Minister of Finance Jim Flaherty arrives to a press conference at the National Press Theatre in Ottawa on Thursday, June 21, 2012.The Canadian Press
Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said a partial U.S. tax amnesty for Americans living in Canada is a "positive" step and a testament to Ottawa's strong working relationship with the Obama administration.
"I am happy the U.S. government has listened to our concerns," Mr. Flaherty said in a statement Wednesday. "These are positive developments. It is yet another accomplishment for Canadians and a testament to our strong working relationship with our American neighbours."
On Tuesday, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service said it will waive potentially massive penalties for certain "low compliance risk" tax payers who opt to come clean after failing to file taxes and other required forms.
To qualify, individuals must submit three years of back taxes, six years of bank reporting forms – so-called Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts, or FBARs – and a signed letter explaining why they haven't filed.
The IRS defines low risk as people who have "simple" returns and owe less than $1,500 a year in taxes, based on the past three tax years.
The program is open to non-residents who have U.S. tax obligations, including green card holders and dual Canadian-U.S. citizens, said IRS spokesman Dean Patterson.
The United States is unique among developed countries in requiring all citizens, including dual Canadian-Americans, to file taxes with the IRS every year, regardless of where they live.
There are roughly a million Americans in Canada – many with little or no ties to the United States. An increasingly onerous U.S. crackdown on Americans who hide money offshore is forcing many of them out of the shadows.
The new procedures go into effect Sept. 1.
IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman called the special amnesty a "common-sense" way for people to "get current with their tax obligations and resolve pension issues."
Tax experts said the measures go a long way to resolving an issue that has caused a wave of angst among Americans in Canada and a flood of business for lawyers and accountants.
"It's a good start and it's particularly good for about 90 per cent of Americans in Canada, most of whom will fall into the low risk category," said Kevyn Nightingale, an accountant with MNP LLP in Toronto.
"I would expect a lot of people to come forward using this approach."
But individuals who don't owe much tax, but have closely held partnerships, investment companies or trusts aren't likely to benefit, he added.
A 56-year-old Ottawa woman who has lived in Canada since her family moved here when she was nine plans to take advantage of the amnesty. But she's not happy about it and complained that the United States has no right impose tax obligations on people who no longer have any connection to the country.
"I'll do it. I want this out of the way and become free an clear," said the woman, who declined to be identified. "I still think it's unfair to get people all over the world so upset when they don't owe anything."
The IRS initially promised details of the amnesty late last year.
But U.S. officials have struggled internally over whether people who haven't filed for years deserve any special leniency.
The IRS also announced special "streamlined" procedures for reporting certain foreign retirement accountant, mentioning specifically Canadian Registered Retirement Savings Plans. Individuals will be allowed to retroactively elect to defer income in those accounts.
Without the amnesty, Americans who haven't filed their taxes and other IRS forms face penalties totalling tens of thousands of dollars per year and risk criminal prosecution.