Non-residents of Canada?
You could be considered a non-resident for tax purposes if you meet any of the following conditions:
you normally, customarily, or routinely live in another country and are not considered a resident of Canada
you do not have residential ties in Canada; and either one of the following situations applies:
you live outside Canada throughout the tax year
you stay in Canada for less than 183 days in the tax year
Even if you no longer live in Canada, you could have residential ties in Canada that are enough for you to be considered a factual or deemed resident of Canada. In these cases, the regular rules for opening a TFSA still apply.
Residential ties include:
a home in Canada
a spouse or common-law partner or dependants in Canada
personal property in Canada, such as a car or furniture
social ties in Canada
Other ties that can be relevant include:
Canadian driver's licence
Canadian bank accounts or credit cards
hospitalization and medical insurance coverage from a province or territory of Canada
For more information on residential ties, see Income Tax Folio S5-F1-C1, Determining an Individual’s Residence Status or call the International Enquiries for Individuals and Trusts at one of the following numbers:
1-800-959-8281 (from anywhere in Canada and the United States)
613-940-8495 (from outside Canada and the United States)
We accept collect calls by automated response. You may hear a beep and experience a normal connection delay.
If you become a non-resident of Canada, or are considered to be a non-resident for income tax purposes:
you will be allowed to keep your TFSA and you will not be taxed in Canada on any earnings in the account or on withdrawals from it
no TFSA contribution room will accrue for any year throughout which you are a non-resident of Canada
any withdrawals made during the period that you were a non-resident will be added back to your TFSA contribution room in the following year, but will only be available if you re-establish your Canadian residency status for tax purposes