JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum IRS rejected me

Several years ago I applied for a ITIN number, sent them(IRS) all the info that they required but never heard a word from them. 7 or 8 months ago I tried again, because the amount of money being withheld for income tax( 30%) was starting to hurt. I sent them a copy of my driver license and birth certificate which was required to prove I was a Canadian citizen, therefore was exempt for tax as per the tax treaty between Canada and the USA. They came back with some technically that they needed, so I sent that back with again a copy of my drivers license and birth certificate. They sent it back again asking now for an original US drivers license and a passport, would not accept a copy. I don't own a passport and I certainly don't have a US drivers license, I'm a Canadian, so I don't need one. If I send them my original drivers license, I would be driving for a couple of month with out a license (that is if they returned it at all). So I contacted the Canadian Tax Service through my government member's office and was informed that I could claim a refund for any tax taken out of my income by a foreign government on my tax return to the Canadian government. Well I did not know that and I don't understand that but that is what I will be doing from now on. The heck with IRS. Any other Canadian songwriter out there going through this, take note.

Hey Everett,

I'm here in Fiji. Same same. Just sit and smile, and have a good accountant.

cheers, niteshift

.

Wow.. I always thought you were in Australia. I guess I won't be visiting you when we finally make it over to Aussie land. I am sure my wife would love to go back to Fiji though. =)

That's REALLY great advice and something I have never heard about before. Do you mind if I post your info on Facebook? I will credit you for the info?

Does anyone remember Lois Lerner? The IRS is staffed with "robots" incapable of thought or human inter-action. LOL! Sounds like Everett had better find a way to use his Parliament Representative in an attempt to go at the problem from a "Diplomatic Direction." Nothing works well in Washington these days. All the politicians are too busy lining their pockets and running for office.

Sure Brian, go right ahead and post it. Wisdom and knowledge should be shared, it is often the only weapon we have to fight with.

I've straightened stuff out with the IRS in the past merely by calling them.

I called them, did little good.

When you are a citizen of one country and work in another country it doesn't matter It always takes time to sort out. I'm an American but have lived and worked in a number of different countries -- It helps to think of sorting out the taxes as a never ending hobby intended to drive you bonkers. Seriously no matter how exasperating - just take your time and start with your home country. Them Thar tax folk sure like to pile on penalties so better to pay a lil extra and get it back later than under pay and find out the penalties have tripled your tax

Brian, I'd be a little wary of posting this advice any further, as I think it is probably wrong. Everett's contact at Canadian taxes might have given him wrong or at least incomplete advice. Like other tax treaties, the tax treaty between the US and Canada (found after a 10 second Google search) seems to be quite clear that royalties and profits from business should be taxed in the country of residence. So unfortunately, he does need to sort things out with the IRS so that he's not taxed in the US. The IRS unsurprisingly doesn't make this as easy as it should be - certainly other countries make it easier.

Another quick Google search reveals that the IRS's own guidelines say that they should accept a copy of a Canadian driver's license. It seems that it has to be issued by the Canadian equivalent of the DMV though, and I suspect he might get a blank stare initially when he asks for one.

I'm sure the Canadian tax person was trying to be helpful, and his advice is right in a way. He was describing how to claim back taxes that you are obliged to pay in a foreign country such as the US (e.g. real estate income), but it doesn't apply to taxes that you are not obliged to pay there.

Needless to say, I'm not an expert. I've had some experience with this sort of thing but not specifically with the Canada/US treaty. I'm basing this post on a Google search, and, although I really do think it's correct, I could be wrong.