by both of our names. Do we have to pay any capital gain if we sell it before moving to the US or after moving to the USA

    1. Maroof Hussain Sabri

      If the home was your principal residence at the time you left, elect deemed disposition of that real property and claim principal residence exemption. If you want to sell it after the move, the new cost will be FMV when you left Canada (and would have already claimed PRE at the time you left).If you sell before, simply claim PRE on gains. If you sell after the move, gains will be taxed for the non-residency period only. However, the purchaser will also withhold taxes.

  7. HI Maroof

    I sold my house in Canada in April (contract finalized) but had to move to the US in May and the house actually closed in June. My spouse was still going back and forth for the month or so to wind up things. What is the ruling applicable in my case?

    1. Maroof Hussain Sabri

      Dear Shakeel, the ruling needs to be requested from the CRA. If you are asking about the tax residency, that’s more of fact based analysis. The information provided by you (back-and-forth in Canada) is too limited to conclude residency related questions.

  8. I have a primary house in Canada, we are planning to move to the USA this year and are planning to sell the Canada house and buy a house there in the USA.

    do I need to pay tax on the capital gain? Could you recommend what option will be best for me to save some tax?

    1. Maroof Hussain Sabri

      If you sell your house before you moved to the U.S., you can claim principal residence exemption. If you sell the house after the move, you can only shelter the capital gains up to the point you were Canadian tax resident. The future capital gains will be equal to the Proceeds less FMV at time of emigration. Further, treaty also allows the step up of cost basis.

  9. Dear Maroof, we have just moved to India, from Canada. Both CDN citizens, should we declare our canada home as principal residence? It is currently rented out to tenants. We plan to return in 4-5 years. We don’t have plans to sell right away, so would be moving back into it. What is best option for us, should we declare it a principle residence while we are in india, or not? Thank you.

    1. Maroof Hussain Sabri

      Dear P.R.
      If you moved in 2024, you can elect the deemed disposition at emigration on your 2024 tax return that you will file in 2025. What is best for you, it depends on your circumstances.

  10. Maroof,
    I am a Canadian Citizen. I married an American. I am in the process of becoming a resident of Montana. I am 10 months into the green card process from outside the country so I travel back and forth. I have met the substantial presence test and will be filing in both countries in April. My question surrounds my shares in my Canadian family ranching Company. I am an equal shareholder as my 3 siblings. My dad is the principle owner. I receive a small dividend typically. The ranch is in the family for 128 years. I have a home on the ranch where I pay rent out of my dividends. Would the ranch be considered a principal residence for an exemption? There would be no sale of shares unless my dad was no longer with us and maybe not then either. Thoughts?

    1. Maroof Hussain Sabri

      Dear Tami
      You mentioned it’s a company that owns, so principal residence exemption cannot be claimed by a corporation.

  11. Hi Maroof,

    Working in the USA on TN. Have a house in the USA (principal residence; jointly owned with my wife). Have a house in Canada (principal residence) where my wife is residing. Have jointly owned vehicles both in the USA and Canada. The company in US wants to start green card processing. So, for 2024 I am going to use the “deemed non-resident” status. I’m assuming this is different from emigrating. What are the implications of becoming “deemed non-resident”? Does this also trigger “deemed disposition”?

    In the future:
    Capital gains on the sale of the house in USA?
    Capital gains on the sale of the house in Canada?

    Is it possible to refile 2022/2023 as a “deemed non-resident” or is there a clock on it?

    Thanks in advance!

    1. Maroof Hussain Sabri

      hi Anil
      You must first determine your tax residency. At the time you become deemed Non-Resident, there is a deemed disposition of the assets. When you prepare your taxes, discuss this in detail.

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